Glycolic Acid

Glycolic acid is the smallest alpha-hydroxy acid. It also goes with the name hydroxyacetic acid. Its chemical formula is CH₂OHCOOH or C₂H₄O₃. It is a 2-hydroxy monocarboxylic acid wherein the methyl group is hydroxylated.

It is produced when glycol is made to undergo oxidation with dilute nitric acid. It is mainly used in various skin-care products that improve the texture and health of skin. It is obtained from sugarcane, sugar beets, cantaloupe and unripe grapes.

Physical Properties of Glycolic acid

It is soluble in water, ether and alcohol.
It is hygroscopic, which means, it can absorb water vapour when comes in contact with air.
The melting point is 75 degrees Celsius and tends to decompose at high temperatures.
Its molecular weight is 76.05.
It is a conjugate acid of a glycolate.
It is a bit more potent than acetic acid.
It is found as a colorless, odourless solid.

Why is Glycolic Acid good for skin?

It is widely used in skin care products owing to its ability to penetrate the skin. It is used as a chemical-peel by dermatologists and other people. It helps improve various skin conditions such as hyperpigmentation, acne, wrinkles, etc. When applied, it reacts with the outermost dead layer (the Stratum Corneum) of the skin and exfoliates it and thus improves skin glow and also aids the reflection of light by the skin. It weakens the binding ability of lipids that hold the dead skin cells together. Thus, the outer skin tend to dissolve, which reveals the underlying skin.

History of Glycolic Acid

The term glycolic acid was given by Auguste Laurent (French chemist) in 1848. Glycolic acid for the first time prepared in 1851 by Adolph Strecker (German chemist) and Nikolai Nikolaevich Sokolov (Russian chemist). To obtain it, they treated hippuric acid with nitric acid and nitrogen dioxide that formed an ester of benzoic acid and glycolic acid, which was called 'benzoglycolic acid' by them. The ester was then boiled with sulphuric acid to form benzoic acid and glycolic acid.

Preparation of Glycolic Acid

It can be prepared either by a biochemical enzymatic reaction or by chemical synthesis wherein sodium hydroxide reacts with chloroacetic acid and then undergo re-acidification. In the biochemical enzymatic method it produces fewer impurities, requires less energy and leaves less co-product.

Uses of Glycolic Acid

Apart from benefiting skin, it offers lots of other uses, some of which are as follows:

Glycolic acid is used as an intermediate for organic synthesis related reactions such as oxidation-reduction, esterification and polymerization.
It acts as a monomer in the production of polyglycolic acid and other copolymers like PLGA (poly lactic-co-glycolic acid).
It is used in the textile industry for dyeing and tanning purposes.
It is used as a flavouring agent and as a preservative in the food items.
It is used in emulsion polymers, and as an additive for ink and paint to make them glossy and improve their flow ability.
It has the lowest molecular weight among all alpha hydroxy acids, owing to which it easily penetrates the skin.