What is the difference in metal ion control between industrial grade and food grade acetic acid?

Industrial grade and food grade acetic acid metal ion control difference is what?

In the chemical industry and food processing industry, acetic acid, as an important acidic substance, is widely used in various production processes. There are significant differences in metal ion control between industrial-grade acetic acid and food-grade acetic acid, mainly due to their application scenarios, quality standards and safety requirements.

1. Metal ion species and limits

Industrial grade acetic acid is mainly used in chemical production, such as the manufacture of plastics, fibers, rubber, etc. In this application, the type and content of metal ions are not the main concern, because they usually do not have a direct impact on the performance of the final product. Therefore, the control of metal ions in industrial grade acetic acid is relatively loose, allowing certain metal ions, such as iron, manganese, zinc, etc. Usually, the metal ion content of industrial grade acetic acid only needs to meet the internal standards of the industry, and does not need to strictly comply with the high requirements of food grade.

In contrast, food grade acetic acid is directly used in food production and processing, such as beverages, seasonings, baked goods, etc. Because food-grade acetic acid is closely related to people's daily life, the control of its metal ions is much stricter. Food-grade acetic acid must comply with international or regional food additive standards, such as GB 14884 "National Food Safety Standard Acetic Acid for Food". The standard clearly stipulates the maximum allowable content of heavy metals (such as lead, arsenic, mercury, cadmium, etc.) in food-grade acetic acid, which usually requires that the content of these heavy metal ions should not exceed 0.1 mg/kg or even lower.

2. Metal ions on the product

Metal ions in industrial-grade acetic acid may have an impact on the equipment and processes of the production line. For example, high concentrations of metal ions may interfere with reaction catalysts or introduce impurities in certain chemical reactions. These effects can usually be addressed by process optimization or filtration, so the control of metal ions is not the focus in the production of industrial grade acetic acid.

The metal ions in food-grade acetic acid may directly affect the health and safety of consumers. High concentrations of heavy metal ions (such as lead, arsenic, mercury, etc.), even at trace levels, can cause chronic poisoning or other health problems. Therefore, in the production process of food-grade acetic acid, the content of metal ions must be strictly controlled to ensure product safety and consumer health.

3. Metal ion detection and control methods

Due to the different control requirements for metal ions, there are also differences in detection methods and control measures between industrial grade and food grade acetic acid. The production of industrial-grade acetic acid usually uses regular metal ion detection methods, such as atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS) or inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), but the detection range and accuracy are relatively low, mainly focusing on those that may affect the production process. Key metal ions.

For food-grade acetic acid, the detection method of metal ions is more strict and precise, and high-sensitivity instruments and equipment are usually used, such as ICP-MS or inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES). The production process of food-grade acetic acid usually introduces multi-stage filtration and purification technologies, such as reverse osmosis filtration, ion exchange resins, etc., to effectively remove harmful metal ions and ensure that the quality of the final product meets food safety standards.

4. Quality control and certification requirements

The quality control of industrial grade acetic acid mainly focuses on its chemical and physical properties, such as purity, concentration, pH value, etc., while the control of metal ions is only used as an auxiliary index. Therefore, industrial grade acetic acid usually does not need to go through a complicated certification process, but only needs to meet industry standards.

Food-grade acetic acid requires strict quality control and certification to ensure that it fully meets food safety standards. This includes rigorous testing of metal ion content, full monitoring of the production process and batch testing of the final product. Manufacturers of food-grade acetic acid usually need to obtain relevant certification, such as ISO 22000 food safety management system certification, to prove that they have the ability to produce safe food.

Summary

The differences in metal ion control between industrial grade and food grade acetic acid are mainly reflected in the types, limits, detection methods and quality control requirements of metal ions. Industrial-grade acetic acid has relatively loose control over metal ions, mainly focusing on metal ions that may affect the production process, while food-grade acetic acid has extremely strict control over metal ions to ensure product safety and consumer health.

This difference reflects the differences in application fields and quality standards between the two, and also provides an important indicator for distinguishing industrial-grade acetic acid from food-grade acetic acid. Understanding these differences can help businesses and consumers make more informed decisions when choosing and using acetic acid.