Tartaric acid is an organic acid that has wide applications, including as an acidulant in the food and drinks industry and in pharmaceuticals. It has particular importance in the winemaking process. It exists in several forms with L(+)-tartaric acid being the form that is used commercially.
Naturally present in grapes and certain other fruits, tartaric acid can be obtained from waste products of the winemaking industry. Additionally it can also be produced synthetically using maleic anhydride, which is made from petrochemicals. The synthetic tartaric acid is cheaper than the natural and is increasingly being used in the industry. As consumers are placing increasing value on renewably sourced natural products, therefore being able to back up “natural” claims is crucial.
The European Union regulates the source of tartaric acid used in winemaking, stating that any L(+)-tartaric acid used must be extracted from wine products and be of agricultural origin (Commission Regulation (EC) No 606/2009, Appendix 2). In this case verifying the tartaric acid used is not a petrochemical synthetic has an even greater significance.
Carbon-14 Natural Product Testing
Carbon-14 testing is able to distinguish between plant-based natural products and petrochemical-sourced products. Naturally sourced products will have a known amount of Carbon-14, whereas products made from petrochemicals do not contain Carbon-14.
In the context of tartaric acid, Carbon-14 natural product testing shows what percentage of the product tested is naturally sourced. This makes it an ideal method for determining whether the tartaric acid being used was produced from petrochemicals or natural sources, and is especially applicable to the EU winemaking industry. Carbon-14 analysis is not able to distinguish between different natural sources of tartaric acid.
Beta Analytic – A Natural Products Laboratory
Beta Analytic is an ISO/IEC 17025:2005 accredited radiocarbon analysis laboratory that reports results for natural product testing according to ISO 16620-2 8.3.2: biobased carbon content as a fraction of total carbon. Results are provided in 2-5 business days by the Miami-based lab. For inquiries, contact Beta Analytic at info@betalabservices.com or call a local forwarding office.
References:
Commission Regulation (EC) No 606/2009 laying down certain detailed rules for implementing Council Regulation (EC) No 479/2008 as regards the categories of grapevine products, oenological practices and the applicable restrictions. 2009. OJ L 193/1–59.
ICF International. 2011. Tartaric Acid: Technical Evaluation Report. Available at https://www.ams.usda.gov/rules-regulations/organic/national-list/t (accessed June 2017).
IHS Markit. 2017. Chemical Economics Handbook: Tartaric Acid. Available at https://www.ihs.com/products/tartaric-acid-chemical-economics-handbook.html (accessed June 2017).