Tartaric acid

DL-Tartaric acid

DL-tartaric acid is colorless and transparent prismatic crystals, or white fine to coarse crystalline powder. There is a grape and white lemon-like aroma. It tastes sour. Stable in air. Non-hygroscopic. The acidity is about 1.2 to 1.3 times that of citric acid. Easily soluble in water, insoluble in chloroform.

DL-Tartaric acid is used as a synergist for antioxidants, emulsifier, sequestrant and flavoring agent. It is also added with citric acid to prepare effervescent salts, thereby enhancing the taste of oral medications. It is also utilized in pigments, processing aids, ink, toner and colorant products. It acts as a chelating agent in metal and farming industries. Further, it is used as lubricant and grease. It is mixed with sodium bicarbonate and used as a leavening agent in food preparation. In the pharmaceutical industry, it is utilized in the preparation of tartar emetic, which is used in cough syrup as an expectorant.

L(+)-Tartaric acid

Tartaric acid occurs as colorless monoclinic crystals, or a white or almost white crystalline powder. It is odorless, with an extremely tart taste. L-(+)-Tartaric Acid is a naturally occurring chemical compound found in berries, grapes and various wines. It provides antioxidant properties and contributes to the sour taste within these products.

In the soft drink industry, confectionery products, bakery products, gelatin desserts, as an acidulant. In photography, tanning, ceramics, manufacture of tartrates. The common commercial esters are the diethyl and dibutyl derivatives used for lacquers and in textile printing. Pharmaceutic aid (buffering agent).
It is also widely utilized in pharmaceutical industries. It is used in soft drinks, confectionaries, food products, gelatin desserts and as a buffering agent. It forms a compound, TiCl2(O-i-Pr)2 with Diels-Alder catalyst and acta as a chelate agent in metal industries. Owing to its efficient chelating property towards metal ions, it is used in farming and metal industries for complexing micronutrients and for cleaning metal surfaces, respectively.

D(-)-Tartaric acid 

Tartaric acid is a carboxylic acid that is found in a variety of plants, such as grapes and tamarind. It is also one of the main organic acids in wine. Tartaric acid is an antioxidant added to food to give it a sour taste. Tartaric acid is similar to citric acid and can be used in the food industry, such as in the manufacture of beverages. Tartaric acid and tannins can be used together as mordants for acid dyes. Tartaric acid can complex with a variety of metal ions and can be used as a cleaning agent and polishing agent for metal surfaces.