GIFSQ Tools · Module 11 — Ingredients, Additives & Formulation · Tool 215 of 500
Work out the acidulant for a batch from the dose as a percentage, correcting for the purity of the commercial acid, and get the amount in millimoles.
Try sample values — fills the form with the worked example below.
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Pure acid (g)
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Commercial acid (g)
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Acid (mmol)
Equation: Pure acid (g) = dose (%) × batch (kg) × 10. Commercial acid (g) = pure acid ÷ (purity ÷ 100). Acid (mmol) = pure acid (g) ÷ molar mass (g/mol) × 1,000.
Method: Acidulant dosing by weight, with the molar-mass conversion for the acid chosen: citric acid 192.12 g/mol, lactic acid 90.08 g/mol, malic acid 134.09 g/mol, tartaric acid 150.09 g/mol, acetic acid 60.05 g/mol (standard molar masses). Acidulant use must stay within the limits in Codex GSFA CXS 192-1995, EU Regulation 1333/2008 or FDA 21 CFR for the food category.
Assumptions: the acid is evenly mixed through the batch; purity is the assay of the commercial product as supplied.
Limitations: the same weight of different acids gives a different pH — this tool weighs the acid, it does not predict the finished pH, which must be measured.
Rounding: weights to 2 decimal places; millimoles to 2 decimal places; intermediates unrounded.
This is a calculation aid, not a laboratory report — confirm against your accredited method before citing a value.
Method: Acidulant dosing by weight, with the molar-mass conversion for the acid chosen: citric acid 192.12 g/mol, lactic acid 90.08 g/mol, malic acid 134.09 g/mol, tartaric acid 150.09 g/mol, acetic acid 60.05 g/mol (standard molar masses). Acidulant use must stay within the limits in Codex GSFA CXS 192-1995, EU Regulation 1333/2008 or FDA 21 CFR for the food category.
Assumptions: the acid is evenly mixed through the batch; purity is the assay of the commercial product as supplied.
Limitations: the same weight of different acids gives a different pH — this tool weighs the acid, it does not predict the finished pH, which must be measured.
Rounding: weights to 2 decimal places; millimoles to 2 decimal places; intermediates unrounded.
This is a calculation aid, not a laboratory report — confirm against your accredited method before citing a value.
Worked example: A 100 kg batch at 0.30% citric acid, 99% pure: pure acid = 300.00 g; commercial acid = 300 ÷ 0.99 = 303.03 g; 300 ÷ 192.12 × 1,000 = 1,561.52 mmol.
Enter values above to see results.
Molar masses: citric 192.12, lactic 90.08, malic 134.09, tartaric 150.09, acetic 60.05 g/mol. Always measure the finished pH — weight alone does not set it. Tool 215 of 500 — GIFSQ
