Oxalic Acid
C₂H₂O₄ | CAS: 144-62-7 | HS: 29171110
Product Description
Oxalic Acid is a diprotic organic acid with strong reducing and chelating properties, making it the standard rust, scale, and stain remover in marble, tile, wood, and metal cleaning. It forms stable, soluble complexes with iron and manganese that rinse clean, without the surface damage associated with strong mineral acids. In textile processing, it is used for wool bleaching, stripping of iron impurities from fabrics, and as a pH buffer in certain dye processes. Oxalic acid is also used in the synthesis of specialty esters and as a precipitant for rare earth elements. MITCHEM supplies with full documentation.
Applications by Industry
Forms soluble iron(II) oxalate complexes with rust and iron stains, enabling rust removal from stone, tile, wood, and metal without etching acid damage to the substrate.
Used for bleaching and scouring wool fabric, removing iron discoloration from natural fibres, and as a pH buffer in certain wool dyeing processes.
Precipitates rare earth oxalates from solution as a primary step in rare earth element refining — the oxalate precipitates are calcined to oxides for further processing.
Applied in marble polishing compounds to produce a smooth, glossy surface through mild chemical-mechanical interaction; also removes iron stains from natural stone surfaces.