The method of making glycolic acid
If you want to make glycolic acid, there are various methods.

First, formaldehyde and carbon monoxide can be combined under suitable catalysts and conditions. Prepare a good device, put formaldehyde in it, pass pure carbon monoxide, and add a specific catalyst to adjust the temperature and pressure. The temperature should be controlled within a certain range. If it is too high, the reaction will be excessive, and if it is too low, the reaction will be slow. The pressure must also be appropriate to promote the effective combination of the two, and gradually produce glycolic acid.

Second, the method of hydrolysis of chloroacetic acid is also possible. Take an appropriate amount of chloroacetic acid, put it in water, and add an appropriate amount of alkali to promote the hydrolysis reaction. When reacting, pay close attention to its process and control the reaction rate. Under the action of alkali, chloroacetic acid gradually replaces the hydroxyl group with chlorine atoms and finally forms glycolic acid. After hydrolysis, pure glycolic acid can be obtained by separation and purification, and its impurities can be removed.

Third, using ethylene glycol as raw material, it can also be prepared by oxidation. Choose a suitable oxidizing agent and mix it with ethylene glycol in a specific container. During the reaction, strictly control the temperature to prevent its excessive oxidation. According to the reaction conditions, adjust the conditions in a timely manner to gradually oxidize ethylene glycol to glycolic acid. After the reaction is completed, high-purity glycolic acid is obtained by refining.

Those who make glycolic acid must carefully observe each step of the reaction and control the conditions in order to achieve its work and obtain high-quality products.