Functions and usage: 
It is an important four-carbon atoms chiral pool. It is mainly used in many fields including chiral pharmaceuticals, chiral additives andchiral auxiliaries. It is used as chiral pool of chiral synthesis in pharmaceutical and food industries. As an optically active organic acid, it is insubstitutable in asymmetry synthesis of some chiral compounds.

DL-Malic acid can be used as an acidulant in cool drinks (including lactobacillus drinks, milk drinks, carbonated drinks, cola), frozen foods (including sherbet and ice cream), processed foods (including wine and mayonnaise). DL-Malic acid is used as color-keeper and antiseptic of juice. DL-Malic acid is also used as emulsion stabilizer of egg yolk. DL-Malic acid also can be used as pharmaceutical intermediate, cosmetic, rinse, metal cleaner, buffering agent, retarder in textile industry, fluorescent whitening agent of polyesterfibre.