What is ADIPIC ACID? | What Is That Ingredient

What is ADIPIC ACID?

Adipic Acid is found naturally in beets, but is produced via an industrial chemical processes.

More information about ADIPIC ACID.

Small but significant amounts of adipic acid are used as a food ingredient as a flavorant and gelling aid. It is used in some calcium carbonate antacids to make them tart. As an acidulant in baking powders, it avoids the undesirable hygroscopic properties of tartaric acid.

Food oil manufacturers add Adipic acid to their edible oils in order to prolong the time it takes for bottled oils to become rancid. When used as a food acidulant in products, acidic acid is clearly identified in the ingredient list by its name or food additive number 355.

(a) Adipic acid (C6H10O4, CAS Reg. No. 00124-04-9) is also known as 1,4-butanedicarboxylic acid or hexane-dioic acid. It is prepared by nitric acid oxidation of cyclohexanol or cyclohexanone or a mixture of the two. (b) The ingredient meets the specifications of the Food Chemicals Codex, 3d Ed.

Adipic acid is a dicarboxylic acid with the lowest acidity of commonly used food acids. It is a food additive which serves several functions in jams, beverages and baked goods.