Glutaraldehyde

Glutaraldehyde (CAS 111-30-8), also known as glutaric dialdehyde and GA 50%, is a reactive dialdehyde used as a biocide and fixative.

Where is Glutaraldehyde used?

• Water treatment: microbial control in cooling towers, oilfield injection systems and industrial process water where oxidizing biocides are unsuitable
• Leather and textile processing: cross-linking of collagen fibers during tanning, wet strength and dimensional stability
• Biotechnology and life sciences: tissue fixative and enzyme immobilization agent for histology, diagnostic kits and biosensors
• Personal care: preservative booster in rinse-off products
• Its dual aldehyde groups form stable bonds with proteins and other biological substrates.
• X-ray processing.
• Inactivation of bacterial toxins to create toxoid vaccines, such as the pertussis toxoid component in the Boostrix Tdap vaccine manufactured by GlaxoSmithKline.
• Immobilizing agent for glucose isomerase enzyme preparations in high-fructose corn syrup production.

Good to know: Not to be confused with other dialdehydes; 25% and lower-concentration grades require diluted handling and specific safety protocols.

Formulation notes

• In cooling tower water treatment, the final concentration after dosing is about 50 to 100 ppm w/v.
• For disinfection of medical instruments, solutions of 1% or 2% are normally used, but the industry trend is toward 1% due to occupational hazards.
• Incompatible with strong acids, strong bases, and strong oxidizing agents.
• Common compounds that can interfere are primary amines, ammonia, and bisulfite-based oxygen scavengers.

Typical specification

• Rarely sold or used in pure form; generally found as an aqueous solution with concentration between 1 and 50%.
• Commercial solutions usually contain a stabilizer at low concentration (e.g. methanol, between 0.05 and 0.5%) to slow gradual polymerization.
• Effective over a wide pH range, typically pH 6.5 to 9.0.
• Loses efficacy at temperatures above 50°C (50 °C), but this loss appears to depend largely on pH and water chemistry.

Regulatory status

• Has the harmonised index number 605-022-00-X under Annex VI of the CLP Regulation.
• For transport, classified as UN hazard class 6.1 with UN packing group III.
• The German MAK value is 0.21 mg/m3 (0.05 ppm), peak limit category I(2).
• On the World Health Organization's Model List of Essential Medicines.

Storage, packaging and handling

• Acidic solutions stored at room temperature are quite stable.
• Should be stored protected from light.

Frequently asked questions about Glutaraldehyde

What are the harmonised CLP classification hazards for glutaraldehyde?

Glutaraldehyde causes severe skin burns and serious eye damage under the harmonised CLP classification.

What registrations are available for glutaraldehyde?

Glutaraldehyde is available with FCC and USP registrations.

Technical content is compiled and updated by the SoleChem product team from public technical sources; the certificate of analysis (COA) governs product-specific specifications.