Possibility and necessity of tartaric acid production in the Republic of Moldova

Abstract

The wine industry has been and remains a source of natural- tartaric acid. The tartaric acid can be obtained from such wastes as grape marcs, yeast, vinasse and wine stone. But the use of these wastes was limited in the Republic of Moldova by the production of tartaric acid lime (calcium tartrate) and wine stone, which were shipped to Ukraine and Armenia where the finished product is obtained. Currently, tartaric acid is used in considerable quantities in the winemaking and food industry, being a quite expensive imported product. The Department of Oenology and Chemistry has developed a complete technological scheme for the use of wine wastes to obtain the finished product – tartaric acid. The realization of the proposed tartaric acid production in the Republic of Moldova is important for the country’s economy and it does not require large investments. Wineries can also help to organize tartaric acid production by providing calcium tartrate, wine stone, pressed or dried yeast, and other ingredients.