What Is the Difference Between L and DL Tartaric Acid?

Tartaric acid is a naturally occurring organic acid that is found in various fruits such as grapes, tamarinds, and bananas. It is widely used in the food and beverage industry as a natural acidulant and preservative. Tartaric acid is available in two forms - L-tartaric acid and D-tartaric acid. Both forms have different physical and chemical properties and are used for different applications.

L-tartaric acid is a naturally occurring stereoisomer of tartaric acid. It is also known as levotartaric acid because it rotates the plane of polarized light to the left. L-tartaric acid has a melting point of 165-170°C and a specific gravity of 1.76. It is soluble in water, ethanol, and ether. L-tartaric acid is commonly used in the food and beverage industry as an acidulant, sequestrant, and flavoring agent. It is also used in the pharmaceutical industry as a chiral intermediate.

D-tartaric acid, on the other hand, is the mirror image of L-tartaric acid. It is also known as dextrotartaric acid because it rotates the plane of polarized light to the right. D-tartaric acid has a melting point of 122-125°C and a specific gravity of 1.76. It is also soluble in water, ethanol, and ether. D-tartaric acid is commonly used in the production of tartaric acid derivatives, such as tartaric acid esters, and in the pharmaceutical industry as a chiral intermediate.

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DL-tartaric acid is a racemic mixture of L-tartaric acid and D-tartaric acid. It is obtained by the neutralization of natural tartaric acid with a base such as calcium carbonate. DL-tartaric acid has a melting point of 206-209°C and a specific gravity of 1.79. It is soluble in water, ethanol, and ether. DL-tartaric acid is commonly used in the food and beverage industry as an acidulant and flavoring agent. It is also used in the pharmaceutical industry as a chiral intermediate.

The main difference between L-tartaric acid and DL-tartaric acid is their optical activity. L-tartaric acid is optically active, meaning it rotates the plane of polarized light to the left, while DL-tartaric acid is not optically active because it is a racemic mixture of both L-tartaric acid and D-tartaric acid. D-tartaric acid is also optically active, but it rotates the plane of polarized light to the right.

Another difference between L-tartaric acid and DL-tartaric acid is their use in the food and beverage industry. L-tartaric acid is commonly used as an acidulant, sequestrant, and flavoring agent, while DL-tartaric acid is mainly used as an acidulant and flavoring agent. DL-tartaric acid is preferred over L-tartaric acid in some applications because it is cheaper and easier to produce. DL-tartaric acid is also used as a component in baking powders and as an acidity regulator in wines and soft drinks.

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