The key difference between maltol and ethyl maltol is that maltol is a naturally occurring substance, whereas ethyl maltol is a synthetic substance that cannot be found in nature.
Maltol and ethyl maltol are two important ingredients in the food industry. Maltol is an organic compound having the chemical formula C6H6O3 and is useful as a flavor enhancer. Ethyl maltol, on the other hand, is an organic compound having the chemical formula C7H8O3 and is a flavourant in confectioneries.
CONTENTS
1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Maltol
3. What is Ethyl Maltol
4. Maltol vs Ethyl Maltol in Tabular Form
5. Summary – Maltol vs Ethyl Maltol
What is Maltol?
Maltol is an organic compound having the chemical formula C6H6O3 and is useful as a flavor enhancer. We can find maltol in the bark of the larch tree, in pine needles, and in roasted malt. The molar mass of this substance is 126.11 g/mol. It appears as a white crystalline powder that is soluble in hot water, chloroform, and other polar solvents. Maltol has the odor of cotton candy and caramel. Therefore, it is useful in imparting a sweet aroma to fragrances. The sweetness of maltol can be added to the odor of freshly baked bread. In addition, it is useful as a flavor enhancer in bread and cakes with the INS number 636.
Figure 01: The Chemical Structure of Maltol
Similar to 3-hydroxy-4-pyrones like kojic acid, maltose binds to hard metal centers, including Fe3+, Ga3+, Al+3, and VO2+. Moreover, this compound has been reported to greatly increase aluminum uptake in the body. It can also increase the oral bioavailability of gallium and iron. In addition, it is a food additive with the E number of E636.
What is Ethyl Maltol?
Ethyl maltol is an organic compound having the chemical formula C7H8O3 and is a flavourant in confectioneries. This substance is related to the common flavourant maltol by the replacement of the methyl group with an ethyl group. The molar mass of ethyl maltol is 140.138 g/mol.
Figure 02: The Chemical Structure of Ethyl Maltol
Ethyl maltol is a white solid with a sweet smell that can be described as caramelized sugar or caramelized fruit. It forms a conjugate base that is derived from ethyl maltol, which has a high affinity for iron. It can form a red coordination complex upon the combination with an iron center. It is a heterocycle that is a bidentate ligand.
What is the Difference Between Maltol and Ethyl Maltol?
Maltol is an organic compound having the chemical formula C6H6O3 and is useful as a flavor enhancer, while ethyl maltol is an organic compound having the chemical formula C7H8O3 and is a flavourant in confectioneries. The key difference between maltol and ethyl maltol is that maltol is a naturally occurring substance, whereas ethyl maltol is a synthetic substance that cannot be found in nature.
When looking at their chemical composition, maltol contains a methyl group, whereas, in ethyl maltol, the methyl group of maltol is replaced with an ethyl group. Moreover, the odor of maltol is similar to cotton candy and caramel odor, while the odor of ethyl maltol is a sugary, caramelised, jammy, strawberry-like odour reminiscent of candyfloss.
The following table summarizes the difference between maltol and ethyl maltol.
Summary – Maltol vs Ethyl Maltol
Maltol and ethyl maltol are two important substances in the food industry. They act as flavourants in different food items. The key difference between maltol and ethyl maltol is that maltol is a naturally occurring substance, whereas ethyl maltol is a synthetic substance that cannot be found in nature.
Reference:
1. “Maltol.” An Overview | ScienceDirect Topics.
Image Courtesy:
1. “Maltol” By Edgar181 – Own work (Public Domain) via Commons Wikimedia
2. “Ethyl maltol-2D-by-AHRLS-2012” By Amir.ahrls – Own work (CC0) via Commons Wikimedia