Get the Skinny on Sugar Substitutes

Occurring naturally in places like sugarcane, sugar beets, and honey, sugar has long been the sweetener of choice. However, within the past half-century, other products have shown up next to sugar on grocery store shelves, touting their low-calorie advantages with the same or even sweeter taste. Sugar substitutes now line the shelves in a variety of forms. Take a look at some of the different kinds below.

• Sucralose: Derived from sucrose – common table sugar – sucralose is sugar with a twist, literally! The chemical formula is altered by replacing 3 hydrogen-oxygen groups with chlorine atoms, which changes both the shape of the overall molecule and the way it interacts with the body. While remaining sweet, the molecule is not accumulated as extra energy the way sugar molecules are. Sucralose is potent – approximately 600 times sweeter than sucrose – and can be added as a liquid or solid in foods and beverages. Because sucralose passes through the body unimpeded, diabetic patients are able to consume sucralose with no worry when it is added to foods or drinks. Bacteria do not use sucralose as a food source either, so cavities do not form from eating foods with sucralose as a sweetener.

• Aspartame: With its clean, sweet taste, aspartame enhances citrus and fruit flavors. Chewing gum containing aspartame remains sweet almost 4 times longer than similar gum containing sucrose. Much like sucralose, the chemical composition of aspartame (C13H18O5N2) causes it to flush from the body without being stored as an energy source. Therefore, diabetic patients are able to enjoy foods and beverages containing aspartame, and consumers will not suffer dental caries from consuming aspartame.

• Stevia: A recent newcomer to the sugar substitute stage is stevia. Unlike other sugar substitutes, stevia is derived directly from a plant, much like how cane sugar is derived from sugarcane. The stevia plant, related to ragweed and daisies, has been used locally for hundreds of years in Paraguay and Brazil as an herb to sweeten foods, treat burns, and cure illnesses, such as colic and upset stomachs. With zero calories, stevia is 200 times sweeter than table sugar in the same concentration.

The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition reports in a 2012 interview that approximately 24% of adults and 12% of children use sugar substitutes, and that market is only continuing to expand. Keep up with the demand by ordering these food-grade ingredients and many others from Bell Chem, your Jacksonville chemical supplier. Bell Chem’s headquarters are located in Longwood, FL – just north of Orlando – with hundreds of products stocked in our 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 handle all your needs by calling 407-339-BELL (2355) or send us an online message.

Propylene Glycol: A Multipurpose Chemical for Many Industries

Propylene glycol is a synthetic organic alcohol with the ability to attract and retain water. Propylene glycol has a variety of functions in a myriad of industries, including pharmaceutical, food and beverage, and personal care. Below are only a few uses of propylene glycol in these industries.

• When propylene glycol’s purity exceeds 99.8%, USP and EP deem it acceptable for foods and pharmaceuticals. In this form, propylene glycol can be used as a solvent for aromatics, in elixirs for pharmaceutical compounds, as a humectant for the salivary glands to wet the mouth, or as a solvent and emulsifier in sunscreens and lotions.

• The pharmaceutical industry adds multi-purpose propylene glycol as an inactive ingredient in oral, injectable, and topical medications. Because it decreases the viscosity of liquids, propylene glycol makes oral medications easier to pour. As a stabilizer, propylene glycol helps to deliver the precise amount of medication with each dose.

• Dairy and brewing industries find propylene glycol’s properties convenient in low temperature heat-transfer fluids. Grocery stores often rely on propylene glycol in food display cases for this same reason.

• The food industry has three separate but intertwined uses for propylene glycol: as a preservative, a stabilizer, and a humectant. Coffee, tree nuts, soda, baked goods, and salad dressings are only a few products that list propylene glycol as an ingredient as it helps deliver the same amount of flavor and moisture with each bite or sip.

• Many cosmetics, including moisturizers, soaps, deodorants, facial cleansers, shampoos, and conditioners, contain propylene glycol as a moisturizer, solvent, and humectant. As a dispersant, propylene glycol is added to fragrances so the exact amount of odor is released with every spray.

With such a wide range of uses, propylene glycol will surely benefit your company. Order this chemical and many more from Bell Chem, your Florida chemical supply company. Bell Chem’s headquarters are located in Longwood, FL – just north of Orlando – with hundreds of products stocked in our 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 handle all your needs by calling 407-339-BELL (2355) or send us an online message.

Spotlight on Xanthan Gum 80 Mesh FCC

With its ability to thicken and flavor sauces, liquids, and foods, xanthan gum is a chef’s best friend. Although it derives from mixing fermented sugars with bacteria, it has a neutral flavor. It has a similar mouthfeel to fat, which gives it a starring role in low-fat foods. The significance of “80 mesh” relates to grain size; 80 mesh xanthan gum is suitable for almost all conditions. Read below to learn how xanthan gum will help your commercial kitchen thrive.

• Emulsion and stabilization: When foods and liquids are emulsified, oils and water mix together equally, as in dressings and sauces. With stabilization, particles are evenly suspended in a solution, giving the same flavor to foods and beverages with each mouthful. The emulsification properties also inhibit or slow crystallization of products over time.

• Adding texture: Even minute amounts of xanthan gum give food a heartier texture, adding bulk to creams, soups, purees, and sauces. Many foods often appear bulky with initial mixing, but break down over time. Xanthan gum stabilizes creamy foods to keep particles evenly distributed within the solvent, causing foods to look and taste more appealing even after extended periods of time.

• Moisture retention: Baked goods retain moisture with the addition of xanthan gum. Moisture also plays a role in its pharmaceutical uses. Because of its ability to impede the absorption of sugar, patients who suffer from dry mouth use xanthan gum as a saliva substitute. Moisture retention also aids patients with intestinal discomfort by stimulating the movement of food through the intestine.

• Other pharmaceutical uses: Toothpastes and medicines are stabilized with xanthan gum, blood sugar and cholesterol levels are lowered, and slow-release medications are stabilized.

• Cosmetic use: Used topically, xanthan gum gives facial masks and cleansers, gels, and creams a silky texture.

Another benefit of xanthan gum 80 mesh is its ability to work in high salinity, alkaline, or acidic conditions. This gives the food and beverage industry, as well as the cosmetic and pharmaceutical industry, opportunities to utilize xanthan gum where other products may not suffice.

Food ingredient supplier company, Bell Chem, has its headquarters located in Longwood, FL – just north of Orlando – with hundreds of products stocked in our 50,000+ square-foot warehouse. You can expect the highest quality products, maximum efficiency, expedited shipping options, and unrivaled personalized customer service. Let our knowledgeable and friendly customer service representatives and accounting staff handle all your needs by calling 407-339-BELL (2355) or send us an online message.

Unleash the Power of Citrus With D-limonene

The power of citrus lies not only in the juice and pulp; citrus rinds contain a component known as d-limonene (dextro-limonene), which is pressed and distilled from the rind. With global production exceeding 150 million pounds a year, d-limonene is a product the world recognizes for many great uses, including the following.

• Solvent: Because it is natural, d-limonene is the solvent of choice for industries that prefer not to use harsh, dangerous solvents in their products. When used with a surfactant, d-limonene removes asphalt and tar. Its KB solvency rating is 67. Wax, gum, adhesives, and ink can all be removed in products with d-limonene added as a solvent.

• Degreaser: At 30% potency, d-limonene with an alkaline detergent becomes a high-quality degreaser. Concrete driveways, commercial kitchens, and machine shops benefit from adding d-limonene to their cleaning regimen. Even baked-on oils are quickly removed with d-limonene.

• Cleaning products: Paint brushes clean easily with d-limonene. Since this product can be frequently reused, electronics manufacturers find board washing with d-limonene beneficial and practical. Many vertical surfaces are difficult to clean with traditional sprays since the sprays simply drip off after application. In a higher concentration (above 50%), thick d-limonene clings to surfaces and picks up dirt, oil, clay, and salt. Refineries and oil rigs use d-limonene to clean machinery and vertical surfaces for this reason. When used at 5% of a product’s total, d-limonene cleans mirrors and glass without damage or smearing.

• Hand sanitizer additive: At 20% to 50% concentration, d-limonene is used in hard surface and hand cleaners. In sanitizers, the pleasant aroma and natural antioxidant properties of citrus are combined with d-limonene.

• Fragrance additive: Bubble baths, cleansing products, aftershave lotions, and animal dips and shampoos carry the lemony, citrusy odor of d-limonene.

• Wastewater treatment compound: Because d-limonene is oil-based, wastewater treatment plants utilize it as a degreaser; it adheres to molecules and floats them to the surface of water.

Sterilizing your equipment could not be easier with the cleaning, degreasing, and solvent compound d-limonene. Order this chemical and many more from Bell Chem, your Jacksonville chemical supplier.

Bell Chem’s headquarters are in Longwood, FL – just north of Orlando – with hundreds of products stocked in our 50,000+ square-foot warehouse. You can expect the highest quality products, maximum efficiency, expedited shipping options, and unrivaled personalized customer service. Let our knowledgeable and friendly customer service representatives and accounting staff handle all your needs by calling 407-339-BELL (2355) or send us an online message.

Multipurpose Products to Transform Your Industry

The most powerful chemical you can use is one with multiple purposes. These three versatile products can be used in a variety of industries, including food, cosmetics, cleaning, and photography. Read on to learn more.

• Ascorbic acid: This water-soluble nutrient boasts dozens of uses, including boosting collagen production, healing wounds, and maintaining bones and teeth. It’s found in plants, particularly in citrus fruits, tomatoes, and green vegetables. Ascorbic acid produces the same vitamin activity as vitamin C. While it’s popular in the food industry, ascorbic acid has numerous non-food applications in pharmaceuticals, photography, pool maintenance, water purification systems, laboratories, plastics, and cosmetics.

• Isopropyl alcohol: 99% isopropyl alcohol is used to clean surfaces and prevent infection from minor surface wounds. While people often recognize it for this purpose, it has many more uses. Isopropyl alcohol is found in many everyday products such as paint thinners, inks, general-purpose cleaners, disinfectants and windshield thawing agents. It can remove glue and solder flux, strip paint, degrease metal, and thaw windshields. It can also be used as an industrial cleaner for machinery and parts. In the cosmetics industry, IPA 99% is found in aftershave lotions and hand lotions, and it is used heavily in the nail industry. The chemical is great for cleaning the surface of the client’s nails and producing maximum nail shine.

• Citric acid: With uses in cosmetics, photography, soaps, and laundry detergents, this environmentally-friendly cleaning agent has abundant potential. Citric acid is most commonly used as a flavor enhancer and preservative in the food and beverage industry. Because of its low pH, citric acid balances pH levels in alkaline products. Citric acid colors foods, catalyzes chemical processes, naturally ferments foods and beverages, extends the shelf life of consumables, emulsifies fats, and expedites absorption of vitamins and minerals.

At Florida chemical supply company, Bell Chem, ascorbic acid, isopropyl alcohol 99%, and citric acid are just a few of the products we offer. On top of a full line of industrial and water treatment chemicals, we also offer a diverse blend of food, pharmaceutical and personal care raw materials. Additionally, we stock many highly specialized botanical and nutritional ingredients as well as hard to find technical grade chemicals and custom compounds. Call us at 407-339-BELL (2355) or contact us online to learn more about what makes us different.

Six Industrial Uses for Acetone

Acetone may be a simple chemical, but don’t judge a book by its cover. All industries can benefit from incorporating it. Florida chemical supply leader, Bell Chem, understands how versatile it is; here’s how different industries can utilize acetone to their advantage.

• Personal care industry: Acetone is best known as the primary ingredient in nail polish remover. Other cosmetic products, such as skin creams and makeup, contain acetone as a solvent to deliver different chemicals. It’s also a key ingredient in chemical skin peels to combat acne.

• Pharmaceutical industry: Active ingredients and fillers use acetone as a solvent to deliver the correct amount of medication each dose; therefore, common drugs tend to use acetone as an excipient. Acetone is often used to denature alcohol as well.

• Textile industry: Acetone not only removes nail polish, it can also remove gum, oil, and other sticky substances from raw textiles like cotton or silk. As a solvent, acetone thins or entirely removes resins, epoxy, and glue from hard or soft surfaces. When welding, applying acetone after a final weld removes rosin flux. Acetone is a great degreaser in metalworking as well.

• Electronics industry: For maximum performance, electronics require exceptionally clean components, and acetone expels all debris.

• Environmental industry: Acetone helps contain oil spills because it dissolves sludge, removing it from the surface of water, marine plants, or animals. Because acetone is an organic compound, it’s considered non-toxic to animals and the environment.

• Petroleum industry: As a gasoline additive, it causes gas to more easily diffuse inside engines since it thins it, allowing it to vaporize. This improves fuel efficiency.

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

Why We Love Aloe Vera

Aloe vera is famous for soothing painful sunburns, but did you know its uses goes beyond that? Rich in vitamins and antioxidants, aloe vera is perfect for both topical use and ingestion. Here at Bell Chem, we keep it stocked for our customers in the health, pharmaceutical, cosmetic, personal care, food and beverage, and nutritional industries. Below are just of a few reasons why we love aloe vera.

• The thick, viscous gel inside the aloe vera leaves contains bioactive antioxidants, amino acids, vitamins, and minerals. Because of this, it can kill many strains of bacteria, viruses, and fungi, and it can even help heal bruises and cuts.

• Topical application can appease sunburns as well as most first and second-degree burns. Several studies have proven it reduces healing time, cutting a normal healing rate by nine days. Since 1959, the FDA has approved aloe vera treatment in ointment form as an over-the-counter burn remedy.

• Ingesting aloe vera benefits the digestive system. Aloe vera juice can be used as a dental rinse since the bioactive components attack oral bacteria and yeasts, thus reducing plaque buildup. Tooth decay, gum disease, mouth ulcers, and canker sores can all be treated, and it reduces pain as well.

• Aloe vera stimulates collagen production in the dermis below the skin’s surface. With age, the human body lessens collagen production, which appears as wrinkles on the epidermis. By stimulating collagen growth, aloe vera slows signs of aging. 

• Because water is almost entirely removed from waste in the colon, it is a prime site for constipation. Aloe vera’s latex – the residue located beneath the outer covering of the leaf – eases constipation with its laxative effects.

Bell Chem is a beauty care chemical supplier based in Longwood, FL (just north of Orlando) with hundreds of products, including aloe vera, stocked in our 50,000+ square-foot warehouse. You can expect the highest quality products, expedited shipping options, and unrivaled personalized customer service. Let our knowledgeable and friendly representatives and accounting staff handle all your needs by calling 407-339-BELL (2355) or send us a message online.

Dive Deep into Flaxseed Oil

Why should you care about flaxseed oil? It can feel like a relatively new, somewhat unfounded ‘hipster’ trend, but in actuality, flaxseed is one of the oldest crops - and with good reason. Its benefits are limitless. Bell Chem, a personal care ingredient supplier, stocks flaxseed oil for food and beverage, health and beauty, and personal care industries to give their customers access to the perks of this healthy oil.

So what exactly is flaxseed oil? Simply put, it’s a concentrated vegetable oil derived from flax. Flax is a flowering plant that’s been used as a fiber in cloth and paper manufacturing since 5000 BC
, and served a vital role in linen production while remaining an easily accessible and all-purpose food source, a title it still holds today.

Flaxseed is the king of omega-3s, boasting the highest amount of any vegetable oil on the market. In fact, one tablespoon contains an impressive total of 7,196 mgs. Omega-3s are credited with fighting depression, anxiety, cancer, obesity, and Alzheimer’s, as well as inflammation and autoimmune diseases. They promote heart health, bone and joint health, and mental health.

The abundance of omega-3s in flaxseed oil (50-60 percent) places it in a category of healthy polyunsaturated fats typically derived from aquatic life. Therefore, flaxseed and flaxseed oil are integral to the health of individuals without access to a marine source of omega-3.

High in protein, foods containing flaxseed oil suppress hunger and coat the digestive tract to permit food to move through easily. Trace vitamins and minerals are another benefits of flaxseed oil, including vitamin E, calcium, magnesium, and phosphorous. However, flaxseed oil benefits are hardly limited to ingestion.

Tis the season for Floridians to deal with dry skin, and when it comes to beauty and skin care, flaxseed oil is your new best friend. It hydrates your skin from the inside out. The omega-3s play a huge part in this, repairing skin cells and sealing in moisture to soften your skin’s appearance and even minimize wrinkles and undereye darkness. It doesn’t stop there; flaxseed oil calms irritation, redness, and inflammation, and fights chronic skin conditions such as rosacea, persistent acne, and dermatitis.

Bell Chem is the personal care 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 handle all your needs by calling 407-339-BELL (2355) or send us an online message.

Uses of Isopropyl Alcohol

Most consumers keep isopropyl alcohol in their medicine cabinets for everyday use, such as hand sanitizer, but this all-purpose chemical serves industrial purposes as well. In fact, isopropyl alcohol’s flexibility gives it a significant place of honor in labs, paint manufacturing facilities, the pharmaceutical industry, in printing, and in semiconductor and circuit board manufacturing. Read below to learn more about the advantages of stocking your business with isopropyl alcohol from the Florida chemical supply company, Bell Chem.

• Circuit boards and semiconductors rely on isopropyl alcohol to clean and remove glue, solder flux, stains, dust, and other corrosive materials.

• The printing industry uses it as a cleaner as well for equipment, in gravure printing, and in flexography and lithography.

• Isopropyl alcohol is used in rubber manufacturing as well as a diluent and extractor in chemistry, and strips paint and degreases metal.

• Printed circuit board (PCB) manufacturing has found isopropyl alcohol is perfect for hot air solder leveling, in etching, and in giving PCB holes conductivity.

• Oil, grease, and hydraulic fluid are no match for isopropyl alcohol, which removes these substances with ease.

• Isopropyl alcohol is an established disinfectant used in hospitals and medical facilities to pre-cleanse patient sites before drawing blood, injecting medications, or puncturing the skin in any way.

• The cosmetic industry uses isopropyl alcohol as a gentle cleanser and adds it to many cosmetics, perfumes, and astringents.

Bell Chem has its Florida chemical supply 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 handle all your needs by calling 407-339-BELL (2355) or send us an online message.

Industrial Uses of Sodium Chloride

“Sodium chloride” sounds like a sophisticated term until you realize it just refers to common table salt. However, only 6 percent of the world’s salt is manufactured for food purposes. So what happens to the other 94 percent? Bell Chem, the Jacksonville chemical supplier, stocks sodium chloride for use in labs, welding, soldering, metal casting, and food preparation, proving that salt can surprise you with its limitless versatility.

• In states prone to freezing temperatures and dangerous black ice, sodium chloride is dispersed along road surfaces to melt existing ice and prevent new ice from forming, doing so in temperatures as low as -6°F. Approximately 8 percent of salt manufactured worldwide is used to melt icy roads.

• Salt is a natural emulsifier. It readily blends oils into water, which industries frequently use to create synthetic rubber, essential oil dispersants, and more.

• Pottery can be fired through a “salt glazing” process, in which salt is added into the kiln when it reaches 2000°F. This then releases sodium, which behaves as a flux to the silica in the pottery, allowing the vapors to melt the surface and produce a strong, ceramic glaze.

• When added to drilling fluid, sodium chloride prevents the collapse of deep holes by acting as a wall stabilizer surrounding the drill bit.

• “Hard water” contains calcium and magnesium. These chemicals cling to the metal in pipes, clumping in bundles referred to as ‘scale.’ Sodium chloride attracts these hard chemicals and safely removes them from the water system.

• Salt acts as a catalyst in textile dyeing, providing more thorough dye coverage and adhesion to cellulose materials.

• Water has a high affinity for salt, and since sodium chloride draws excess moisture from animal hides during the tanning process, it’s popular in industrial tanning.

Bell Chem is a Jacksonville 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 handle all your needs by calling 407-339-BELL (2355) or send us an online message.