Maleic Acid: Properties, Applications and Safety Overview

Maleic acid, a dicarboxylic unsaturated organic acid, is an important industrial chemical with wide-ranging applications. This article examines its key characteristics, commercial uses, and handling precautions.

Table 1: Physical and Chemical Properties

Maleic acid exhibits higher acidity and solubility compared to its trans-isomer (fumaric acid), making it more reactive in chemical processes.

Table 2: Major Industrial Applications

The polymer industry accounts for approximately 65% of global maleic acid consumption, primarily for resin production.

Table 3: Safety and Handling Guidelines

Key Technical Considerations:

• Readily undergoes addition reactions at the double bond
• Forms anhydride at temperatures above 140°C
• Exhibits strong chelating properties
• Serves as precursor for malic, fumaric, and tartaric acids

Recent market trends show:

• Growing demand for maleic anhydride derivatives
• Development of bio-based production methods
• Increased use in water treatment chemicals

Global production exceeds 1.8 million metric tons annually, with Asia-Pacific being the dominant manufacturing region. Future applications may expand in sustainable material development and specialty chemicals.