What is Terephthalic acid?

Jul 8,2021

Terephthalic acid is an organic compound with formula C6H4(CO2H)2. This white solid is a commodity chemical, used principally as a precursor to the polyester PET, used to make clothing and plastic bottles. Several million tonnes are produced annually.The common name is derived from the turpentine-producing tree Pistacia terebinthus and phthalic acid.

Terephthalic acid (p-TA or TA), a raw material for polyethylene terephthalate (PET) production, is one of the most important chemicals in petrochemical industry. Crude terephthalic acid (CTA), commonly produced by homogeneous liquid phase p-xylene oxidation, contains impurities such as 4-carboxybenzaldehyde (4-CBA, 2000-5000 ppm) and several colored polyaromatics that should be removed to obtain purified terephthalic acid (PTA). PTA is manufactured by hydropurification of CTA over carbon supported palladium catalyst (Pd/C) in current industry.

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Applications

Virtually the entire world's supply of terephthalic acid and dimethyl terephthalate are consumed as precursors to polyethylene terephthalate (PET). World production in 1970 was around 1.75 million tonnes.[2] By 2006, global purified terephthalic acid (PTA) demand had exceeded 30 million tonnes. A smaller, but nevertheless significant, demand for terephthalic acid exists in the production of polybutylene terephthalate and several other engineering polymers.[12]

Other uses

Polyester fibers based on PTA provide easy fabric care, both alone and in blends with natural and other synthetic fibers. Polyester films are used widely in audio and video recording tapes, data storage tapes, photographic films, labels and other sheet material requiring both dimensional stability and toughness.

Terephthalic acid is used in paint as a carrier.

Terephthalic acid is used as a raw material to make terephthalate plasticizers such as dioctyl terephthalate and dibutyl terephthalate.

It is used in the pharmaceutical industry as a raw material for certain drugs.

In addition to these end uses, Terephthalic acid based polyesters and polyamides are also used in hot melt adhesives.

PTA is an important raw material for lower molecular weight saturated polyesters for powder and water-soluble coatings.

In the research laboratory, terephthalic acid has been popularized as a component for the synthesis of metal-organic frameworks.

The analgesic drug oxycodone occasionally comes as a terephthalate salt; however, the more usual salt of oxycodone is the hydrochloride. Pharmacologically, one milligram of terephthalas oxycodonae is equivalent to 1.13 mg of hydrochloridum oxycodonae.

Terephthalic acid is used as a filler in some military smoke grenades, most notably the American M83 smoke grenade and M90 vehicle-employed smoke grenade, producing a thick white smoke that acts as an obscurant in the visual and near-infrared spectrum when burned.

Toxicity

Terephthalic acid and its dimethyl ester have very low toxicity, with LD50s over 1 g/kg (oral, mouse).

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    Terephthalic acid is a white solid, it is used principally as a precursor to the polyester PET. The common name is derived from the turpentine-producing tree Pistacia terebinthus and phthalic acid.

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Jul 1,2021Inorganic salts

Di-tert-butyl peroxide is used for synthesis. CAS 110-05-4, molar mass 146.23 g/mol.....

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