Tartaric Acid

About Tartaric Acid

Tartaric Acid, also known as 2,3-dihydroxybutanedioic -1,4-diodic acid, it is a naturally occurring dicarboxylic acid containing two stereocenters, with a chemical formula of C₄H₆O₆ . Tartaric Acid is an organic compound that naturally occurs in many fruits like grapes, bananas, tamarind, and citrus. Its salt (monopotassium) is found as a deposit during fermentation, mostly in grape juice. It appears as colorless clear white crystals or powder, odorless with an acidic taste.

It is commercially manufactured from potassium hydrogen tartrate, wine tartar, tartrate of lime (calcium tartrate) wine lees, argol (crystalline deposits on the sides of containers in which alcoholic fermentation occurs), and cream of tartar, which is a by-product utilized for the wine-making industry, all these compounds are known as tartar raw materials; it can also be obtained from racemic Acid or from the D-xylose compound.

Tartaric Acid is soluble in lower alcohols, dioxane, and tetrahydrofuran and highly soluble in water. Solubility in water increases linearly with temperature.

Tartaric Acid has countless applications in the industry: pharmaceutical, food, soft drinks, dental materials, ceramics, paints, electrochemical coatings, and piezoelectric devices; it is also used as a by-product of the wine industry (potassium hydrogen tartrate, so-called cream of tartar) and as a chiral additive in the asymmetric reduction of functionalized ketones by sodium borohydride.

In pharmaceuticals, its major use is in effervescent saline preparations, which have laxative properties.

Food uses are in baking powder (working together with cream of tartar) and as a flavoring in gelatin, jellies, preserves, candies, and soups; it is also utilized in soft and carbonated drinks. Industrial uses are in the manufacture of the cuprammonium type of rayon, in photography, and in the dyeing and printing of textiles.

Common Uses and Applications

• Leavening and baking soda agent
• Flavoring ingredient
• Laxative compound
• Dental material
• Ceramics and paint agent
• Wine additive
• Antioxidant
• Tasting reagent of oral medications

Industries

• Food
• Soft And Carbonated Acidic Drinks
• Pharmaceutical
• Wine
• Cleaning And Polishing
• Photographic Printing
• Wool Dyeing