Oxalic Acid (99.6%) - China

Brief Overview

Chemically speaking, oxalic acid is an organic molecule having the formula C2H2O4. It is a reducing agent and a dicarboxylic acid. Depending on the hydrogen bonding, oxalic acid can have either a sheet-like or a chain-like structure. Oxalic acid is hydrophilic and acidic in its anhydrous form. Oxalic acid has a crystalline structure and is a white liquid. It dissolves in water as well. In the wild, it may be found in wood sorrels, parsley, spinach (broccoli, cabbage, and Brussels sprouts), and rhubarb leaves. Certain bacteria oxidize carbohydrates to make oxalic acid. Crystalline oxalic acid is produced by plants in the genus Fenestraria to aid in light transmission for photosynthesis.

Manufacturing Process

For commercial usage, oxalic acid is produced by oxidizing glucose or carbohydrates with air or nitric acid while a catalyst (vanadium pentoxide) is present. Nitric-sulfuric acid combination and molasses/cellulosic wastes can be utilized as raw materials in the production process. First, the nitric acid is introduced to the molasses or cellulosic wastes in a batch procedure. After feeding this mother liquor into a reactor, sulfuric acid is added to raise the reactor's temperature. There are cooling coils here, which circulate a coolant to lower the temperature. Subsequently, the reactor is filled with nitric acid and then gradually filled with sugar.To prevent a sudden rise in temperature, the rate at which sugar is added is increased gradually. After forming oxalic acid, it is centrifuged and purified by employing water to recrystallize it. After additional centrifugation, the product is dried and recrystallized. The response might be expressed as follows:

C₆H₁₂O₆ + 6 HNO₃ → 3 H₂C₂O₄ + 6 NO + 2 H₂O

Cleaning agent  

Since oxalic acid is an iron complexing agent, it may be used as a professional rust remover to remove rust from plumbing fixtures, sinks, bathtubs, and other surfaces. It is also used to eliminate rust during metal treatment.

Dyeing Industry

Oxalic acid finds utility as a mordant in printing and dyeing processes. It can serve as a rapid pigment dye product's coloring mordant in place of acetic acid.

Leather and Textile Industry

In the textile business, oxalic acid is used as a bleaching agent. It is employed in the dyeing process as a mordant. It helps by combining with dyes to generate a coordination complex that sets the dyes on textiles and cellulosic materials. Additionally, oxalic acid is used in the tanning of leather.

Metallurgy Industry

It is used to rare-earth metals as a precipitating agent.

Paper and Pulp Industry  

When manufacturing paper, it is used as a bleaching agent to lighten the pulp.

Pharmaceuticals

The pharmaceutical industry uses oxalic acid to make antibodies such aureomycin, phenobarbital, oxytetracycline, and tetracycline. Additionally, it is utilized in the production of borneol, a crucial component of Chinese remedies and a forerunner to antiseptics, perfumes, cosmetics, and personal hygiene items.

Others

It is used as a grinding agent in marble polishing, to remove calcium from water in waste water treatment, and to sanitize home brewing supplies.