Learn About Sodium Benzoate

Sodium benzoate is the most widely used food preservative in the world. Listed as a bacteriostatic and fungistatic when placed in an acidic condition, sodium benzoate hinders the reproduction of fungus and bacteria without necessarily killing the existing microbes within the food. Because the pH range is acidic for sodium benzoate to react properly, it is most often added to foods with a low pH. Read more about sodium benzoate in the information below brought to you by your chemical supplier in Florida, Bell Chem.

• Food Industry: Acidic foods, condiments, and beverages find the advantages of the addition of sodium benzoate as a preservative. Salad dressings, carbonated beverages, fruit juices, and pickles owe their extended shelf lives to sodium benzoate.
• Pharmaceutical Industry: Many medicines contain sodium benzoate to preserve and stabilize their products. The pharmaceutical industry has been treating urea cycle disorders with sodium benzoate because it has the ability to bind with amino acids and excrete them from the body. This decreases the ammonia levels within the tissues and circulatory system, lowering the pH to a more desirable level.
• Pyrotechnics Industry: Fireworks are a brilliant light show, but part of the thrill is the sound effects. Sodium benzoate acts as a fuel in the whistle mix, a powder that creates the whistling noise often associated with spiraling fireworks.
• Personal-Care Industry: Cosmetics containing sodium benzoate include toothpastes, mouthwashes, and dental appliance cleaners.
• Automotive Industry: This industry has noted sodium benzoate is useful as a corrosion inhibitor in engine coolant systems.

With its wide range of uses, it is no wonder so many industries rely on sodium benzoate as their preservative of choice. Find more information pertaining to all our chemicals by reading our blogs, and call Bell Chem, the chemical supplier in Florida, at (407) 339-2355 (BELL) to speak with one of our knowledgeable representatives.

Potassium Sorbate at Bell Chem

Potassium sorbate is the soluble potassium salt of sorbic acid commonly used as a preservative for food, beverages, personal care, and cosmetic products. Its ability to inhibit mold and yeast growth qualifies potassium sorbate as a preservative since it lengthens shelf life of products in which it is an ingredient. Bell Chem, a nutritional chemical supplier of a myriad chemicals for home and industrial use, lists potassium sorbate as one if its most popular preservatives, and for good reason. Read below for information and uses of this valuable chemical.

• Food: From dried fruit and herbal supplements to fast-food milkshakes, potassium sorbate is a choice preservative. With no flavor, texture, or aftertaste, the white, crystalline powder of potassium sorbate works well in any food or beverage requiring a longer shelf life. It is also added to foods meant to be stored and eaten at room temperature since it fends off bacterial growth without refrigeration.
• Wine: Wineries benefit from adding potassium sorbate to their developing wines. This chemical stabilizes the wine by destroying any yeast remaining after fermentation, thereby stopping the growing/fermenting cycle and keeping the wine from continually acting as a food source for yeast. When the wine is sweetened before bottling, potassium sorbate is added a second time to ensure no further fermenting occurs.
• Cosmetics: Personal care products, such as face and eye makeup, skin care products, such as lotion, and hair products all utilize potassium sorbate for its antimicrobial action since it maintains the integrity of the products as it protects the skin from unwanted germs. When products last longer and assist in cleansing your skin of bacteria, it’s a win-win situation.

Potassium sorbate is a welcome addition to your preservative inventory. Call Bell Chem, your local nutritional chemical supplier, at (407) 339-2355 (BELL) to order potassium sorbate or any of our other chemicals and supplements. Read our past blogs for information pertaining to preservatives, cleaners, and our full inventory of products.

Tri-Calcium Phosphate

Tricalcium phosphate (Ca3(PO4)2) is a calcium salt of phosphoric acid. Containing both calcium and phosphoric acid gives tricalcium phosphate many positive health and pharmaceutical benefits as well as industrial uses. Below are only a few of the many uses of this marvelous product stocked by Bell Chem, your Florida chemical supplier.

• Cheesemaking and other industries employ tricalcium phosphate to regulate acidity.
• Baked goods often list tricalcium phosphate as an ingredient. When bread is baked, tricalcium phosphate causes bread to rise properly.
• Reduced fat liquids containing tricalcium phosphate are generally smoother and thicker.
• Many spices contain tricalcium phosphate because it deters caking and clumping. As a matter of fact, from baby powder and agricultural applications, thousands of products take advantage of tricalcium phosphate’s anti-caking properties.
• When pharmaceuticals need to be routed directly to osseous tissue (bone), tricalcium phosphate acts as a delivery system, bringing the medication directly to the bone.
• In antacids, the basic properties of tricalcium phosphate act to buffer the acid environment of the stomach while supplying the body with calcium, an important component of every body system.
• Common medical practice utilizes tricalcium phosphate as a supplement or stand-alone bone graft agent.
• Home water filtration systems find tricalcium phosphate works well to remove fluoride from water.
• Fertilizers often contain large amounts of phosphoric acid, which is typically derived from tricalcium phosphate.

Your body cannot function without calcium or phosphate. Calcium is imperative for muscle contraction, heart rate regularity, and, its most well-known function, bone health. Phosphate is less well recognized but is essential in the formation of cellular membranes, nucleic acids (DNA and RNA), energy production within cells, and bone mineralization (hardening). Supplementing your diet with tricalcium phosphate will ensure you receive the correct amounts of both nutrients daily.

Read more about all the chemicals offered through Bell Chem by reading our blogs, and contact our team of experts at (407) 339-2355 (BELL) with any questions pertaining to tricalcium phosphate or any of the other chemicals on hand at your Florida chemical supplier of choice.

Puracal PP

Puracal PP (pentahydrate powder) is food grade calcium lactate available in a white, non-hygroscopic formation. Added to many foods, it provides an excellent source of calcium in everyday products. Because it is highly soluble and its taste can best be described as neutral, the application of this calcium salt of lactic acid in most products is simple and leaves no bitter taste on foods, unlike other calcium additives. Below is a list of a few of the applications for Puracal PP, one of the quality chemicals supplied by Bell Chem, your nutritional chemical supplier.

• Restaurants and grocery stores use Puracal PP on freshly cut fruits to extend their shelf life. Fruits remain firmer longer with an application of Puracal PP.

• Sugar-free foods are often highly acidic, which can cause tooth decay. Adding Puracal PP counters this reaction by remineralizing tooth enamel, thereby preventing its erosion.

• Mouthwashes, toothpastes, and other oral care products often contain Puracal PP because it decreases tartar production.

• In the pharmaceutical industry, Puracal PP serves two distinct purposes that we often see united in one product: it is utilized as an antacid and a calcium supplement.

• Cheesemakers employ Puracal PP on both young and old cheeses in the form of cheese crystals to diminish acidity. It is more likely to be added to the exterior of the cheeses, although adding Puracal PP as the cheese forms is not unlikely.

Puracal PP dissolves easily and is readily absorbed at a wide pH range. Absorption can occur with or without food when ingested orally. With its ability to boost calcium levels while deterring enamel erosion, Puracal PP is a great choice for preserving food as it enhances the body’s framework. Call Bell Chem at (407) 339-2355 (BELL) for further information on Puracal PP or any of the other chemicals in their vast inventory, and read our latest blogs to learn more about the nutritional chemical supplier of Florida, Bell Chem.

Glycerin 99.5%, Vegetable USP/Kosher

Glycerin is a oil-based liquid traditionally produced from palm, soy, or coconut oil. Food applications demand a USP grade of 99% or higher, which is exceeded with this product. While vegetable glycerin is clear and odorless, USP-grade glycerin has a sweet flavor. Read below for uses of vegetable USP-grade glycerin 99.5%, brought to you by Bell Chem, the nutritional chemical supplier of choice.

• The sweet taste of vegetable glycerin gives it applications as a sweetener in low carbohydrate foods, and, unlike common table sugar, glycerin will not cause tooth decay.

• Many foods contain vegetable glycerin as a filler or thickening agent, especially in low-fat foods. Without fat, foods often lose flavor and texture, both of which can be rectified with the addition of vegetable glycerin.

• Cake icing often contains vegetable glycerin to prevent it from becoming too hard after it is spread.

• Shaving cream, soap, and shampoo contain vegetable glycerin as a humectant (moisturizer) to increase the solubility of other ingredients, thereby making products easier for the skin to absorb.

• Many lotion manufacturers appreciate vegetable glycerin’s ability to draw moisture from deep skin tissues to the surface and to keep the skin from drying excessively. It is often marketed toward individuals with sensitive or easily-irritated skin.

• Toothpaste and mouthwash contain vegetable glycerin since it improves the taste without causing tooth decay.

• The increase of solubility has led the pharmaceutical industry to utilize vegetable glycerin in allergen immunotherapy, cough syrup, elixirs, and expectorants.

• Medicine in the form of tablets may contain vegetable glycerol as a tablet-holding agent.

• In herbal extracts, vegetable glycerin is often used in lieu of ethanol in products touted as alcohol-free.

With its many uses, vegetable glycerin 99.5% USP is a fantastic product from your pharmaceutical, food grade, and nutritional chemical supplier, Bell Chem. Contact Bell Chem today at (407) 339-2355 (BELL) to inquire about vegetable glycerin or any of our other chemicals.

Urea, Granular USP

While urea is a naturally occurring organic compound, synthetic urea is the most widely used nitrogen fertilizer in the world, particularly because of its minimal expense and positive results. Urea in a granular formation gives it the advantage of easy handling as well as even blending and spreading. Below are facts about granular urea USP brought to you by the sanitation chemical supplier in Florida, Bell Chem.

• Knowing that urea is a derivative of ammonia, it is important to recognize that ammonia’s ionized state, ammonium (NH4+), is nitrogen with four hydrogen atoms. Nitrogen is necessary for plant growth and maintenance, and its absence is often the limiting factor in plant growth. Urea, then, is dissolved into the soil, converted to ammonium, then transformed into nitrate.

• Granular urea is the result of combining ammonia and carbon dioxide, then passing the liquid through a fluid bed granulation system. The end product is evenly sized granules that slowly release nutrients to plant roots. While many varieties of urea exist for fertilizer needs, granulated urea creates less dust.

• Temperature, organic matter, and moisture are all factors on the speed of granular urea’s uptake. Normal reaction time begins after 24 hours and is complete within two to five days. Cold, soggy conditions slow reaction time considerably.

• Because urea must be chemically altered before it is thoroughly utilized by plants, it has longer uptake availability. This slows release rates to the average rate of plant growth, which translates to fewer applications over time.

Contact Bell Chem, your sanitation chemical supplier in Florida, at (407) 339-2355 (BELL) for information pertaining to granulated urea or any of their other chemicals and products, and read our blogs to learn more about our products.

Di-Calcium Phosphate

Di-calcium phosphate (CaHPO4), also known as dibasic calcium phosphate and calcium monohydrogen phosphate, is composed of calcium and phosphate, two chemicals vitally important in many of the body’s most basic functions. Therefore, many manufacturers add di-calcium phosphate to packaged foods. Di-calcium phosphate is not unique to the food industry, however. Pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and agricultural uses have given di-calcium phosphate a place in nearly every industry. Bell Chem, a chemical distributor in Florida, has compiled the following information pertaining to di-calcium phosphate to keep you informed.

• The food industry often adds di-calcium phosphate as a dietary supplement in breakfast cereal, enriched flour, and pasta.

• As a firming agent, it is present in food preparation to maintain and strengthen food structure during processing.

• Di-calcium phosphate acts as a preservative for organic products that tend to lose integrity after lengthy periods of time.

• The pharmaceutical industry uses this product as a tableting agent, especially as an excipient to remove body odor.

• Because it is almost completely insoluble, the pharmaceutical industry also utilizes it as a delayed release compound for highly water-soluble medications.

• In cosmetics, di-calcium phosphate is often a dietary calcium supplement.

• Toothpaste manufacturers find di-calcium phosphate is useful in the control of tartar.

• Agricultural uses of this product include poultry feed and dog treats.

Humans and other animals benefit greatly from the 23% volume of calcium (approximate) and 18% phosphorous (approximate) within this supplement. Calcium plays an active role in bone and teeth maintenance, cell signaling, muscle contraction (including the heart), blood clotting, and nerve function. Phosphorous is a key component in energy metabolism and is required for cell maintenance and division, heart function, and acid-base regulation.

Chemical distributor in Florida, Bell Chem, stocks di-calcium phosphate along with other important biological and commercial chemicals. Give the chemical experts at Bell Chem a call at (407) 339-2355 (BELL), and read our latest blogs for information pertaining to all the chemicals we stock.

The Sweet Truth About Crystalline Fructose

Ask a chemist the difference between high fructose corn syrup and crystalline fructose and the answer will be quite different than if a biologist is asked the same question. The reason is based on the chemical makeup of the two versus how they react within the body. Chemically, crystalline fructose is simply high fructose corn syrup processed until the amount of fructose jumps from the high fructose corn syrup amount of 55% (with 45% glucose) to nearly 100% fructose contained within crystalline fructose. To learn the sweet facts behind crystalline fructose, read the information that chemical distributor in Florida, Bell Chem, has gathered concerning this sweetener.

• Fructose is five percent sweeter than glucose. For this reason, a smaller amount of crystalline fructose has the same effect per volume as high fructose corn syrup. Keeping in mind the amount of calories per tablespoon, this equates to fewer calories for the same taste.

• Crystalline fructose’s smaller volume and solid form make crystalline fructose a much better option than high fructose corn syrup. Because it is more solid in form, it improves the fluffiness of baked goods, mixes well with other sweeteners, and is able to remain unoxidized for extended periods of time.

• Individuals who suffer from diabetes watch their insulin levels, which are tightly intertwined with glucose. Since it is at least 98% fructose and contains no glucose, crystalline fructose is an ideal sweetening agent for diabetic patients and actually acts to lower blood glucose levels. For this reason, crystalline fructose is known as a “diabetic-friendly carbohydrate”.

The advantages of crystalline fructose make it a more appealing choice for many consumers. Learn more about crystalline fructose and all the other products offered by chemical distributor in Florida, Bell Chem, by calling (407) 339-2355 (BELL), and read more about the industrial, food grade, and cosmetic chemicals inventoried by Bell Chem by reading our latest blogs.

The Role of Coconut Cream, Oil, & Fatty Acid in Products

Coconut oil has become a hot supplement recently, and many of the different products derived from this hearty fruit, such as coconut cream, oil, and saturated fatty acids have substantially beneficial roles in the body. Bell Chem, a chemical distributor in Florida specializing in the newest health and beauty chemicals, presents the roles these three components play to keep you healthy and looking great.

• Coconut oil is abundant in saturated fat, which causes many to pause since saturated fat is often associated with cardiovascular disease. However, new studies are proving the culprit in heart disease is not saturated fat as much as the fast foods associated with its intake. Therefore, this whole food’s saturated fat level proves much less harmful when added to sautéed broccoli than to cookie mix. Coconut oil is also slow to oxidize, meaning it will remain fresh at room temperature for as long as six months with no special care. Virgin coconut oil smells and tastes like coconuts while refined coconut oil loses the telltale coconut taste and odor.

• Coconut cream is similar to coconut milk but is much creamier since the water component is mostly removed. Coconut cream is a great beauty aid to use as a skin mask, hair conditioner, and body wash. Skin feels silky and soft while hair is sleek, shiny, and thicker with one application of coconut cream.

• The fatty acids in coconut oil contain approximately 66% medium-chain fatty acids (MCFAs), one of the highest amounts of MCFAs occurring naturally. MCFAs are easy to digest and small enough to cross the boundaries of cell membranes to be used more efficiently. These fatty acids are converted to energy in the liver without being stored as fat. This speeds your metabolism, thereby assisting in weight loss.

With its many uses, it is no wonder coconuts are generating such a buzz. Bell Chem is the chemical distributor in Florida that stocks coconut oil, cream, and other health and beauty products. Read our past blogs for more information concerning the chemicals and supplements from Bell Chem, or give the staff a call at (407) 339-2355 (BELL).

Vitamins A, B, C, D, & E

The human body requires a regimen of important vitamins to remain healthy. The vitamins at the beginning of the vitamin alphabet have a myriad functions that enable the body to maintain its overall well being. Read below for a few of the benefits of vitamins A through E, all important supplements sold by the premiere chemical distributor in Florida, Bell Chem.

• Vitamin A – This fat-soluble vitamin is important in maintaining good eyesight, especially at night; stabilizing skin, hair, and mucus membranes; and enhancing immune system actions. Vitamin A is essential in the development of bones, teeth, and cells, especially the epithelial cells that line body cavities and the skin. As an antioxidant, vitamin A also prevents damage from external chemical forces.

• Vitamin B – A water-soluble vitamin that stimulates metabolism, moves red blood cells through the body to deliver oxygen, maintains heart health, and aids in the formation of many neurotransmitters. Vitamin B is part of protein synthesis and energy metabolism, is required for the formation of red blood cells and various neurotransmitters, and helps maintain nerve function, a healthy immune system, and healthy antibodies.

• Vitamin C – A water-soluble component of collagen production, vitamin C gives bones, cartilage, tendons and ligaments, muscles, teeth, and blood vessels the strength they need to support and protect the body. It also stimulates wound healing and keeps your skin looking healthy. Vitamin C is a key component in the formation of collagen. Like vitamin A, vitamin C is an antioxidant that thwarts cell damage.

• Vitamin D – This fat-soluble vitamin stimulates bone formation and assists in calcium and phosphorous absorption to strengthen teeth and bones, adjusts calcium storage, and also prevents osteoporosis.

• Vitamin E – This is a fat-soluble vitamin, and its importance lies as an antioxidant to protect cells and tissue from free radical invasion. Vitamin E has been shown to prevent cancer, cardiovascular disease, and heart disease.

Fat-soluble vitamins – such as A, D, and E – are found in dietary fats and stored in the liver. They do not need to be consumed on a daily basis. Vitamins B and C, on the other hand, are water-soluble vitamins. Because our bodies constantly give off water in sweat, urine, respiration, and other metabolic processes, water-soluble vitamins are lost continuously and must be replenished on a daily basis. Learn more about vitamins and other nutritional supplements provided by chemical distributor in Florida, Bell Chem, by calling (407) 339-2355 (BELL) to speak with one of our representatives concerning vitamins and supplements, and please read our past blogs for information on all the chemicals in our inventory.