Abstract  Environmental Effect of Photoprocessing Chemicals Vol I and II (557).

Abstract  Gluconate derivatives are presented as a category. Gluconic acid and its mineral salts freely dissociate to the gluconate anion and the respective cations. Glucono-delta-lactone (GDL), the 1,5-inner ester of gluconic acid, is formed from the free acid by the removal of water. On the basis of these spontaneous chemical rearrangements, glucono-delta-lactone, gluconic acid and its sodium, calcium and potassium salts can be considered as a category, with all members sharing the same representative moiety, the gluconate anion. Manufacturing and uses of the category members are also interlinked. The data summarized in this report are focused on the environmental and health effects from the gluconate anion and read-across to the lactone but do not deal with specific effects of the cations. Thus toxicological effects related to the cationic components are not part of the present report.