General Description
Synonyms: Araboascorbic acid; d-araboascorbic acid; D-2,3-didehydro-erythro-hexono-1,4-lactone; E315; erycorbin; d-erythorbic acid; Derythro-hex-2-enoic acid; D-erythro-3-ketohexonic acid lactone; glucosaccharonic acid; D-isoascorbic acid; isovitamin C; g-lactone; saccharosonic acid.
Description: Erythorbic acid occurs as a white or slightly yellow-colored crystals or powder. It gradually darkens in color upon exposure to light.
Chemical Name: Isoascorbic acid
Uses
Erythorbic acid is a stereoisomer of L-ascorbic acid, and is used as an antioxidant in foods and oral pharmaceutical formulations.
It has approximately 5% of the vitamin C activity of L-ascorbic acid.
Incompatibilities
Erythorbic acid is incompatible with chemically active metals such as aluminum, copper, magnesium, and zinc. It is also incompatible with strong bases and strong oxidizing agents.
Safety
Erythorbic acid is widely used in food applications as an antioxidant. It is also used in oral pharmaceutical applications as an antioxidant. Erythorbic acid is generally regarded as nontoxic and nonirritant when used as an excipient. Erythorbic acid is readily metabolized and does not affect the urinary excretion of ascorbic acid.
Handling Precautions
Observe normal precautions appropriate to the circumstances and quantity of material handled. When heated to decomposition, erythorbic acid emits acrid smoke and irritating fumes.
Related Substances
Ascorbic acid; sodium erythorbate