Ascorbic Acid 99% (Vitamin C)
Product Overview
Ascorbic Acid 99%, also known as Vitamin C or L-Ascorbic Acid, is a six-carbon lactone produced by plants and some animal species but not by humans and other primates. It is a water-soluble vitamin that functions as an enzymatic cofactor for multiple enzymes, serving as an electron donor for monooxygenases and dioxygenases. Ascorbic acid also functions as a powerful antioxidant, particularly against reactive oxygen species.
Chemical Name: L-Ascorbic Acid
CAS Number: 50-81-7
Molecular Formula: C₆H₈O₆
Molecular Weight: 176.12 g/mol
EC Number: 200-066-2
Technical Specifications
Physical Properties
| Property | Specification | Test Method |
|---|---|---|
| Appearance | White to very pale yellow crystalline powder | Visual inspection |
| Odor | Almost odorless | Organoleptic |
| Taste | Pleasant sharp acidic taste | Organoleptic |
| Purity | ≥ 99.0% | HPLC |
| Melting Point | 190-192°C | USP/EP |
| Solubility in Water | Freely soluble | USP/EP |
| Solubility in Ethanol | Slightly soluble | USP/EP |
| Solubility in Ether/Chloroform | Insoluble | USP/EP |
| pH (5% solution at 25°C) | 2.1-2.6 | USP/EP |
| Loss on Drying | ≤ 0.4% | USP/EP |
| Residue on Ignition | ≤ 0.1% | USP/EP |
| Heavy Metals | ≤ 10 ppm | USP/EP |
| Specific Rotation [α]D20 | +20.5° to +21.5° (10% w/v in water) | USP/EP |
Chemical Properties
| Property | Specification | Test Method |
|---|---|---|
| Assay | 99.0-100.5% of C₆H₈O₆ | USP/EP |
| Oxalic Acid | ≤ 0.2% | USP/EP |
| Copper | ≤ 5 ppm | USP/EP |
| Iron | ≤ 2 ppm | USP/EP |
| Lead | ≤ 2 ppm | USP/EP |
| pKa Value (C3 hydroxyl) | 4.1 | Literature |
| pKa Value (C2 hydroxyl) | 11.6 | Literature |
Key Features & Benefits
- Powerful antioxidant properties
- Water-soluble and readily bioavailable
- Enhances endothelium-dependent vasodilation
- Protects against oxidative stress
- Scavenges free radicals (hydroxyl radicals, superoxide, and singlet oxygen)
- Reduces membrane-linked antioxidant α-tocopherol (oxidized form)
- Stable in dry form
- High purity (≥ 99%)
- Complies with USP/EP/FCC standards
Industry Applications
Food Industry
- Food additive (E300)
- Browning inhibitor
- Flavor stabilizer
- Dough modifier
- Color stabilizer
- Preservative (in combination with sodium, potassium, or calcium salts)
- Meat curing agent for color retention
Pharmaceutical Industry
- Dietary supplement
- Antioxidant in formulations
- Excipient in various dosage forms
- pH adjuster
Cosmetic Industry
- Antioxidant in skincare formulations
- pH adjuster
- Skin brightening agent
Chemical Industry
- Reducing agent
- Antioxidant in various chemical processes
- Oxygen scavenger
Packaging & Storage
Packaging
- 25 kg cardboard boxes with polyethylene liner
- Custom packaging available upon request
Storage Conditions
- Store in a cool, dry place
- Keep container tightly closed
- Protect from light, moisture, and heat
- Recommended storage temperature: 15-30°C
- Relative humidity: ≤ 65%
- Shelf life: 24 months when stored as directed in original unopened packaging
Stability Information
- Ascorbic acid is unstable in aqueous solutions, especially in the presence of oxygen, heat, light, and metal ions
- The stability of ascorbic acid in solution is pH-dependent, with maximum stability at pH 4-6
- At pH 7, 99.9% of ascorbic acid is in the form of ascorbate (AH−)
Handling Precautions
- Avoid contact with alkalis, heavy metal ions (especially copper and iron), and oxidizing materials
- Incompatible with methenamine, phenylephrine hydrochloride, pyrilamine maleate, salicylamide, sodium nitrite, sodium salicylate, theobromine salicylate, and picotamide
- May interfere with certain colorimetric assays by reducing the intensity of the color produced
- Use in a well-ventilated area
- Avoid dust formation
- Wash thoroughly after handling
Regulatory Information
- CAS Number: 50-81-7
- EC Number: 200-066-2
- EINECS: 200-066-2
- Food Additive: E300 (EU)
- GRAS status (FDA)
- Meets requirements of USP, EP, JP, FCC
- Kosher and Halal certified
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