Potassium tartrate, dipotassium tartrate or argol has formula K
2C
4H
4O
6. It is the
potassium salt of
tartaric acid. It is often confused with
potassium bitartrate, also known as cream of tartar. As a
food additive
Food additives are substances added to food to preserve flavor or enhance taste, appearance, or other sensory qualities. Some additives have been used for centuries as part of an effort to preserve food, for example vinegar (pickling), salt (salt ...
, it shares the
E number
E numbers ("E" stands for "Europe") are codes for substances used as food additives, including those found naturally in many foods such as vitamin C, for use within the European Union (EU) and European Free Trade Association (EFTA). Commonly ...
E336 with potassium bitartrate.
Potassium bitartrate, also referred to as potassium acid tartrate or cream of tartar, is the potassium acid salt of l-( + )-tartaric acid. It is obtained as a byproduct of wine manufacture during the fermentation process. Approved by the FDA as a direct food substance, potassium bitartrate is used as an additive, stabilizer, pH control agent, antimicrobial agent, processing aid, or thickener in various food products. Potassium bitartrate has a long history of medical use as a laxative administered as a rectal suppository and is an approved third-class OTC drug in Japan.
Potassium bitartrate was one of active ingredients in Phexxi, a non-hormonal contraceptive agent that was approved by the FDA on May 2020.
Manufacturing
Potassium tartrate is produced by the reaction of
tartaric acid with potassium sodium tartrate (
rochelle salt), and
potassium sulfate, followed by filtration, purification, precipitation and drying.
Other compounds
Tartar emetic
Antimony potassium tartrate, also known as potassium antimonyl tartrate, potassium antimontarterate, or tartar emetic, has the formula K2Sb2(C4H2O6)2. The compound has long been known as a powerful emetic, and was used in the treatment of schistos ...
is produced when potassium tartrate is heated with
antimony trioxide
Antimony(III) oxide is the inorganic compound with the formula Sb2O3. It is the most important commercial compound of antimony. It is found in nature as the minerals valentinite and senarmontite. Like most polymeric oxides, Sb2O3 dissolves in a ...
. Tartar emetic causes intense nausea, prostration and vomiting by irritating the gastrointestinal mucosa.https://go.drugbank.com/drugs/DB11107
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Potassium Tartrate
Potassium compounds
Tartrates
Food acidity regulators
Food antioxidants
E-number additives