Tannic acid
General Product Information
| Article | Tannic acid |
| Synonyms | Acidum tannicum, Gallotannic acid, Digallic acid, Gallotannin, Tannimum, Quercitannin, Oak bark tannin, Quercotannic acid, Querci-tannic acid, Querco-tannic acid |
| CAS No. | 1401-55-4 |
| EEG No. | – |
| EINECS No. | 215-753-2 |
| IMO | – |
| Tariff Code | 32019090 |
| UN No. | – |
| VLG/ADR | – |
Description
Tannic acid is a plant polyphenol and belongs to the hydrolyzable tannins. It occurs naturally in bark, leaves, wood and gall apples of various tree species such as oak and chestnut. Tannic acid is industrially extracted from natural sources or extracted using solvents. It is a light-colored to brown powder that is highly soluble in water, ethanol and acetone. This substance is known for its strong astringent effect (astringent properties) and is widely used in commercial and industrial applications.
Characteristics
- Odor: Slightly spicy to Odorless.
- Hygroscopic: –
- Color: Light yellow to brown.
- Grade: Food.
- Solubility: Highly soluble in water, ethanol and acetone; insoluble in non-polar solvents such as chloroform.
- Taste: Bitter, tart.
- Shape: Powder.
Physical & Chemical Properties
| Chemical Structure | C76H52O46 |
| Molar Weight | Approx. 1701.2 g/mol |
| Melting Point | Approx. 210-218 °C. |
| Boiling Point | – |
| Density | Approx. 1.3 g/cm³. |
| Refractive Index | – |
| pH | Approx. 3.5 (on 1% solution) |
Interessing Links
- Codex Alimentarius (FAO/WHO) – Guidelines and standards for food additives and ingredients.
- European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) – For chemical information and regulations.
- European Food Information Council (EFIC)
- European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) – Information on the safety and uses of food additives and ingredients.
- PubChem – Tannic Acid – Chemical information by the National Library of Medicine of the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NIH-NCBI).
- Wikipedia -Tannic acid
Applications
Tannic acid is applied in various ways, for instance:
1. Food Industry
As a natural antioxidant, preservative and color stabilizer in wine, beer and fruit juices.
2. Pharmaceutical Industry
Used for its astringent, anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial effects. It is incorporated into ointments, gargle drinks and medicines for diarrhea.
3. Environmental Technology
Used as a coagulant in water treatment processes to bind metals or toxins.
4. Textile & Leather Industry
Tannic acid acts as a tanning and dyeing agent. In leather processing, it helps at cross-linking proteins to make the material more durable.
5. Laboratories
As a reagent at protein precipitation and in chemical syntheses.