Dimethyl dicarbonate
Dimethyl dicarbonate suppliers and sourcing guide
Dimethyl dicarbonate is a reactive liquid made from methyl chloroformate. It is added to beverages just before filling, where it controls yeasts, molds and bacteria and then breaks down in the drink, mainly to methanol and carbon dioxide. Beverage and wine producers buy it as a high-purity liquid and dose it through dedicated metering equipment, often supplied or serviced by the vendor.
- Also known as
- DMDC · Dimethyl pyrocarbonate · E242 · CAS 4525-33-1
- Facts checked
- November 2026
Forms and grades of dimethyl dicarbonate
Suppliers sell different products under the same name. Specify the one you need.
High-purity liquid
The standard form, at 99.8 percent or more, shipped in sealed containers for use with a dosing unit.
Dosing systems
Metering pumps and heated dosing units, usually leased or serviced by the supplier, needed because DMDC must be dispersed quickly into the beverage.
Small packs for wineries
Smaller containers sized for wine and cider producers.
What to check on the COA
Compare each result with your own specification when the lot arrives.
- Purity (titration)
- DMDC content by back-titration, which must be 99.8 percent or more for US food use.
- Dimethyl carbonate (GC)
- Dimethyl carbonate impurity by gas chromatography, limited to 0.2 percent for US food use.
- Appearance
- Clear, colorless liquid; cloudiness or crystals can indicate moisture contamination or cold storage.
- Water
- Moisture content, since DMDC reacts with water and loses strength.
Storage, lots and expiry
Storage and shelf life
Store DMDC in its sealed original containers, protected from moisture, at the temperatures on the supplier's data sheet; it reacts with water and is toxic before it hydrolyzes, so handle it with the supplier's safety measures. Containers are used promptly once opened. Shelf life is set by the supplier's specification.
Lots and expiry dates
Record the lot and the dosing rate used for each beverage batch, because US limits are set per beverage type. Keep dosing equipment calibration records with the batch records.
Regulatory status
Facts from regulators and standards bodies, each linked to its source.
21 CFR 172.133 permits dimethyl dicarbonate as a microbial control agent in certain beverages, including wine, ready-to-drink teas and certain juice-containing and electrolyte beverages, under stated limits.
Source: ecfr.gov (opens in a new tab)The same section limits use in wine, dealcoholized wine and low alcohol wine to 200 parts per million.
Source: ecfr.gov (opens in a new tab)The same section requires the additive to have a purity of not less than 99.8 percent.
Source: ecfr.gov (opens in a new tab)Health Canada's List of Permitted Preservatives includes dimethyl dicarbonate, for example in cider, fruit wine and perry.
Source: canada.ca (opens in a new tab)
This is general information, not regulatory advice. Status differs by country and by how the ingredient is used, so check the rules for your product and market.
Dimethyl dicarbonate suppliers
Manufacturers and distributors whose own websites say they sell it.
We are checking dimethyl dicarbonate suppliers now
Every listing is checked against the supplier’s own website before it goes live, so this list fills in over the coming weeks. The specs and COA checklist above are ready today.
Sell dimethyl dicarbonate? Request a listingFrequently asked questions
What forms of dimethyl dicarbonate can brands buy?
Common forms include high-purity liquid, dosing systems and small packs for wineries. Ask each supplier for the specification sheet of the exact grade they quote.
What should the COA for dimethyl dicarbonate include?
Expect purity (titration), dimethyl carbonate (GC), appearance and water, each with its method, specification and result for that lot.
How should dimethyl dicarbonate be stored?
Store DMDC in its sealed original containers, protected from moisture, at the temperatures on the supplier's data sheet; it reacts with water and is toxic before it hydrolyzes, so handle it with the supplier's safety measures. Containers are used promptly once opened. Shelf life is set by the supplier's specification.
What is the regulatory status of dimethyl dicarbonate?
21 CFR 172.133 permits dimethyl dicarbonate as a microbial control agent in certain beverages, including wine, ready-to-drink teas and certain juice-containing and electrolyte beverages, under stated limits. The same section limits use in wine, dealcoholized wine and low alcohol wine to 200 parts per million. The same section requires the additive to have a purity of not less than 99.8 percent. Health Canada's List of Permitted Preservatives includes dimethyl dicarbonate, for example in cider, fruit wine and perry.
More acids, preservatives and leavening
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- Malic acidDL-malic acid · L-malic acid
- Lactic acid2-hydroxypropanoic acid · L(+)-lactic acid
- Tartaric acidL-(+)-tartaric acid · 2,3-dihydroxybutanedioic acid
- Fumaric acidtrans-butenedioic acid · E297
- Acetic acidethanoic acid · glacial acetic acid
- Phosphoric acidorthophosphoric acid · E338
- Glucono-delta-lactoneGDL · glucono delta-lactone
- Adipic acidhexanedioic acid · 1,4-butanedicarboxylic acid
- Sodium citratetrisodium citrate · trisodium citrate dihydrate
- Sodium lactatesodium 2-hydroxypropanoate · E325
- Sodium acetatesodium ethanoate · E262
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