Glycolic Comparison vs. Organic and Inorganic Acids

Glycolic Acid Features and Benefits

Glycolic vs. Organic Acids

Glycolic acid has the smallest molecule of the Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHA) family, so it offers deeper penetration and works faster than other organic acids, including lactic, citric, and maleic acids. Glycolic acid is also preferred over many Beta Hydroxy Acids (BHA) as it provides improved skin moisturization and reduces the visible signs of sun damage and aging wrinkles.

Glycolic acid is an excellent choice to replace citric, formic, and acetic acids in industrial applications due to its rapid descaling efficacy combined with superior chelation performance.
 

Glycolic vs. Inorganic Acids

Glycolic acid has been replacing mineral acids in multiple applications to avoid the high corrosivity and toxicity of strong inorganic acids. It is commonly used in concrete and masonry cleaners, replacing the long hydrochloric history in this application. The high penetration and limited damage to the metal surfaces and truck beds make glycolic acid a better option than mineral acids in such applications.

Glycolic acid is also an excellent alternative to toxic and low penetration acids such as sulfuric, phosphoric, and sulfamic in cleaners, water treatment chemicals, and O&G applications. It is preffered nowadays due to its high speed of action, scale removal performance, less corrosivity, biodegredability, and less hazardous waste stream.
 

Glycolic Acid Applications

 

• Personal and Skincare Products: ​Anti-aging creams, acne treatments, exfoliating scrubs, hair conditioners, and other hair care products.

 

• Household, Institutional, and Industrial Cleaning Products: Hard surface cleaners, metal cleaners, toilet bowl cleaners, and laundry sours.

 

• Water Treatment Applications: Boiler cleaning chemicals, well stimulating solutions, and process cleaning products.

 

• Electronics and Metal Surface Treatment: Etching chemicals, printed circuit board fluxes, electropolishing chemicals, and metal surface preparations.

 

• Oil and Gas Applications: Oil drilling chemicals, well stimulation, mid-and downstream descalers, and general process scale removers.

 

Glycolic vs. Competitive Acids for Use in Industrial Applications

 

Acid	Descaling	Iron Chelation	Speed of Action	Penetration	Corrosive	Toxicity	Pungent Odor
Glycolic	Good	Good	High	High	Low	Low	No
Sulfuric	High	Low	High	Moderate	High	High	No
Hydrochloric	High	Low	High	Moderate	High	High	No
Nitric	High	Low	High	Moderate	High	High	No
Phosphoric	High	Low	High	Low	High	High	No
Sulfamic	High	Low	High	Low	High	High	No
Citric	Good	Low	Low	Moderate	Low	Low	No
Acetic	Good	Low	Moderate	High	Low	Low	Yes
Formic	Good	Low	Low	Good	High	High	No

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