DELTA-GLUCONOLACTONE

Delta-gluconolactone is a water-soluble cyclic ester of D-gluconic acid that gradually hydrolyzes after dissolution.
Delta-gluconolactone provides controlled acidification, pH adjustment, protein coagulation, leavening, sequestration, and formulation support.
Delta-gluconolactone is used in food processing, cosmetics, pharmaceutical formulations, protein gels, chemical synthesis, and selected construction applications.

CAS Number: 90-80-2
EC Number: 202-016-5
Molecular Formula: C₆H₁₀O₆
Molecular Weight: 178.14 g/mol

SYNONYMS

delta-gluconolactone, Delta-Gluconolactone, delta-D-Gluconolactone, D-Glucono-1,5-lactone, D-Glucono-δ-lactone, D-Glucono-delta-lactone, Glucono-delta-lactone, Glucono Delta-Lactone, Glucono Delta Lactone, Gluconodeltalactone, Gluconolactone, D-Gluconolactone, Gluconic Acid Lactone, D-Gluconic Acid Lactone, D-Gluconic Acid Delta-Lactone, Gluconic Acid Delta-Lactone, Gluconic Delta-Lactone, Glucono-1,5-lactone, 1,5-D-Gluconolactone, 1,5-Gluconolactone, D-(+)-Glucono-1,5-lactone, D-(+)-Gluconic Acid Delta-Lactone, D-Aldonolactone, D-Gluconic Acid 1,5-Lactone, Gluconic Acid Intramolecular Ester, D-Gluconic Acid Cyclic Ester, Gluconic Acid 1,5-Lactone, GDL, Food Additive GDL, Food-Grade GDL, E575, E 575, INS 575, Acidity Regulator E575, Raising Agent E575, Sequestrant E575, Slow-Release Acidulant, Delayed Acidifying Agent, Latent Food Acid, Tofu Coagulant GDL, Protein Coagulant GDL, Bakery Acidulant GDL, Meat-Curing Acidulant, Gluconic Acid Precursor, Polyhydroxy Acid Gluconolactone, PHA Gluconolactone, Cosmetic Gluconolactone, Pharmaceutical Gluconolactone, CAS 90-80-2, EC 202-016-5, EINECS 202-016-5, PubChem CID 7027, UNII WQ29KQ9POT, C₆H₁₀O₆

APPLICATIONS

Delta-gluconolactone serves as a gradual acidifying coagulant in silken and soft tofu production.
Delta-gluconolactone lowers the pH of heated soymilk progressively and supports formation of a smooth and uniform protein gel.

Delta-gluconolactone supports tofu systems filled directly into retail containers before final coagulation.
Delta-gluconolactone can reduce uneven local precipitation when concentration, temperature, mixing, soymilk solids, and holding time are controlled.

Delta-gluconolactone functions as a controlled acidifier in fresh, unripened, and white cheese manufacture.
Delta-gluconolactone helps move milk proteins toward their isoelectric region without the immediate localized acidity produced by direct strong-acid addition.

Delta-gluconolactone contributes to cottage-style cheese, whey cheese, and acid-coagulated dairy-product development.
Delta-gluconolactone allows texture, moisture retention, curd formation, and acidification rate to be adjusted through dosage and processing temperature.

Delta-gluconolactone supports yogurt-like and fermented-dairy formulations requiring controlled reduction of pH.
Delta-gluconolactone can supplement or model biological acidification when microbial fermentation is not the sole gelation mechanism.

Delta-gluconolactone functions in plant-based yogurt alternatives prepared from soy, lentil, bean, or other compatible protein dispersions.
Delta-gluconolactone promotes cold-set gelation as the gradual pH decrease reduces protein solubility and encourages aggregation.

Delta-gluconolactone contributes to mixed protein and polysaccharide gels designed for customized texture and water retention.
Delta-gluconolactone gel behavior depends on protein concentration, polysaccharide structure, heating history, ionic environment, and final pH.

Delta-gluconolactone serves as a slow-acting acidulant in cured and comminuted meat formulations where such use is authorized.
Delta-gluconolactone supports gradual pH reduction and can accelerate development of processing characteristics associated with controlled curing.

Delta-gluconolactone supports sausage and processed-meat formulations requiring predictable acidification without direct addition of a strongly sour acid.
Delta-gluconolactone dosage must be validated for flavor, color, protein binding, microbial controls, cooking yield, and regulatory compliance.

Delta-gluconolactone functions as a curing or pickling agent in food products manufactured under applicable regulations.
Delta-gluconolactone must be used according to current good manufacturing practice and the legal conditions applying to the finished food category.

Delta-gluconolactone serves as a delayed leavening acid in baking-powder and chemically leavened bakery systems.
Delta-gluconolactone gradually supplies gluconic acid that reacts with alkaline bicarbonate ingredients to generate carbon dioxide.

Delta-gluconolactone supports dry cake, bread, premix, batter, and dough formulations requiring controlled gas release.
Delta-gluconolactone can influence mixing tolerance, batter viscosity, expansion timing, crumb structure, taste, and final product volume.

Delta-gluconolactone functions as a pH-control agent in compatible beverages, syrups, sauces, fillings, and liquid food systems.
Delta-gluconolactone provides a milder initial taste because substantial acidity develops progressively after hydration.

Delta-gluconolactone contributes to confectionery, dessert, pudding, and gelled-food formulations requiring gentle acidification.
Delta-gluconolactone can reduce the risk of immediate localized protein precipitation when adequately dispersed before hydrolysis advances.

Delta-gluconolactone supports processed fruit and vegetable formulations where controlled acidity, flavor balance, or sequestration is required.
Delta-gluconolactone use must comply with the permitted food category, applicable standard, dosage requirements, and labeling rules.

Delta-gluconolactone functions as a flavoring adjunct and acidity-management ingredient in authorized food formulations.
Delta-gluconolactone develops a mild gluconic-acid sourness rather than providing all acidity immediately at the moment of addition.

Delta-gluconolactone serves as a sequestrant by generating gluconate species capable of interacting with selected metal ions in aqueous systems.
Delta-gluconolactone can help manage metal-catalyzed instability when formulation pH, metal concentration, and competing chelators are appropriate.

Delta-gluconolactone supports protein-gel research involving casein, whey protein, ovalbumin, soy protein, and plant-protein isolates.
Delta-gluconolactone enables researchers to produce gradual and comparatively uniform acidification throughout a prepared protein dispersion.

Delta-gluconolactone contributes to hydrogel and emulsion-gel systems designed for food structuring or controlled ingredient release.
Delta-gluconolactone can influence network density, viscoelasticity, water-holding capacity, encapsulation efficiency, and release behavior.

Delta-gluconolactone functions as a pH-adjusting excipient in compatible oral, liquid, semisolid, or powdered pharmaceutical formulations.
Delta-gluconolactone pharmaceutical use requires a suitable compendial grade and complete evaluation of dosage-form stability and compatibility.

Delta-gluconolactone supports tablets, granules, pellets, syrups, suspensions, creams, pastes, and nutraceutical premixes requiring delayed acidification.
Delta-gluconolactone can provide gluconic acid progressively after contact with formulation water or gastrointestinal fluids.

Delta-gluconolactone functions as a polyhydroxy acid in cosmetic exfoliating and skin-conditioning formulations.
Delta-gluconolactone concentration, finished-product pH, exposure time, application frequency, and skin tolerance require formulation-specific assessment.

Delta-gluconolactone contributes humectant and moisturization effects to compatible creams, lotions, serums, cleansers, and treatment products.
Delta-gluconolactone has been studied for its ability to bind water and improve measured skin hydration under controlled application conditions.

Delta-gluconolactone serves as a starting material or controlled source of gluconic acid for producing gluconate salts and related derivatives.
Delta-gluconolactone can be reacted with suitable metal bases under controlled conditions to prepare application-specific gluconates.

Delta-gluconolactone can be evaluated as a retarding component in cementitious and concrete admixture systems.
Delta-gluconolactone gradually generates gluconate species that can delay cement hydration, although dosage must be validated for setting time, strength, and durability.

DESCRIPTION

Delta-gluconolactone is the cyclic 1,5-intramolecular ester of D-gluconic acid.
Delta-gluconolactone is systematically identified as D-glucono-1,5-lactone and belongs to the aldono-1,5-lactone chemical class.

Delta-gluconolactone has the molecular formula C₆H₁₀O₆ and a molecular weight of approximately 178.14 g/mol.
Delta-gluconolactone is identified by CAS Number 90-80-2 and EC Number 202-016-5.

Delta-gluconolactone consists of a six-membered lactone ring containing several hydroxyl groups and one cyclic ester carbonyl.
Delta-gluconolactone molecular structure gives high water affinity while retaining the reactivity associated with a hydrolysable lactone ring.

Delta-gluconolactone is produced from D-glucose through oxidation to gluconic acid followed by crystallization of the lactone.
Delta-gluconolactone food production can use oxidation performed by approved nonpathogenic microorganisms or enzymes derived from suitable microorganisms.

Delta-gluconolactone normally appears as a fine, white, nearly odorless crystalline powder.
Delta-gluconolactone food-additive specifications require high assay and controlled water, reducing substances, and heavy-metal impurities.

Delta-gluconolactone is freely soluble in water and only moderately or sparingly soluble in ethanol.
Delta-gluconolactone reported melting behavior is generally near 151–160°C with decomposition rather than clean volatilization.

Delta-gluconolactone begins hydrolyzing after contact with water and progressively produces D-gluconic acid.
Delta-gluconolactone eventually establishes an aqueous equilibrium containing D-gluconic acid together with delta- and gamma-lactone forms.

Delta-gluconolactone provides delayed acidification because lactone hydrolysis requires time after dissolution.
Delta-gluconolactone acidification rate changes with temperature, concentration, water availability, pH, mixing, and formulation composition.

Delta-gluconolactone gradually reduces the electrostatic repulsion between protein molecules as the surrounding pH approaches the isoelectric region.
Delta-gluconolactone can therefore produce comparatively uniform acid-induced protein aggregation and gel formation.

Delta-gluconolactone functions as a leavening acid after hydrolysis generates gluconic acid capable of reacting with bicarbonate.
Delta-gluconolactone gas-release timing depends on hydration, temperature, alkaline-component availability, particle distribution, and processing sequence.

Delta-gluconolactone generates gluconate ions that can interact with calcium, iron, and other multivalent metal ions.
Delta-gluconolactone sequestration performance depends on pH because gluconic-acid dissociation and metal-complex formation change across the pH range.

Delta-gluconolactone is designated as E575 in the European Union and INS 575 within the Codex food-additive system.
Delta-gluconolactone Codex functional classes include acidity regulator, raising agent, and sequestrant.

Delta-gluconolactone is affirmed in United States regulations for food use under current good manufacturing practice as a curing, pickling, leavening, pH-control, and sequestering ingredient.
Delta-gluconolactone JECFA evaluation assigns a group acceptable daily intake described as not specified for glucono-delta-lactone and specified gluconate salts.

PROPERTIES

Chemical Name: D-Glucono-1,5-lactone

Chemical Class: Aldono-1,5-Lactone and Polyhydroxy Acid Precursor

CAS Number: 90-80-2

EC Number: 202-016-5

Molecular Formula: C₆H₁₀O₆

Molecular Weight: 178.14 g/mol

Physical Form: Crystalline Powder

Appearance: Fine White and Nearly Odorless

Melting Behavior: Approximately 151–160°C with Decomposition

Water Solubility: Freely Soluble

Ethanol Solubility: Moderate to Limited

Primary Functions: Controlled Acidifier, pH-Regulating Agent, Coagulant, Raising Agent, and Sequestrant

Food Additive Identification: E575 and INS 575

Main Uses: Food Processing, Cosmetics, Pharmaceuticals, Protein Gels, and Chemical Synthesis

Storage: Cool, Dry, Tightly Closed, and Protected from Moisture

FIRST AID

Inhalation

Delta-gluconolactone dust exposure should be followed by movement to fresh air and rest in a position comfortable for breathing.
Delta-gluconolactone inhalation requires medical attention if coughing, throat irritation, wheezing, or breathing difficulty persists.

Skin Contact

Delta-gluconolactone contamination should be removed from the skin with soap and plenty of water.
Delta-gluconolactone skin exposure requires medical advice if redness, dryness, irritation, or another adverse response continues.

Eye Contact

Delta-gluconolactone eye exposure should be rinsed immediately with clean running water for at least 15 minutes while the eyelids are held open.
Delta-gluconolactone eye exposure requires removal of contact lenses when easy and medical attention if pain, redness, or visual disturbance persists.

Ingestion

Delta-gluconolactone accidental ingestion should be followed by rinsing of the mouth without inducing vomiting unless instructed by medical personnel.
Delta-gluconolactone significant ingestion requires medical advice when the material is not food grade, the amount is excessive, or symptoms develop.

Note to Physicians

Delta-gluconolactone exposure should be treated symptomatically with appropriate supportive care.
Delta-gluconolactone exposure assessment should consider grade, purity, amount, route, symptoms, and the current Safety Data Sheet.

HANDLING AND STORAGE

Handling

Delta-gluconolactone should be handled using methods that minimize dust generation, moisture uptake, and contamination.
Delta-gluconolactone should be kept away from food and drink unless a certified food-grade material is being processed under hygienic conditions.

Ventilation

Delta-gluconolactone powder-handling areas should have effective general ventilation and local dust extraction where necessary.
Delta-gluconolactone respiratory protection should be used when engineering controls cannot adequately limit airborne dust.

Storage

Delta-gluconolactone should be stored in tightly closed and moisture-resistant containers within a cool and dry area.
Delta-gluconolactone should be protected from humidity, excessive heat, direct sunlight, contamination, and incompatible reactive chemicals.

Spill and Leak Procedures

Delta-gluconolactone spills should be collected using filtered vacuum equipment or another low-dust recovery method.
Delta-gluconolactone should be prevented from entering drains or surface water in bulk quantities, and residual powder should be cleaned without generating airborne dust.

Handling Precautions

Delta-gluconolactone handling should include suitable gloves, protective clothing, and safety goggles during industrial processing.
Delta-gluconolactone use should follow the grade-specific specification, current Safety Data Sheet, and applicable food, cosmetic, pharmaceutical, or industrial regulations.