Product Name: Meta-Tartaric Acid
Chemical Name: 2,3-Dihydroxybutanedioic acid, polymer
CAS Number: 35737-55-6
Synonyms: Metatartaric acid, Dehydrated tartaric acid
Recommended Use: Acidulant and stabilizer, usually in wine and food processes
Manufacturer: Commonly produced by suppliers in the food industry and chemical manufacturers
Contact Information: Refer to supplier’s contact details for safety and emergency information
Emergency Telephone: Refer to laboratory or workplace established emergency contact
Classification: Irritant to eyes, respiratory tract, and skin
Risk Phrases: R36: Irritating to eyes; R37/38: Irritating to respiratory system and skin
Signal Word: Warning
Hazard Statements: Causes serious eye irritation. Skin contact can provoke rash or irritants with repeated or prolonged exposure.
Pictograms: Exclamation mark (irritant)
Acute Symptoms: Redness, tearing, cough, sneeze, slight burning sensation
Chronic Exposure Effects: Prolonged inhalation or skin contact increases sensitivity; no evidence of carcinogenicity from typical workplace use
Chemical Formula: (C4H6O6)n, polymerized tartaric acid
Purity: >90% by weight as meta-tartaric acid
Impurities: Small amounts of unreacted tartaric acid; trace moisture residual
Ingredient Content: Main component meta-tartaric acid; nonhazardous impurities typical of food-grade materials
Hazardous Components: No regulated hazardous additives per GHS/OSHA criteria
Additional Notes: Avoid confusion with monomeric tartaric acid
Eye Contact: Rinse with gentle stream of water for at least 15 minutes; hold eyelids apart to ensure thorough irrigation; seek medical advice if discomfort persists
Skin Contact: Remove contaminated clothing; wash area generously with soap and water; apply skin cream if irritation appears and consult a healthcare provider for persistent redness
Inhalation: Move to fresh air; encourage slow, relaxed breathing; monitor for cough or irritation; medical help if symptoms continue
Ingestion: Rinse mouth; drink water to dilute, avoid induction of vomiting; seek medical evaluation for significant ingestion or persistent symptoms
General Guidance: Show this safety data sheet to medical staff when obtaining treatment
Suitable Extinguishing Media: Use water spray, dry chemical, foam, or carbon dioxide
Unsuitable Extinguishing Media: Avoid direct strong water jets as they may spread product
Special Hazards: Decomposition produces carbon oxides; may generate acrid smoke in large fires
Fire-fighter Protection: Wear self-contained breathing apparatus and chemical-protective clothing
Fire and Explosion Data: Product does not combust readily; dust may form explosive mixture with air if dispersed
Advice for Firefighters: Move containers from fire if safe, cool closed containers with water spray
Personal Precautions: Avoid breathing dust, ensure adequate ventilation, use gloves and goggles to reduce contact
Environmental Precautions: Prevent from entering waterways or drains, sweep up promptly and avoid run-off
Spill Cleanup: Sweep or vacuum up material, dampen with water to prevent dust, deposit in suitable containers for disposal
Methods for Clean-up: Use non-sparking tools and place residues in labeled chemical waste bins
Additional Precautions: Wash spill area after cleanup; ventilate area as needed
Precautions for Safe Handling: Minimize dust creation, avoid spills, wear protective gloves and goggles, wash hands thoroughly after use
Advice on General Hygiene: Change out of contaminated clothing, eat or drink away from product, know the location of eyewash stations
Storage Conditions: Keep tightly sealed in original container, store in cool, dry, well-ventilated location, protect from moisture and strong oxidizing agents
Incompatibilities: Avoid storage near strong bases and oxidizing chemicals
Storage Class: Chemical storage, lower hazard materials section is suitable
Occupational Exposure Limit: No established limit for meta-tartaric acid, use typical nuisance dust threshold (10 mg/m³ inhalable dust)
Engineering Controls: Use local exhaust ventilation if dust is generated or for bulk handling
Personal Protective Equipment: Non-leather durable rubber gloves, safety goggles, particulate-filter mask (N95 or equivalent) for high dust settings
Hygiene Measures: Wash exposed skin after handling, keep food and drink away from work space, do not inhale powder
Control of Environmental Exposure: Avoid direct release into soil or water systems
Appearance: Fine, white to off-white powder
Odor: Largely odorless or faintly acidic
Molecular Weight: Variable (polymerized form), typically between 150 and 200 g/mol for short chains
Boiling Point: Not practical; decomposes before boiling
Melting Point: Softens at 150–170°C; decomposes without clear melting
Solubility in Water: Soluble, higher temperatures speed up dissolution
pH (1% solution): 2.5 to 3.5
Vapor Pressure: Negligible at ambient temperature
Flash Point: Not flammable under normal conditions
Density: 1.6 g/cm³
Decomposition Temperature: >170°C with release of carbon oxides
Auto-Ignition Temperature: No data available; not anticipated to self-ignite
Partition Coefficient (log Kow): No data; expected to be low (hydrophilic)
Chemical Stability: Stable under recommended handling and storage
Reactivity: Non-reactive with most common substances
Conditions to Avoid: High temperatures, excess moisture, strong oxidizing agents
Incompatible Materials: Oxidizers such as sodium hypochlorite or peroxides, strong bases
Hazardous Decomposition Products: Forms carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide under high heat
Polymerization: Not known to undergo hazardous polymerization under standard conditions
Acute Toxicity: Low toxicity; oral LD50 (rat) > 2000 mg/kg
Routes of Entry: Eye, skin contact, inhalation, ingestion
Effects of Short-term Exposure: Eye and skin irritation, mild cough or abdominal discomfort
Effects of Chronic Exposure: No observed human carcinogenic or reproductive effects reported; pets or children may show stronger effects after accidental ingestion
Specific Effects: May irritate sensitive skin, dust can aggravate existing asthma
Sensitization: No evidence for allergic or delayed-type sensitization
Carcinogenicity: Not listed as carcinogen by IARC, NTP, OSHA
Other Data: Widely used in food industry without significant adverse reports among exposed workers
Ecotoxicity: Not classified as dangerous for environment; low toxicity for aquatic organisms
Aquatic Toxicity: LC50 (fish, 96 h) > 1000 mg/L
Persistence and Degradability: Readily biodegradable, breaks down to CO₂ and water in soil and water
Bioaccumulative Potential: Low; polymeric organic acids do not readily build up in tissues
Mobility in Soil: High solubility leads to easy leaching, but low risk of groundwater contamination due to rapid breakdown
Other Adverse Effects: None anticipated if managed in typical industrial or laboratory settings
Waste Disposal Methods: Dispose as nonhazardous industrial or laboratory waste; consult local disposal authority to check for any region-specific regulations
Container Disposal: Rinse thoroughly, recycle if possible or follow local procedures for chemical containers
Precautions: Prevent dust from entering air, sweep up dry materials before thorough cleaning
Disposal in Sewer/Water: Avoid substantial releases; small traces not expected to cause harm if adequately diluted
Regulatory Reference: Not a hazardous waste under RCRA or comparable international standards
UN Number: Not regulated for transport
Proper Shipping Name: Not classified as dangerous good
Transport Hazard Class: Not applicable
Packing Group: Not required
Labeling: No special labeling needed outside normal product labeling
Environmental Hazards: None known
Special Precautions: Avoid package ruptures during transport, store upright to prevent accidental spills
International Inventories: Registered with major inventories (TSCA, EINECS, DSL, AICS, etc.)
GHS Classification: Acute Toxicity Category 5, Eye Irritation Category 2B
OSHA Regulations: General duty to ensure safe handling and provide safety training
SARA Title III: Not considered to contain hazardous ingredients above threshold reporting levels
Food Additive Status: Approved by FDA as GRAS (Generally Recognized as Safe) for select uses
Labeling Requirements: Standard chemical safety labeling with irritant pictogram where required
Workplace Controls: Maintain safety data sheets accessible to workers, supply basic PPE
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