Organic acids and organic acid salts
Based on renewable raw materials like maize, Roquette’s production plant in Italy produces an extensive range of gluconic derivatives: Gluconic acid, Glucono-delta-lactone (GDL) and Sodium gluconate.
Gluconic acid
Gluconic acid belongs to the family of organic acids used in foods in the same way as citric acid, lactic acid, etc. It is obtained from D-glucose by a process of oxidation by fermentation.
Gluconic acid is a complexing agent whose notable feature is that it is non-toxic and biodegradable. As a weak acid, it is much less corrosive than conventional mineral acids. It thus turns out to be very advantageous in numerous applications, including surface treatment, detergency, and the dissolution of trace elements.
Glucono-delta-lactone (GDL)
Glucono-delta-lactone (GDL) is a product sourced from plant-based raw materials found naturally in honey and grapes, amongst others. After the dehydration of gluconic acid (elimination of a water molecule), we obtain glucono-delta-lactone. Roquette expertise guarantees a very pure, crystallized GDL (and several particle sizes are available).
Highly soluble in water, GDL is progressively hydrolyzed into gluconic acid, resulting in a regular fall in pH. It can thus be considered a progressive acidifying agent.
The acidifying character of GDL gives it interesting functionalities as a raising agent; GDL also helps to reduce salt content and even improve the conservation of foodstuffs. The neutral flavor of GDL is also a property of importance in this product.
GDL is one of the many functional solutions that the Roquette group offers to the food processing industry and, more specifically, the cheese-making, bakery and culinary products sectors.
Sodium gluconate
Sodium gluconate is the sodium salt obtained from gluconic acid. Sodium gluconate is a first class sequestering agent as it combines excellent stabilising and chelating properties, particularly under extreme conditions (high alkalinity, high temperatures), with remarkable biodegradability qualities.
It is therefore employed in numerous industries, such as for:
- Surface treatment of metals: removes grease from metals, gives aluminium a satin finish.
- Adjuvants for concretes where it is appreciated as a water-reducing plastifying agent and as a retarding agent.
- Industrial detergency: cleaning bottles, industrial plant, etc.
- Plaster, phytosanitary products, etc.
- Roquette sodium gluconate is available in the form of powder or liquid (45% dry matter).
