Use of Monosodium Glutamate (MSG) for Green Leaching Process: An Overview

Abstract

Monosodium glutamate (MSG) is a sodium salt derived from amino acids and glutamic acids. These acids can be found naturally in the body and in the variation of other foods. MSG has the chemical formula C₅H₈NO₄Na-NH₂ with the percentage of the main elements contained in MSG including glutamate of 78.2%; Na by 12.2%; and 9.6% H₂O and 1 g of monosodium glutamate contains 0.122 Na. MSG also functions as a reagent in extraction processes such as the leaching process under alkaline conditions causing the glutamate to be strongly bound to metal ions and can selectively enrich unwanted elements such as Fe, Al, Mg, and Ca in residual solids. The use of MSG is not currently the optimal which can be an opportunity to develop research on extraction from the leachate process and as an additive in the selective reduction process in the future owing to the sodium content.