L(+)-Lactic Acid

Introduction

Lactic acid is an organic acid occurring naturally in the human body and in fermented foods. It is used in a wide range of food, beverages, personal care, healthcare, home care, animal nutrition and chemical products as a mild acidity regulator with flavour enhancing and antibacterial properties. The commercial production of lactic acid is typically done by fermentation. Because the L(+) form is preferred for its better metabolisation, Jungbunzlauer has chosen to produce pure L(+)-lactic acid by traditional fermentation of natural carbohydrates.

Jungbunzlauer L(+)-lactic acid is a colourless to yellowish, nearly odourless, syrupy liquid with a mild acid taste. It is commercially available as aqueous solutions of various concentrations. These solutions are stable under normal storage conditions.
Lactic acid is non-toxic to humans and the environment, but concentrated solutions of lactic acid can cause skin corrosion and eye damage. They have thus to be labelled with a hazard pictogram and related statements. Lactic acid is readily biodegradable.

Functions

This ingredient offers you the following excellent functions.

• Disinfection ​
• Exfoliation​
• Mild acidification​
• pH-Regulation​
• Preservation​

Specifications

Jungbunzlauer L(+)-lactic acid food grade is supplied in accordance with the requirements of Commission Regulation (EU) No 231/2012 and of the latest edition of the Food Chemicals Codex (FCC). Jungbunzlauer also proposes L(+)-lactic acid in high quality personal care, pharmaceutical starting material grade, technical and biocidal grades. Our feed grades meet the requirements of Regulations (EC) No 1831/2003 and (EC) No 183/2005. Several grades and types of Jungbunzlauer L(+)-lactic acid are currently available:

Food grade solutions:
80% and 80% heat stable
88% and 88% heat stable
90% heat stable

Feed grade solutions:
80% and 88% (clear/yellowish)
80% (brown)
Personal care grade solutions:
90% heat stable

Pharmaceutical starting material grade solutions:
90% heat stable

Technical grade solutions:
80% and 88%

Biocidal grade solutions:
80% heat stable
88% heat stable

Jungbunzlauer L(+)-lactic acid is supplied in bulk, in intermediate bulk containers (IBCs) with 1200kg net weight (1100kg net for the 50% solutions), in drums with 250kg net weight (240kg net for the 50% solutions) and in small drums with 25kg net content (22.5kg for the 50% solutions). Feed grades are supplied in bulk and IBCs.

Legal aspects

In Europe, lactic acid is listed as a generally permitted food additive (E270) and may be added to all foodstuffs, following the ‘quantum satis’ principle, as long as no special regulation restricts the use.

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) affirmed lactic acid as Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) substance and permitted the use in food except infant food with no limitation other than current good manufacturing practice for use as antimicrobial agent, curing or pickling agent, flavor enhancer, flavoring agent or adjuvant, pH-control agent, solvent or vehicle (CFR § 184.1061).

For biocidal uses, L(+)-lactic acid is approved as active substance in the EU in product type (PT) 1 (human hygiene), PT 2 (surface disinfection), PT 3 (veterinary hygiene), PT 4 (food-contact surface disinfection) and PT6 (in-can preservation) according to the Biocidal Products Regulation (EU) 528/2012 (BPR). Jungbunzlauer is an admitted supplier for all mentioned PTs (Art. 95 listing). Further, Jungbunzlauer L(+)-lactic acid is registered at US EPA as manufacturing use product for the preparation of biocidal products.

Jungbunzlauer L(+)-lactic acid has been registered according to REACH Regulation at the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) in 2012. The REACH registration number of Jungbunzlauer L(+)-lactic acid is 01-2119474164-39-0004.