The differences between lactic acid and glycolic acid

taste all acids, each has its own characteristics. The differences between lactic acid and glycolic acid should be carefully investigated.

Lactic acid has a carbon chain connected in its structure, carboxyl at one end and hydroxyl at the other end, and has a chiral center, which has an optically isomerized state. It can be obtained in the body by glycolysis. When animal muscles exercise vigorously, sugar is decomposed without oxygen due to lack of oxygen, and lactic acid is produced, which is one of the causes of muscle soreness. In industry, it can be obtained by microbial fermentation of sugars and has a wide range of uses. For example, in the food industry, it is used as an acidic agent, which can increase the flavor of food and has the effect of anti-corrosion. In the field of medicine, due to its biodegradability, absorbable sutures are often made.

Glycolic acid has a relatively simple structure, only one carbon is connected to carboxyl and hydroxyl groups. Its preparation is mostly derived from chemical synthesis, such as the reaction of formaldehyde and carbon monoxide under specific conditions. Glycolic acid is a commonly used fruit acid component in the daily chemical industry, which can promote the metabolism of the stratum corneum, improve the roughness and dullness of the skin, and has the ability to rejuvenate and whiten the skin. In the textile industry, it can be used as a fiber treatment agent to improve the properties of fibers. < The acidity of lactic acid is slightly weaker, and due to the existence of chirality, the physical properties such as optical rotation are unique. Glycolic acid is relatively strong in acidity, because of its simple structure, and its reactivity is higher in some aspects. Both can be soluble in water, but due to different structures, their solubility in organic solvents is different.

From this perspective, although both lactic acid and glycolic acid contain carboxyl and hydroxyl groups, due to structural differences, their sources, uses, and properties are different. They play a unique role in various industries and are used by the world.