DL-Tartaric acid monohydrate stands as a synthetic organic compound carrying the chemical formula C4H6O6·H2O. The “DL” prefix points toward equal parts of dextrorotatory and levorotatory tartaric acid, resulting in a racemic mix. In practical terms, this means the material lacks optical activity, unlike its more specific cousins, L- or D-tartaric acid. Crunching down the structure, you’ll see hydrogen, carbon, and oxygen arranged into a dicarboxylic acid backbone, and the addition of one water molecule brings on the “monohydrate.” This water content gives the material a softer touch than its anhydrate brother, changing its handling and shelf stability just enough to warrant careful storage and use in manufacturing lines. Used both as a raw material and a processing aid, its versatility stretches across pharmaceuticals, food, chemicals, and industrial production. For anyone ever loading up a mixing drum or running a batch crystallizer, the physical properties really matter.
In a production setting, DL-tartaric acid monohydrate appears as a white, crystalline solid, sometimes crushed into a free-flowing powder with a faint sheen. Flake and pearl shapes come from specific crystallization controls but don’t affect the core chemistry. Pure, it carries a slightly sour taste, a relic of its role as an acidulant for flavorings. Its molecular weight lands at 188.14 g/mol, a noticeable bump from anhydrous tartaric acid thanks to the hydrate. Weighing the bulk, you’ll get a density close to 1.79 g/cm3. It dissolves in water with ease, releasing the tart by-products of its acidic nature, which means it’s right at home in solution forms across laboratories and food lines. The melting point sits around 100°C, where water drives off and pure tartaric acid remains. Chemically, it offers two carboxy groups and two hydroxyl groups, which give it plenty of handles for reactivity or chelation, especially useful for metal ion separation in both analysis and purification scenarios.
Walk into a warehouse or browse a catalog, and you’ll notice DL-tartaric acid monohydrate available in a range of pack forms — from 25kg fiber drums and triple-laminated bags, to bulk or customized lots. The substance is sold as flakes, crystalline solids, fine powder, and in some cases, pre-weighed pearls. Liquid and solution variants stay rare due to stability: most users dissolve the crystals just before use to maintain integrity and keep microbial action at bay. Grades may shift slightly depending on application: food, pharmaceutical, technical, and analytical, with purity levels ranging from 99.0% up for most markets. Impurities like sulfate, chloride, iron, and heavy metals sit well below regulatory tolerances, backed by lab certification to guarantee repeat results.
Looking at trade documentation, DL-tartaric acid monohydrate falls under the HS Code 2918.12, which streamlines its cross-border movement and sets standards for import and export controls. This code shorthands classification for customs, taxation, and compliance with international chemical regulations. Reliable certificate of analysis documentation follows every major shipment, showing molecular formula, specific gravity, and bulk density — all essentials for anyone running a quality-control station or mixing batch-level raw materials. Thanks to its well-characterized structure and long-standing industrial use, safety data and regulatory benchmarks can be sourced quickly via country-level chemical registries or international directories.
Dealing with DL-tartaric acid monohydrate won’t spark the same worries as more volatile chemicals, but safety in the plant or lab still deserves attention. At scale, the white powder floats easily on a stray gust, so dust control and local exhaust matter during transfer, mixing, or weighing. The material irritates eyes, skin, and airway mucosa — so gloves and goggles make sense. Swallowing large amounts will throw the body’s acid-base balance off. Spilled powder can become slick when wet, so cleanup with dry tools and disposal in line with chemical waste rules feels necessary. Packed in strong, moisture-proof containers, the shelf life stretches for years, but humidity or air leaks cause caking and loss of free-flow — a headache for automatic feeders. Disposal in approved sites is critical, and direct environmental exposure ought to be avoided, as with most acids.
Industry values DL-tartaric acid monohydrate for more than just its sour taste or chirality. It functions as a mordant in dyeing, a coagulant in food, and a stabilizer for some chemical syntheses. In winemaking, it adjusts acidity, though the natural L-form dominates this space; racemic DL finds its way more often into industrial and non-food settings. As a raw material, it sits in the supply chain for making specialty esters, chelating agents, and sometimes even pharmaceuticals. Some plants run into storage challenges — caking, moisture ingress, and inconsistent bulk density mean inventory turnover and storage conditions draw attention. Solutions lean toward dehumidified storage, airtight packaging, regular monitoring, and clear batch labeling. Manufacturers often work closely with suppliers to set up on-site testing and quick analysis of both incoming material and finished blends.
Many overlook the way a simple molecule like DL-tartaric acid monohydrate threads its way through food, pharmaceutical, and industrial workflows. As a chemist, I’ve seen production stall just because powder flow changed in one drum, or because the water content drifted in. On paper, the molecule seems simple — in real-world operations, the way it handles decides whether downstream reactions move as planned, whether yields stay high, and whether quality audits pass without red flags. Keeping physical characteristics consistent means fewer batch failures and less wasted effort. Working with DL-tartaric acid monohydrate means attending to both chemistry and logistics, proving that attention to detail isn’t just a guideline — it’s a baseline for safety, reliability, and quality.
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