Your Corrosion Inhibitors Guide

Corrosion is the destruction of a metal by a chemical or electrochemical reaction with its surroundings. Some of the most caustic chemical reactions involve oxygen. The most easily noted reaction is the production of rust from the reaction of oxygen and iron. Controlling this reaction, as well as others, takes chemicals specific to each reaction. Water treatment plants have all the necessary components to harbor myriad types of corrosion. The chemicals, temperature, ambiance, and pH are all factors in the health of the pipes and tanks within a water treatment facility. Bell Chem, experts in water treatment chemicals, have created this handy guide on the chemicals needed to keep corrosion under control. Read on for the most reliable chemicals and their role in water treatment.

• Deaeration is the removal of water from pipes and tanks. Since water is chemically composed of oxygen and hydrogen, when oxygen is removed, corrosion is less possible. Deaeration is achievable with the addition of eight parts catalyzed sodium sulfite for each one part dissolved oxygen.

• Passivating (anodic) inhibitors form an oxide film on the walls of pipes and tanks, acting as a protective barrier. This form of corrosion control is inexpensive and, in many instances, self-repairing. Passivating inhibitors include nitrite, molybdate and orthophosphate. Nitrite works well in systems where oxygen is not present; molybdate is effective, but cost inhibitive, and orthophosphate is the most widely used because of its low cost and efficiency.

• Precipitating (cathodic) inhibitors form insoluble precipitates on metal surfaces. Precipitating inhibitors do not form as stringent barrier as passivating inhibitors, and while they repair with no outside influence, the repair time is much longer than anodic inhibitors. Zinc precipitates as hydroxide, carbonate, or phosphate to form a precipitating inhibitor. Calcium orthophosphate and calcium carbonate are also effective precipitating inhibitors.

• Copper corrosion inhibitors include benzotriazole and tolytriazole, which bond with cuprous oxide to form a chemisorbed film on the metal surface.

• Adsorption inhibitors block interior surfaces against adsorption. Amines and organic compounds containing sulfur or hydroxyl groups are good adsorption inhibitors. Because these molecules are often surfactants, they also act to lower the surface tension between liquids and solids.

• Aqueous corrosion is inhibited by silicates. While silicates are not truly passivators, they form visible precipitates along the walls of passages. Silicates may also inhibit corrosion via adsorption.

Many of these chemicals react more readily under specific conditions depending on temperature, pH, amount of oxygen, etc. Contact water treatment chemical supplier, Bell Chem, at (407) 339-2355 (BELL) to determine which corrosion inhibitors are best suited for your water treatment system.

Oils & Their Role in Beauty Care Products

Oils have become increasingly popular within the past few years. While they seem to be the newest and greatest trend, essential oils have been used since pre-history to treat disorders or promote beauty. Below is a short list from Bell Chem, experts in beauty care chemicals, of some of the most powerful essential oils relating to beauty care.

• Argan oil is an anti-aging miracle. With an abundance of vitamin E and omega-6 fatty acid, dry skin is revitalized with argan oil. The ability to remove free radicals from the skin and reduce inflammation gives argan oil the title of the go-to skin enhancer. Add a tiny amount to the skin, nails, or hair to absorb moisture and reduce wrinkles. Unlike many other products, argan oil is stable in sunlight, so it can be applied before your day begins or as it winds down.

• Jojoba oil has properties that closely match your skin’s natural oils. With antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and moisturizing benefits, jojoba oil has the ability to trick your body into believing it has sufficient oil on the surface, thereby reducing oil production.

• Marula oil contains a high concentration of oleic acid, which causes this soothing oil to penetrate the skin rapidly for almost immediate results. High in antioxidants, marula oil defends against ultraviolet damage as it moisturizes.

• Olive oil, the same product you have in your kitchen cabinet, is one of the best “bang for your buck” skin care oils on the market for dry skin. While it seems contradictory to use olive oil on your face, the effects are noteworthy. Olive oil contains lactic acid to exfoliate your skin and stimulate skin cell regeneration. The antioxidants in olive oil also counter the effects of aging.

• Rose hip seed oil fades discoloration and scarring. Applied over a two-week period, even decades-old scars fade miraculously. With essential fatty acids and vitamins A and C, rose hip seed oil protects skin while increasing cell division to slough off old, scarred epithelial cells.

• Tea tree oil has the effectiveness of benzoyl peroxide in treating acne. According to recent studies, 5% tea tree oil is as effective as 5% benzoyl peroxide without the harshness of chemical compounds.

• Chamomile oil may replace calamine lotion in your medicine cabinet. Perfect for sensitive skin, chamomile oil soothes skin much like chamomile tea relieves tension. Redness and irritation disappear in seconds because of its anti-inflammatory properties, and patients experiencing rosacea find relief with chamomile oil.

For more skin care tips read our past blogs, or contact a Bell Chem associate today at (407) 339-2355 (BELL) to hear about these beauty care chemicals or any of our other products.

Polyphosphate & Its Role in Clean Water

Water treatment facilities have long used chemicals to control unwanted organic and nonorganic material in potable water. One chemical in particular, polyphosphate, has such a variety of positive impacts on water treatment that most companies find they rely on it daily. Bell Chem has created this succinct list to explain the role water treatment chemical, polyphosphates, play on cleaning water in water treatment facilities.

• A major role for polyphosphates is the stabilization and dispersion of iron. Surprisingly, polyphosphates do not remove iron from water; instead, the iron remains in the water in a soluble form that does not affect the color, condition, or taste of water. Chlorinating the water causes the iron to become insoluble, leading to a telltale rusty color that stains clothes, porcelain, and other porous surfaces. Adding polyphosphates before chlorination eliminates the formation of insoluble iron.

• Manganese, another heavy metal, is also neutralized with polyphosphates. An excess of manganese leaves water looking exceedingly dark, often referred to as “black water,” which leaves brown stains on porous objects. Polyphosphates, before the addition of chlorine, will prevent manganese from becoming insoluble.

• Water hardness is reduced when polyphosphates are present in water treatment plants.

• Pressure tanks, hot water storage tanks, and pipes with iron deposits are scourged clean with polyphosphates. The addition of polyphosphates in these areas will temporarily increase iron in the water as it leaves the metal surfaces, but the uninterrupted use of polyphosphates retards iron from adhering to tanks and pipes within the water treatment system.

• Magnesium and calcium crystallize in the form of scale on potable water system surfaces. Polyphosphates impede crystalline growth, leaving interior walls free of scale.

Water treatment systems have found that polyphosphates are an economical, reliable source to counter many of the daily impediments to water safety, clarity, and taste. Contact Bell Chem today at (407) 339-2355 (BELL) to speak with one of our representatives concerning polyphosphates or any other water treatment chemical, and read our past blogs for information on all the chemicals in our inventory.

Salicylic Acid

Salicylic acid has been used medicinally for a while by individuals around the world. The health benefits of the underbark of the white willow shrub include pain relief and fever reduction. In modern times, the salix (Latin for “willow”) shares only its root word with salicylic acid. Produced chemically within the confines of a laboratory, salicylic acid is a colorless, crystalline amonohydroxybenzoic (or beta hydroxy) organic acid that works wonders on a variety of skin disorders. Read below for how this product from beauty care chemicals supplier, Bell Chem’s, can assist in maintaining your skin’s beauty.

• Salicylic acid is most renown as a keratolytic, or exfoliant, that removes the outer layer of the skin to reveal the softer skin beneath. Often this keratin is present as a wart or plantar wart, psoriasis, ichthyoses, dandruff, a corn, or calluses. Salicylic acid is most prevalent in the treatment of acne, where it penetrates the pore lining to exfoliate the skin, reducing blackhead and whitehead outbreaks.

• The anti-inflammatory property of salicylic acid aids helps in alleviating skin tension associated with sunburn.

• As a rubefacient (a substance that dilates capillaries at the skin’s surface to increase blood circulation), salicylic acid alleviates acute and chronic pain.

• Salicylic acid thickens the epidermis, improves barrier function, increases moisture in the epidermis, and boosts collagen production. It also dissolves the ground substance that adheres neighboring cells, which enables skin cells to be shed more easily.

• Many of the properties of aspirin mirror those of salicylic acid since aspirin’s less common name is acetylsalicylic acid. Therefore, the anti-irritant properties in aspirin are also present in salicylic acid. Its acidic character also causes it to be anti-bacterial.

With its many uses, salicylic acid is a necessary addition for both medical and pharmaceutical industries. Contact Bell Chem at (407) 339-BELL (2355) to speak with one of our beauty care chemical consultants concerning beauty aids or any other chemical in stock, or read our previous blogs for further information.

Can Vitamins Improve Your Skin?

As skin ages, many reactions within the body occur that lead to wrinkles, loss of fat below the skin’s surface, and overall tissue breakdown. Many vitamins have the ability to delay these processes, however. Read below for a list of only a few of the vitamins Bell Chem, a beauty care chemical suppler, carries that may improve the overall look and feel of skin.

• Vitamin A – A fat-soluble vitamin essential in fading brown spots, smoothing rough skin, and reducing wrinkles, the synthetic form of Vitamin A, retinol, has been proven to reduce or clear up acne and psoriasis, among other debilitating skin disorders.

• Vitamin B3 (niacin) – Niacin increases the production of lipids beneath the skin’s surface to maintain moisture levels while locking irritants out. Moisturizers containing niacin reduce flushing and the appearance of rosacea. Vitamin B3 also inhibits pigments from entering skin cells, thereby decreasing the appearance of dark spots.

• Biotin – This B-vitamin is water-soluble and breaks down fatty acids, leaving skin glossy and healthy. Biotin prevents water loss and negates the effects of UV rays.

• Vitamin C – Your body contains a plethora of free radicals that wreak havoc on your skin. Vitamin C destroys free radicals and leaves your skin smoother, firmer, and less discolored, especially if the skin has suffered the effects of sun damage.

• Vitamin E – Another vitamin that quells the effects of free radicals, fat-soluble Vitamin E assists in retaining moisture within the skin’s surface. Often used in sunscreen, Vitamin E leaves the skin less red, inflamed, and dry after sun exposure.

• Vitamin K – The capillaries below the eyes often allow blood to leak beneath this thin skin layer. Vitamin K inhibits blood clotting in this area to diminish the dark circles under the eyes.

Vitamins are essential, and many consumers are not taking in amounts to keep their bodies healthy. The chemicals needed to produce vitamins and supplements, supplied by Bell Chem, meet the needs of those individuals. Contact the beauty care chemical experts at Bell Chem at (407) 339-BELL (2355) for a list of all the vitamins and health products they carry.

Magnesium Stearate PDR NF

What exactly is magnesium stearate? It’s a chelated mineral, a metal ion joined with a chelating agent that forms several bonds with that metal, generally sold as a white powder that solidifies at room temperature. It occurs naturally as a fatty acid absorbed via normal dietary means and is readily manufactured by the body from other dietary fats. Most often, magnesium stearate is used by the pharmaceutical industry in a number of respects. Chemical supplier in Florida, Bell Chem, has created a list of the most common uses of magnesium stearate.

• As an anti-adherent, magnesium stearate allows the ingredients in tablets and capsules to pour smoothly without clumping. Many ingredients cause other additives to adhere to each other, which can cause too much or too little of an active ingredient to be included in each tablet or capsule; magnesium stearate prevents this process from occurring.

• The lubricating property of magnesium stearate keeps the active ingredients of medications and vitamins flowing smoothly through machinery before it reaches tablet form. Without magnesium stearate, these important ingredients would adhere to and possibly endanger machinery, forming clumps and, once more, causing inaccurate amounts of active ingredients from reaching the interior of each tablet.

• In the dry-coating process of forming tablets, magnesium stearate acts as a time-release element to deliver a set amount of medication over an extended period of time.

So-called health foods that tout tablets not containing magnesium stearate may lack the specific amounts of active ingredients printed on the label. Read more about Bell Chem’s, a chemical supplier in Florida, products by reading our blogs, or contact the knowledgeable professionals at (407) 339-BELL (2355).

Understanding Microcrystalline Cellulose

When most consumers see the term “cellulose”, they think plants, and rightly so. Microcrystalline cellulose is not as easily recognized, but is certainly utilized in many formations. The term “microcrystalline” refers to the minute crystals within the material that can only be viewed via microscopy. This alteration to standard cellulose allows microcrystalline cellulose, derived from high quality wood pulp, to meet the United States Pharmacopeia standards for distribution in medicines. As a white, free-flowing powder, it is easily added to most substances. How can your industry utilize Tampa chemical supplier Bell Chem’s microcrystalline cellulose? Read below for more information.

• Most tablets and capsules contain a small amount of medicine within a medium of microcrystalline cellulose that allows the dosage to be degraded over time.

• Many granulated or powdered substances have a tendency to clump together, making it difficult to pour or measure them. Microcrystalline cellulose acts as an anti-caking agent to prevent this action.

• Microcrystalline cellulose can be used to replace fat in many foods since its texture and cellular structure are similar, thereby reducing the caloric intake in food.

• As an emulsifier, microcrystalline cellulose combines two liquids that would normally separate over time, such as oil and water.

• Because microcrystalline cellulose is inactive, it does not alter any foods or medicines upon its inclusion. Therefore, many companies use it as an excipient to add bulk to products.

With so many uses within the food and pharmacy industries, microcrystalline cellulose is certain to fulfill many needs. Call Tampa chemical supplier, Bell Chem, at (407) 339-2355 (BELL) to speak with a knowledgeable representative concerning microcrystalline cellulose or any of their other dietary and pharmaceutical products. Please browse the Bell Chem website for a list of chemicals in Bell Chem’s inventory and information on their uses.

Grade A Whey

Whey has long been tossed away as a by-product of cheese and yogurt crafting. Recently, however, whey’s dietary importance has become renowned for its significant amount of perfect proteins and is used worldwide by bodybuilders and other health-conscious individuals. Once the watery medium of whey is removed, a white or cream powder remains. This powder is bland or flavorless. Therefore, it is easy to add to liquids or solids as a powerful protein supplement. Jacksonville chemical supplier, Bell Chem, supplies Grade A whey, a moniker indicating that the whey is a derivative of Grade A milk coming from a Grade A dairy. What can whey do for you and your customers? Below is a list of a few of Grade A whey’s uses.

• Whey boosts the immune system because it raises glutathione (GSH) levels in the body. GSH has been pinpointed as one of the most prevalent water-soluble antioxidants within the body. Heightened GSH levels increase serotonin levels in the brain, improve liver function, reduce blood pressure, improve muscular performance, and reduce stress-producing cortisol levels.

• In some countries, whey is marketed as a beverage, either carbonated or uncarbonated.

• Whey can replace water in many recipes, giving foods an acidic zing as well as the bonus of added minerals and vitamins.

• Whey can be sprayed across fields as a fertilizer, fed to pets, diluted for plant food, or added in lieu of water, milk, or broth in the kitchen.

With its myriad health benefits for animals and plants, whey is a perfect protein in more than one sense. Find out more benefits of Grade A whey by contacting Jacksonville chemical supplier, Bell Chem. Call (407) 339-2355 (BELL) or browse the Bell Chem website for a list of all their products, the latest chemical news, and information pertaining to their chemical inventory.

Phosphoric Acid Guide

The term “phosphoric acid” may mean any number of chemicals within this acid category. However, all phosphoric acids share several characteristics: they are derived from naturally occurring phosphate minerals, are water-soluble, and appear as a white solid or a clear, viscous liquid. Otherwise, the variety of phosphoric acids and phosphates are as different as the methods in which they are used in industry. The following information will break down the different members of the phosphoric acid family and give a few functions of each. Contact Tampa chemical supplier, Bell Chem, to find which member of the phosphoric acid family is perfect for your industry.

• Monophosphoric (orthophosphoric) acid is the simplest inorganic phosphoric acid with the chemical formula of H3PO4. Monophosphoric acid is often used as a detergent and in potable water systems where it forms a protective barrier inside pipes.

• Polyphosphoric acid is an inorganic chain of two or more monophosphoric acids. This larger molecule is utilized in the organic synthesis of acylations and cyclizations (commonly in adenosine triphosphate, or ATP, as well as adenosine diphosphate, or ADP). Polyphosphoric acid is often found in detergents, acts as a corrosion inhibitor in potable water systems, as a compound to aid in the processing of fish and meat, in carbonated colas, and in baking powder. Its most recognized function, though, is its use in fertilizers.

• Pyrophosphoric acid (H4P2O7) is used in detergents to control corrosion in potable water systems, and as a compound to form adenosine diphosphate, which is essential for energy use in biological organisms.

• Metaphosphoric acids are phosphate rings or strings and often appear as salts or esters. With a loss of hydrogen, the metaphosphate that forms is a food additive and sequestrant.

• Organic phosphates, phosphates compounded with carbon, are frequently used in biogeochemistry (ecology), as well as in biochemistry.

With its multiple uses in dentistry, orthodontics, pharmaceuticals, the medical industry, computer hardware production, and as an industrial cleaner and sanitizer, phosphoric acid belongs in every business’s inventory. Contact Tampa chemical supplier, Bell Chem, at (407) 339-2355 (BELL) to speak to a knowledgeable representative concerning phosphoric acid or any of their other chemicals. You can also browse the rest of the website for a list of chemicals in Bell Chem’s inventory and information on their uses.

Industrial Uses for Guar Gum

Guar gum is renowned for its role as a thickener, emulsifier, and stabilizer in the food industry. These uses and many others also carry over to the industry as seen in the examples below.

• Pet food and veterinary supplements use guar gum as a thickener and gel to retain water and suspend ingredients.

• The pharmaceutical industry utilizes guar gum in powder form as a disintegrating aid in capsulized drugs. Before it is digested, guar gum acts as a binder in capsules as well. Its disintegration speed controls the amount and timing of drugs delivered into the body.

• In cosmetics, guar gum is added to toothpaste and other substances in similar containers for constant tube extrusion. Guar gum’s thickening ability gives creams and lotions their texture.

• The paper industry has found guar gum gives paper a denser surface for easier printing. Its bonding strength makes the paper easier to erase and write on, and it is the substance that helps paper fold. Sheet formation is enhanced with the addition of guar gum.

• In textiles, guar gum is used in forms as a thickener for sizing, finishing, and printing. Guar gum’s flexibility factor reduces warping and snapping, its emulsifying activity reduces dust, and production is more efficient when guar gum is added.

• The oil industry is the main consumer of guar gum. Well fracturing, shale oil extraction and fracturing, oil well stimulation, and mud drilling are enhanced with guar gum, where it is used as a suspending agent, stabilizer, surfactant, synthetic polymer, and thickener. Guar gum minimizes power requirements by reducing friction while drilling, and maintains drilling mud viscosities to aid in removing drill waste from deep holes. Geological, water, and oil well drilling also find guar gum advantageous.

• In mining, guar gum acts as a flocculant to separate liquids and solids.

With its myriad industrial uses, guar gum has an application for almost any corporation. Find more information by browsing the Bell Chem website, or by calling a Tampa chemical supplier agent at (407) 339-BELL (2355).