E355 Acidity regulator

About 60% of the 2.5 billion kg of E355 produced annually is used as a monomer for the production of nylon by a polycondensation reaction with hexamethylene diamine forming nylon 66. Other major applications also involve polymers; it is a monomer for the production of polyurethane and its esters are plasticizers, especially in PVC.

In medicine

E355 has been incorporated into controlled-release formulation matrix tablets to obtain a pH-independent release for both weakly basic and weakly acidic drugs. It has also been incorporated into the polymeric coating of hydrophilic monolithic systems to modulate the in travel pH, resulting in the zero-order release of a hydrophilic drug. The disintegration at intestinal pH of the enteric polymer shellac has been reported to improve when E355 was used as a pore-forming agent without affecting release in the acidic media. Other controlled-release formulations have included E355 with the intention of obtaining a late-burst release profile.

In foods.

Small but significant amounts of E355 are used as a food ingredient as a flavorant and gelling aid.It is used in some calcium carbonate antacids to make them tart. As an acidulant in baking powders, it avoids the undesirable hygroscopic properties of tartaric acid.E355, rare in nature, does occur naturally in beets, but this is not an economical source for commerce compared to industrial synthesis.