Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jul 4, 2026

Stearyl palmityl tartrate

Stearyl palmityl tartrate is a derivative of tartaric acid used as an emulsifier. It is produced by esterification of tartaric acid with commercial grade stearyl alcohol, which generally consists of a mixture of the fatty alcohols stearyl and palmityl alcohol. Stearyl palmityl tartrate consists mainly of diesters, with minor amounts of monoester and of unchanged starting materials.

Last revised
Jul 4, 2026
Read time
≈ 1 min
Length
219 w
Citations
3
Source
Stearyl palmityl tartrate1
source ↗
Names
Other names
  • Stearyl tartrate
  • E 483
Identifiers
3D model (JSmol)
ChemSpider
E number E483 (thickeners, ...)
  • 16,18: InChI=1S/C38H74O6/c1-3-5-7-9-11-13-15-17-19-20-22-24-26-28-30-32-34-44-38(42)36(40)35(39)37(41)43-33-31-29-27-25-23-21-18-16-14-12-10-8-6-4-2/h35-36,39-40H,3-34H2,1-2H3
    Key: NYXFVOZKEYOALB-UHFFFAOYSA-N
  • 16,16: InChI=1S/C36H70O6/c1-3-5-7-9-11-13-15-17-19-21-23-25-27-29-31-41-35(39)33(37)34(38)36(40)42-32-30-28-26-24-22-20-18-16-14-12-10-8-6-4-2/h33-34,37-38H,3-32H2,1-2H3
    Key: XBFGJARWBHKWFU-UHFFFAOYSA-N
  • 18,18: InChI=1S/C40H78O6/c1-3-5-7-9-11-13-15-17-19-21-23-25-27-29-31-33-35-45-39(43)37(41)38(42)40(44)46-36-34-32-30-28-26-24-22-20-18-16-14-12-10-8-6-4-2/h37-38,41-42H,3-36H2,1-2H3
    Key: RYGCHSSZXHQCEJ-UHFFFAOYSA-N
  • 16,18: CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCOC(=O)C(O)C(O)C(=O)OCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC
  • 16,16: CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCOC(=O)C(O)C(O)C(=O)OCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC
  • 18,18: CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCOC(=O)C(O)C(O)C(=O)OCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC
Properties
C40H74O6 to C38H78O6
Molar mass 627 to 655 g/mol
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
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Stearyl palmityl tartrate is a derivative of tartaric acid used as an emulsifier. It is produced by esterification of tartaric acid with commercial grade stearyl alcohol, which generally consists of a mixture of the fatty alcohols stearyl and palmityl alcohol.1 Stearyl palmityl tartrate consists mainly of diesters, with minor amounts of monoester and of unchanged starting materials.

Use

Stearyl palmityl tartrate is used as emulsifier under the E number E 483. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations sets limits of use at 4 g/kg for bakery wares and 5 g/kg for dessert products.2

Law

Use of stearyl palmityl tartrate is prohibited in Australia.

References

References