Glycolic Acid (hydroxyacetic acid) is the first member of the series of alpha-hydroxy carboxylic acids, which means it is one of the smallest organic molecules with both acid and alcohol functionality.  Although Glycolic Acid occurs naturally as a trace component in sugarcane, beets, grapes and fruits, DuPont synthesizes the product through a purpose built manufacturing process in Belle, West Virginia.  DuPont has been the leading supplier of Glycolic Acid to customers and distributors worldwide for more than 50 years.

DuPont™ Glycolic Acid is available in several grades for specific applications, each with its own technical attributes and features.  Glycolic Acid is an extremely versatile product which offers itself in it’s different forms and grades to many end uses.

DuPont™ Glycolic Acid combines a unique set of properties that makes it ideal for a broad range of applications.

Household & Institutional Cleaning Applications 

DuPont™ Glycolic Acid combines a unique set of properties that makes it ideal for a broad range of applications.  Extremely efficient at cutting through hard water salts, it is a very effective cleaning agent with many added benefits, including low corrosion to most common metals, negligible odor and low toxicity.

Highly soluble in water, Glycolic Acid is also easy to rinse, readily dilutable at all concentrations and compatible with many additives.  It is environmentally friendly, biodegrading at a rate of 89% in 7 days.  Non-flammable by nature, Glycolic Acid is the versatile liquid that is both safer to handle and easy to use.

Cosmetics & Personal Care Applications

Under the DuPont™ Glypure® brand name, DuPont manufactures Glycolic Acid with purity levels 100 times greater than technical grade product to meet the stringent demands of the cosmetic and medical industries.  These highly refined products are used to enhance performance in many topical over the counter (OTC) and prescription (Rx) applications.

Industrial Applications 

With the ability to chelate metal salts, DuPont™ Glycolic Acid fulfills many unique roles in a wide range of industries.   It is an extremely versatile liquid that is safer to handle, easy to use and offers numerous additional benefits, including low corrosion to most common metals, negligible odor, low toxicity and non-flammability.

The dual functionality of Glycolic Acid - acid and alcohol - on a very small molecule, makes it a particularly useful organic intermediate.  Compatible with many additives, it is soluble in water, easy to rinse and environmentally friendly, biodegrading at a rate of 89% in 7 days.

Medical Applications

DuPont Glycolic Acid is suitable and approved for several medical applications.