Adisol - an ecological substitute for acetic acid in textile industry applications

Tech.-grade glutaric (contg. also succinic and adipic) acid, or GT Acid, 30 kg, was dissolved 1 h/80 degrees C in 56 kg H 201 stirred 1 h/40-50 degrees C with 7.5 kg citric acid and 1 kg of a basic activated C, vacuum-filtered, left 24 h to cryst. adipic acid, and refiltered to yield 83.3 kg filtrate, or Adisol, pH 1.4, d. 1.122 g/cm(3), acid nonvolatiles 38.2%, acid no. 298.2 mg KOH/g. Crude adipic acid, 7.8 kg, dried 6 h/70 degrees C gave 6.6 kg adipic acid m. 153 degrees C, acid no. 798.2. Com. trials showed Adisol to effectively neutralize alkali-bleached cotton fabrics and to be useful in softening and in anti-crease treatments. The ChOD of the Adisol-left wastewaters was lower by 25% than that of the AcOH-based wastewaters.