Tartaric Acid

Synonyms: Acidum tartaricum; L-(þ)-2,3-dihydroxybutanedioic acid; (2R,3R)- 2,3-dihydroxybutane-1,4-dioic acid; 2,3-dihydroxysuccinic acid; E334; d-tartaric acid; L-(þ)-tartaric acid.

Description: Tartaric acid occurs as colorless monoclinic crystals, or a white or almost white crystalline powder. It is odorless, with an extremely tart taste.

Chemical Name: [R-(R*,R*)]-2,3-Dihydroxybutanedioic acid

Acidifying agent; flavoring agent; sequestering agent.

• Tartaric acid is used in beverages, confectionery, food products, and pharmaceutical formulations as an acidulant.

• It may also be used as a sequestering agent and as an antioxidant synergist. In pharmaceutical formulations, it is widely used in combination with bicarbonates, as the acid component of effervescent granules, powders, and tablets.

• Tartaric acid is also used to form molecular compounds (salts and cocrystals) with active pharmaceutical ingredients to improve physicochemical properties such as dissolution rate and solubility

Tartaric acid is incompatible with silver and reacts with metal carbonates and bicarbonates (a property exploited in effervescent preparations).

Tartaric acid is widely used in food products and oral, topical, and parenteral pharmaceutical formulations. It is generally regarded as a nontoxic and nonirritant material; however, strong tartaric acid solutions are mildly irritant and if ingested undiluted may cause gastroenteritis.

Observe normal precautions appropriate to the circumstances and quantity of material handled. Tartaric acid may be irritant to the eyes; eye protection and rubber or plastic gloves are recommended. When heated to decomposition, tartaric acid emits acrid smoke and fumes.

Citric acid monohydrate; fumaric acid; malic acid.