Boric Acid: Safety and Uses in Various Industries

The use of any acid requires safety standards, and boric acid is no exception. With its myriad uses across industries, it is imperative to handle boric acid safely for the sake of your employees and that of your customers. Bell Chem, your industrial chemical supplier, wants to help you better understand the safety and uses of boric acid across industries.

Boric acid safety controls

Boric acid is often used as a pesticide. While it is incredibly toxic to pests, it is much safer for humans than other pesticides. However, it is still critical to handle boric acid according to its Safety Data Sheet. Add only the amount of boric acid recommended; more is not better. When working with boric acid, wear a dust mask or respirator as well as eye protection. Keep boric acid away from open wounds. After working with boric acid, wash exposed areas of your body thoroughly. 

Boric acid in farming

Pesticides use boric acid because of its ability to shatter insects’ exoskeletons as it disrupts the insects’ nervous systems. When using boric acid as a pesticide in crops, it also acts as an amendment for crops low on boron. 

Modification of cotton layers

Cotton modification relies on a layer-by-layer process with sodium lignin sulphonate, chitosan, and boric acid. When these 3 additives are present, their ionic differences create cotton fabrics offering UV protection, no-iron properties, and antibacterial fabrics. 

Automotive battery additive

Vehicles running on gas rely on lead-acid batteries to perform many functions. These batteries are inexpensive and perform quite well. Adding boric acid improves their performance by eliminating much of the battery’s overcharging tendencies. This extends the cycling life of the battery, giving a great battery with a longer lifespan.

Medical applications

While end users are warned not to expose open wounds to boric acid, the medical field has found boric acid a very good alternative in chronic wound treatment for patients who are unable to find relief through traditional treatment. Topical application of boric acid increased fibroblast production and collagen synthesis as it stimulated the development of new blood vessels. As a 3% topical solution, boric acid greatly reduced Pseudomonas aeruginosa in wounds, especially when other antiseptics were unsuccessful. Because it works as an antiseptic, boric acid is also used as an ingredient in ophthalmic and dermal applications.

Bell Chem is an industrial chemical supplier based in Longwood, FL (just north of Orlando) with hundreds of products stocked in their 50,000+ square-foot warehouse, including boric acid. You can expect the highest quality products, expedited shipping options for maximum efficiency, and unrivaled personalized customer service. Let our knowledgeable and friendly customer service representatives and accounting staff personalize all your needs by either calling 407-339-BELL (2355) or by sending us an online message.

Job Opportunity: Strategic Sourcing Manager with Bell Chem, A Division of Quadra 

Bell Chem, a proud division of Quadra Group, is on the lookout for a dynamic and experienced Strategic Sourcing Manager to join our team! If you’re passionate about procurement and supply chains and thrive in the food ingredients and commodities space, we would love to hear from you!

About The Role

We are seeking a highly strategic and results-driven Strategic Sourcing Manager to lead sourcing initiatives for our food ingredients and chemical business. This role is critical to ensure our purchasing decisions are aligned with market dynamics, profitability goals, and competitive positioning.

Here is your chance to make a meaningful impact in a growing and innovative organization! Reporting to the Business Director – Food Ingredients, the ideal candidate will bring deep industry knowledge, strong supplier relationships, and a proactive approach to procurement strategy.

What would be your responsibilities as a Strategic Sourcing Manager? :

• Develop and execute sourcing strategies for key food ingredients and chemical categories to optimize cost, quality, and supply assurance.

• Monitor global and regional market trends, commodity pricing, and supply chain risks to inform purchasing decisions.

• Conduct spending analysis and identify opportunities for cost optimization, supplier consolidation, and process improvement.

• Build and maintain strong relationships with suppliers, manufacturers, and industry stakeholders.

• Lead contract negotiations, ensuring favorable terms and long-term value creation.

• Continuously evaluate supplier performance and identify opportunities for improvement and innovation.

• Collaborate cross-functionally with Sales, Finance, and Operations to align sourcing strategies with business objectives, including managing and optimizing inventory levels.

• Collaborate with the Quality team to ensure all supplier and product documentation is on file for new and approved vendors.

• Stay informed on regulatory changes, sustainability trends, and emerging technologies impacting the relevant industries (such as food ingredients, industrial chemicals, personal care, etc.).

• Maintain accurate purchasing data, supplier information, and contract documentation in ERP systems.

• Track and report on key sourcing metrics (cost savings, supplier performance, risk exposure).

What are the required qualifications to have success in this position?:

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Supply Chain, Sciences, or a related field. An MBA or advanced degree would be considered a strong asset.

• Minimum 7+ years of experience in strategic sourcing or procurement within the food ingredients or food manufacturing industry. Exposure to the commodities market would be a definite plus.

• Strong understanding of global ingredient markets, key players, and supply chain dynamics.

• Exceptional negotiation, communication, and relationship-building abilities with both internal and external stakeholders.

• Strong ability to analyze market data and make sound, strategic sourcing decisions.

• Proven success managing multiple priorities in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.

• Demonstrated business acumen, cost-consciousness, and a results-driven approach to achieving goals.

• Clear and confident presentation and influencing skills at all organizational levels.

• Willingness to travel (up to 30% of working time) to attend trade shows and industry conference and events.

Bell Chem is part of Quadra, one of North America’s leading distributors of chemicals and ingredients. We’re a fast-growing organization built on strong values, long-term commitment to our people, and a passion for excellence. At Quadra, our employees are engaged, professional, and proud of the difference they make every day. If you’re driven by results and ready to grow with a company that invests in its people — you belong at Quadra.

Here’s some of the perks of choosing this position with us:

• Tailored training: We provide personalized training to support you and your growth

• Permanent, full-time position: Join us for a stable, long-term career

• Competitive salary & Performance Incentives: Your hard work is rewarded with attractive compensation and bonuses

• Excellent Benefits Package: Medical, Dental, and more to keep you covered including our Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

• Generous Time Off: Flexible personal days, sick days and vacation to recharge

• Wellness Programs: Enhance your quality of life with wellness initiatives, including health and mental wellness programs from healthcare leader

• 401(K) with match: Plan your future with our matched retirement program

• Tech Perks: We cover your cellphone and internet costs

• Family-owned and support environment: Be part of a private, family-owned company with a strong infrastructure and core values

• Award-Winning Workplace: Work in a certified Great Place to Work®, WEConnect Women Owned, and Best Managed Company!

• Inclusive Culture: We celebrate diversity and caring for each other and having fun are part of our core values!

• Career Growth: Unlock opportunities for development in a fast-paced growing company

• Fun Social Activities: Get involved in company events, Volunteering programs, etc.

• Referral & Recognition Programs: Earn monetary rewards through our referral and employee recognition programs (years of service, merit awards, etc.)

Quadra supports and values diversity and offer equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status and gender identity. Quadra also welcomes and encourages applications from people with disabilities. Accommodations are available on request for candidates taking part in all aspects of the selection process. We recognize that some people do not identify themselves as either male or female. Therefore, whenever possible, we have opted for a gender-neutral wording in a non-discriminatory spirit.

The Science Behind the Effectiveness of USP Ingredients

You have undoubtedly heard of USP ingredients, but you may not fully understand their role in keeping the manufacture and consumption of foods and equipment safe. USP ingredient supplier Bell Chem has the following information to help you better appreciate the science behind USP ingredients and how they keep facilities and end-users safe. 

USP (United States Pharmacopeia) develops standards for testing and developing products. Their end result is the marketing of products that pose little or no risk for the end users. USP tests include ensuring sterility of products labeled as such, measuring the biological burden of products to verify they fall within a standard range, and maintaining products are free of endotoxins. Together, these tests check the identity, strength, purity, and performance of products while answering the questions of what a product contains, in what amount, how pure the product is, and how it works.

The USP Ingredient Verification Programs for products used for human consumption and medical care are strictly controlled not once, but continually. All portions of the supply chain must meet these guidelines in order for an end product to meet the strict USP standards. Bell Chem’s selection of USP products ensures your supply chain is USP verified and meets or exceeds all standards. Your organization benefits since the products shipped via Bell Chem are consistent, of the highest quality, and certified. 

USP Ingredient Verification for Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs)

APIs are the active ingredients - the medicine - given to individuals over-the-counter or prescribed. These medications may be natural or synthetic; their efficacy is based on the correct dosage. 

USP Ingredient Verification for Excipients

On the flip side of APIs are excipients. Most ingredients contained within medications are excipients with the active ingredient requiring a small fraction of a pill or capsule by volume. Bell Chem’s vast quantities of USP excipients include lactose anhydrous, microcrystalline cellulose 101 and 102, and magnesium stearate, to name a few.

USP Ingredient Verification for Dietary Ingredients

How do you verify what is written on a package is what is contained within it? USP verified dietary ingredients ensure the label matches the contents every time. Aspartame, caffeine, folic acid, and sodium chloride are all Bell Chem USP-verified ingredients you will be proud to add to your packaging.

The strict USP guidelines Bell Chem follows ensure our products meet or exceed all cGMP and QCM guidelines annually.  

Examples of USP testing

USP testing includes several variations with the most common - USP 61 and USP 62 - focusing on microbial contaminants of products used in healthcare and the food and drug industries. The microbes are tested on a variety of agar plates to determine growth of the microbe in question. Diluents such as sterile saline and neutralizers such as sodium thiosulfate are active participants in sample preparation. 

With pharmaceuticals, a simple USP sample test removes random capsules from a lot and tests them to verify their contents do not vary widely from one capsule to the next, and that the active ingredients contained within match the amount present on the label. Each capsule is assayed to determine individual weights of each ingredient.

Bell Chem is a USP ingredient supplier based in Longwood, FL (just north of Orlando) with hundreds of products stocked in their 50,000+ square-foot warehouse. You can expect the highest quality products, expedited shipping options for maximum efficiency, and unrivaled personalized customer service. Let our knowledgeable and friendly customer service representatives and accounting staff personalize all your needs by either calling 407-339-BELL (2355) or by sending us an online message.

Understanding the Use of Additives in Meat Production

Throughout history, additives have been used to preserve meat, mostly in the form of salt. Additives may be natural or synthetic, for taste or appearance, direct or indirect additives, and the type of additive necessary depends on the meat. A Central Florida food additive supplier answers your meat production additive questions below.

Increasing your bottom line with additives

As a manufacturer, it is imperative to meet expenses and offer your goods at a price consumers can afford. Additives greatly enhance that ability by extending the shelf life of fresh, easily perishable meat and meat products. Many of these additives are antioxidants, such as BHA, BHT, and tocopherols (vitamin E). These substances deter the rancidity of fats and aid in the maintenance of nutrients. Add citric acid to stimulate the effectiveness of antioxidants while deterring discoloration.

Binding additives

Meat and poultry products may not have the texture or mouthfeel most appealing to consumers and require a binder, such as carrageenin, cellulose, sodium caseinate, starch, or whey protein as a thickener.

Stabilizers

Processed meats, such as sausages and hot dogs, rely on phosphates to perform a bevy of functions. Phosphates increase the capacity for packaged meats to retain water, which gives products a juicier flavor much easier to chew. Heating many products can prove disastrous since these products may lose the tenuous binding between proteins that give meat its structure. Phosphates provide a structure for the proteins to remain linked, and the meats maintain their shape and texture.

Color and flavor enhancers

Lunch meats are greatly improved with sodium nitrite and sodium nitrate, which enhance the flavor consumers anticipate while imbuing a red tint maintained even with the application of heat. Both sodium nitrate and nitrite also deter the growth of Clostridium botulinum bacteria. Used in conjunction with sodium nitrite is sodium ascorbate. Together these 2 additives stimulate the production of nitric oxide myoglobin, a natural chemical that gives meat the red color consumers appreciate. Another color fixative is sodium erythorbate, used most frequently in cured meats.

Another well-appreciated flavor enhancer is monosodium glutamate, often added to meats to enhance the flavor of umami.

Emulsifiers 

Meat spreads require emulsifiers to create consistent results with every application. Lecithin, soy proteins, monoglycerides and diglycerides are called upon to fulfill this purpose.

Humectants

Dried meats must maintain their level of moisture to remain microbe free. As a humectant, glycerine is ideal at pulling moisture from the foods to which it is added.

pH adjusters

Other additives that deter yeast and bacterial growth use pH as their defense. Included in this category are acetic acid, benzoic acid, sodium benzoate, sorbic acid, and potassium sorbate.

Direct vs indirect additives

Surprisingly, the Food and Drug Administration has a separate category for additives not specifically added to foods. For instance, if packaging contains chemicals, these are considered indirect food additives and meet the same stringent requirements as direct additives. 

Bell Chem is a food additive supplier based in Longwood, FL (just north of Orlando) with hundreds of products stocked in their 50,000+ square-foot warehouse, including additives for meat products. You can expect the highest quality products, expedited shipping options for maximum efficiency, and unrivaled personalized customer service. Let our knowledgeable and friendly customer service representatives and accounting staff personalize all your needs by either calling 407-339-BELL (2355) or by sending us an online message.

Potassium Sorbate: Effective Food Preservation for Dairy and Beyond

As an acid, potassium sorbate has the ability to drop the pH of products, thereby creating an environment unacceptable to many microorganisms. Therefore, this additive is considered a great preservative since microorganism growth leads to discoloration, a change in color or texture, or staleness. Food additive supplier Bell Chem wishes to share information on not only how effective potassium sorbate is in the dairy industry, but how it can enhance your manufacturing as well. 

Artisanal and craft beverages

The trend toward simpler ingredients has led to a reliance on potassium sorbate as a preservative and a stabilizer. Once fermentation has occurred, potassium sorbate is added to deter yeast or mold growth. Its most notable application is in sweet wines since their increased sugar content is a food source for microorganisms. 

These features give other beverage manufacturers the same benefits: potassium sorbate in juices and sugary beverages deter microorganism growth, even without the added step of fermentation.

Baked goods

Mold is inevitable on baked goods, which generally have short shelf lives. Adding potassium sorbate extends that shelf life, most notably on filled pastries, muffins, and other baked goods with a high moisture content.

Dairy products

Starches and sugars are not the only food stocks enjoyed by microorganisms. They also thrive on fats and proteins. The high fat and protein content of milk, cheese, yogurt, and other dairy products give microorganisms a phenomenal environment to thrive. Fortunately potassium sorbate quells their rapid growth while maintaining the same flavor profile.

Other food additive uses

As noted previously, potassium sorbate’s low pH deters microorganism growth, which leads to its use in an array of sauces, condiments, processed meats, and other processed foods. Available in both a powdered and granular form, you are sure to find the perfect fit for your industry.

Bell Chem is a food additive supplier based in Longwood, FL (just north of Orlando) with hundreds of products stocked in their 50,000+ square-foot warehouse, including potassium sorbate. You can expect the highest quality products, expedited shipping options for maximum efficiency, and unrivaled personalized customer service. Let our knowledgeable and friendly customer service representatives and accounting staff personalize all your needs by either calling 407-339-BELL (2355) or by sending us an online message.

Understanding the Benefits of Tru-Flo® Food Grade Salt

Salt is ubiquitous on almost every kitchen table. It is also used to de-ice roads, remove impurities in manufacturing, and to create soap. Tru-Flo® food grade salt can be used in these industries, but because it is over 99% pure sodium chloride (NaCl) and only contains trace amounts of insoluble materials, it is best suited for culinary uses. Food ingredient supplier Bell Chem stocks Tru-Flo Evaporated Food Grade Salt for all your dietary needs. 

Food flavoring

Flavoring and salt walk hand in hand. Tru-Flo salt has the unique capability of enhancing the other flavors of food, which is why many baked goods add salt as an ingredient to bring out the sweet flavors of sugar, chocolate, or other confections. Tru-Flo salt on its own is likewise a flavoring; we relate salt to almost every processed food, even those only minimally processed. 

Why do we eat more salt than is necessary? The human body craves salt to maintain homeostasis in the tissues and bloodstream. When this careful balance is upset, our brains deliver a signal that we must eat something salty and we reach for chips, condiments, or a jar of pickles.

Food preservation

Food preservation often calls for large amounts of salt (20% by weight) to cure meats or other foods. Tru-Flo salt draws out water from foods in a process known as osmosis, creating an inhospitable environment since the majority of organisms rely on water – which has been driven out – and cannot thrive in the now highly salted environment. Dried meats can be preserved without the use of refrigeration or canning.

The advantages of Tru-Flo salt

Tru-Flo salts have been naturally harvested from the sea, in natural brine, or in salt deposits on land. Once selected, these salts are manufactured until they are highly purified. You know your products will contain the highest grade sodium chloride possible with Tru-Flo salts. 

Tru-Flo salts are also graded by granule size, ensuring the salt you purchase will dissolve at the same rapid rate producing a clear, briny solution. As a dry ingredient, Tru-Flo salt flows smoothly without clumping. Tru-Flo salts meet or exceed the expectations of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Food Chemical Codex (FCC). 

Bell Chem is a food ingredient supplier based in Longwood, FL (just north of Orlando) with hundreds of products stocked in their 50,000+ square-foot warehouse, including Tru-Flo Food Grade Salt. You can expect the highest quality products, expedited shipping options for maximum efficiency, and unrivaled personalized customer service. Let our knowledgeable and friendly customer service representatives and accounting staff personalize all your needs by either calling 407-339-BELL (2355) or by sending us an online message. 

Implementing a Successful Cleaning Program in a Food Manufacturing Plant

Working around food products means your environment needs to be more than clean; it needs to be sanitized and free of major pathogens. To understand how to implement a cleaning program that’s safe for your employees as well as your customers, industrial chemical supplier Bell Chem has compiled the following information.

Understanding Cleaning and Sanitation

When a workspace is clean, that usually conjures a shiny countertop free of debris. Clean does not necessarily mean sanitized, though. Sanitization requires another type of chemical that removes a majority of viruses, bacteria, and spores. Disinfectants are the hard hitters, killing 99.9% of all pathogens on a surface. For foods, it is important to deploy the correct chemical for your work area. 

Bell Chem meets or exceeds all Food and Drug Administration standards for storing and shipping chemicals, which means their purity can be carried over and safely utilized in your facility, meeting the FDA standards required for your organization. 

Steps for Sanitizing and Disinfecting

For sanitizing and disinfecting, most government agencies recognize 5 main classes of chemicals: hypochlorites, peroxyacetic acid, quaternary ammonium compounds, chlorine dioxide, and iodophors. Using these chemicals requires a background of how to apply the chemicals and in what order. 

1. Rinse surfaces: Using warm—not hot—water, thoroughly remove all large particles. Adding a cleaner before this step is not recommended since you are only cleaning debris. Remove the debris first before moving to the second step. 

2. Apply a cleaner: A detergent such as a quaternary ammonium compound is ideal for this step, and elbow grease is highly encouraged. Fat and proteins are the main components to be stripped away at this stage. Pay attention to the water you are using since a high or low pH of your facility’s water supply may change the performance of your cleaner.

3. Rinse all surfaces: Detergents may leave a residue, which may be detrimental to the foods you process. Also, because the majority of detergents are alkaline and sanitizers are acidic, it could negate the sanitization phase of your cleaning routine.

4. Inspect: If you notice an area that needs to be re-cleaned, take the opportunity to spot clean, especially if you note signs of residue from the cleaners.

5. Sanitize/Disinfect: Once all debris is cleared and the area has been thoroughly cleaned, sanitize with peroxyacetic acid or a similar sanitizer/disinfectant, and hypochlorites, iodophors, or chlorine dioxide as a disinfectant. Keep in mind that sanitizers work quickly, but kill fewer families of microbes while disinfectants take longer, but kill a higher amount of microorganisms.

6. Rinse or dry: Before the surface comes into contact with food again, note whether the product should be rinsed or allowed to air dry. Drying times are listed on the chemical label.

Bell Chem is an industrial chemical supplier based in Longwood, FL (just north of Orlando) with hundreds of products stocked in their 50,000+ square-foot warehouse, including CSANTM sanitation products. You can expect the highest quality products, expedited shipping options for maximum efficiency, and unrivaled personalized customer service. Let our knowledgeable and friendly customer service representatives and accounting staff personalize all your needs by either calling 407-339-BELL (2355) or by sending us an online message.

How Food Suppliers Can Support Gut Health Trends

Tune in to any health program and you encounter the catchphrase “gut microbiome.” Is this a fad, or is it a legitimate health concern? Food additive supplier Bell Chem is here to help you unravel whether your gut microbiome essentially controls your overall health or whether it is simply another method of selling products.

What is a healthy gut microbiome?

While every individual differs in their body’s definition of a healthy gut biome, that definition changes with every meal. In other words, not only is every individual’s needs different, but those needs change hourly depending on what is being ingested and broken down. 

However, research has proven that when the human body generates specific metabolic byproducts (ketones from the breakdown of fats, urea from the breakdown of proteins, for instance), and the presence of healthy bacteria in the gut is normal, the microbiome of the gut is healthy. 

The difference between prebiotics and probiotics

While these words are off by only one letter, their function is vastly different. A prebiotic feeds the flora in your digestive tract while a probiotic is essentially an additional beneficial bacteria added to your gut. Prebiotics include starches, inulin, or chicory root fiber and act as a food source for the existing bacteria in your gut. Probiotics include fermented foods and yogurt, foods high in beneficial bacteria. While these important supplements may be sold separately, you can often find capsules or powders containing both prebiotics and probiotics, known as synbiotics. 

Fiber-rich diets

As discussed, prebiotics include fiber, which bacteria rely on to grow and divide. Fibers are readily available in plants, which leads many consumers to eat more leafy greens and fruits to enhance a healthy gut biome. However, a vast majority of Americans may not have these products readily available, so supplementing their diet with additives containing fibrous products will aid in digestion and overall gut health.

Functional foods

Once upon a time, all foods were functional because all foods were fresh. Take a look at the average grocery store shelf nowadays and you will notice pre-packaged foods that rely on taste and texture to sell their products. Health benefits have fallen to the wayside; sugary cereals and snacks have replaced fresh meat and vegetables as the staples of the American diet. Functional foods are curbing that trend by realizing consumers are not going to readily give up their snacks. Rather than replacing these snacks, the snacks are gaining vitamins, zinc, calcium, magnesium, and other minerals. Caffeine is another functional additive to bolster energy and brain power you can find in hundreds of products. 

A 2023 paper written by Ruo-Gu Xiong, et al, emphasizes the role of the microbiota-gut-brain axis and how ingesting capsaicin, medicinal herbs (lavender and lemon balm, for instance), synbiotics, and whole foods can positively affect mood, as well as bodily functions. 

Bell Chem is a food additive supplier based in Longwood, FL (just north of Orlando) with hundreds of products stocked in their 50,000+ square-foot warehouse, including additives that support a healthy gut biome. You can expect the highest quality products, expedited shipping options for maximum efficiency, and unrivaled personalized customer service. Let our knowledgeable and friendly customer service representatives and accounting staff personalize all your needs by either calling 407-339-BELL (2355) or by sending us an online message.

Common Excipients Used in Pharmaceutical Formulations

The pharmaceutical industry is built on its beneficial products, but without the invisible power of excipients, these life-saving and life-changing medications would prove not nearly as effective. Pharmaceutical ingredient supplier Bell Chem wishes to highlight several functions of excipients that your industry might find even more beneficial than active ingredients.

What are Excipients?

Excipients are described as anything other than the active pharmaceutical ingredient. These products have a range of properties and functions, allowing medicines to act and react properly.

Binders

Without a binder, a tablet or capsule would crumble upon impact with another capsule. Keeping the integrity of medications intact is the duty of binders such as microcrystalline cellulose. 

Disintegrants

On the opposite side of the binders are the disintegrants. These ingredients, such as sodium starch glycolate and croscarmellose sodium, react with the normal chemical processes of the human body and cause the capsule or tablet to break apart when digested. 

Colorants 

Colorants, such as titanium dioxide, have two roles: they appeal to consumers as they ensure the medication is either the correct dose or even the correct medication. 

Dilutents

When the active ingredient of a medication is to be administered sparingly, a diluent such as lactose increases the volume of the capsule.

Lubricants

Lubricants are utilized during the manufacturing process to prevent capsules or tablets, or even individual ingredients, from adhering to the industrial equipment. A fine example of a lubricant is magnesium stearate. 

Preservatives

In liquid medications, excipients such as carrageenan, guar gum, and xanthan gum ensure the active ingredient remains unchanged from one dosage to the next. 

The manufacture of medication is not inexpensive, and preservatives assure their shelf life is extended to at least the useful life of the medication’s active ingredients. Preservatives such as sodium benzoate and sorbic acid prevent the growth of microbes, which can alter the delivery of the active ingredient. 

Sweeteners

Not all patients are adults, and sweeteners are welcome additions to children’s medications. Natural sweeteners such as sorbitol and artificial sweeteners such as aspartame are regularly added to medications to ensure patients enjoy their medications enough to take them on schedule.

“Time-release” Excipients

Hydroxypropyl cellulose is an excipient regularly used to control the release of the active ingredient. Medications touted as “time release” or “12-hour release” contain these important excipients. 

Humectants

Topical applications include glycerine and sorbitol as humectants to increase absorption into the epidermis.

Bell Chem is your pharmaceutical ingredient supplier based in Longwood, FL (just north of Orlando) with hundreds of products stocked in their 50,000+ square-foot warehouse, including a wide variety of excipients. You can expect the highest quality products, expedited shipping options for maximum efficiency, and unrivaled personalized customer service. Let our knowledgeable and friendly customer service representatives and accounting staff personalize all your needs by either calling 407-339-BELL (2355) or by sending us an online message.

How to Stay Compliant with Government Chemical Safety Standards

Chemical compliance is a tremendously necessary burden for most industries. The breadth of compliance stretches beyond just the handling of chemicals, though. Industrial chemical supplier Bell Chem is here to lead you through many of the safety standards to ensure your company recognizes how to keep your employees safe.

The effects of chemicals

Learning how chemicals react in different situations, such as being in the presence of other chemicals, in water, to light, et cetera, is imperative in handling those chemicals. Another factor to consider is the type of reaction: will the chemical explode pyrotechnically or simply overflow the beaker if handled incorrectly? Will it cause a severe burn or a shock? The handling of chemicals is extremely important for each of your employees to understand. 

Every chemical has its own guidelines; if your industry focuses on specific chemicals, know those guidelines thoroughly. All guidelines are sent with every chemical and are kept on site in the lab or facility where the chemicals are stored and used. Guidelines are also explained online by looking up the Material Safety Data Sheet for each chemical. 

Government safety standards

The Office of Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) focuses on safety and healthful working conditions for all workers. OSHA offers worker education, training, hazardous chemical standards, and more. The Hazard Communication Standard (HCS) creates and publishes guidelines for those who manufacture, produce, import, export, and handle chemicals. 

Training is an essential key for this process at every stage of a chemical’s journey. Bell Chem’s employees and its warehouses meet or exceed all OSHA and other stringent government standards, ensuring the chemical you receive is specifically what you requested and is sent in the safest manner possible. 

Occupational exposure

Some chemicals must be handled with personal protective wear, which varies from one chemical to the next. While gloves may be the only PPE for one chemical, another may require a respirator and a vent hood. Even with these precautions, the amount of time spent in the presence of a chemical may affect workers. Ensure your workforce meets all occupational exposure guidelines to keep your employees healthy. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) lists Recommended Exposure Limits (RELs) to aid in determining the ultimate amount of time your workers can be safely exposed to chemicals.

OSHA believes engineering and work practice controls are the primary factors in reducing toxic chemical exposure. Knowing your chemicals are safe when they enter your facility is the foundation for the remainder of your safety criteria. Rest assured, industrial chemical supplier Bell Chem will only send chemicals that meet or exceed all government regulations. 

Bell Chem is your industrial chemical supplier based in Longwood, FL (just north of Orlando) with hundreds of products stocked in their 50,000+ square-foot warehouse. You can expect the highest quality products, expedited shipping options for maximum efficiency, and unrivaled personalized customer service. Let our knowledgeable and friendly customer service representatives and accounting staff personalize all your needs by either calling 407-339-BELL (2355) or by sending us an online message.