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.

• Supplier: CD Formulation
• Product #: PE-0449
• product1: Pharmaceutical Excipients
• Molecular Formula: C4H6O6
• Molecular Weight: 150.09
• Applications: 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.
• Safety:
  • 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.
  • An acceptable daily intake for L-(+)-tartaric acid has not been set by the WHO, although an acceptable daily intake of up to 30 mg/kg body-weight for monosodium L-(+)-tartrate has been established.
  • LD50 (mouse, IV): 0.49 g/kg
• Incompatibilities: Tartaric acid is incompatible with silver and reacts with metal carbonates and bicarbonates (a property exploited in effervescent preparations).
• Synonyms: Acidum tartaricum; L-(+)-2 , 3-dihydroxybutanedioic acid; (2R, 3R)- dihydroxybutane-1, 4-dioic acid; d- tartaric acid; 2 , 3-dihydroxysuccinic acid; L-(+)- tartaric acid
• CAS Number: 87-69-4
• Category: Effervescents
• UNII: W4888I119H
• Chemical Name: (2R, 3R)-2, 3-Dihydroxybutanedioic acid
• Administration route: IM and IV; oral; sublingual; topical; rectal and vaginal
• Dosage Form: IM and IV injections; oral solutions, syrups and tablets; sublingual tablets; topical films; rectal and vaginal preparations
• Stability and Storage Conditions: The bulk material is stable and should be stored in a well-closed container in a cool, dry place.
• Source and Preparation: Tartaric acid occurs naturally in many fruits as the free acid or in combination with calcium, magnesium, and potassium. Commercially, L-(+)-tartaric acid is manufactured from potassium tartrate (cream of tartar), a by-product of wine making.Potassium tartrate is treated with hydrochloric acid, followed by the addition of a calcium salt to produce insoluble calcium tartrate. This precipitate is then removed by filtration and reacted with 70% sulfuric acid to yield tartaric acid and calcium sulfate.