News
How to Safely Handle Caustic Soda Beads
Caustic soda beads definitely live up to their name. As a matter of fact, “caustic” may downplay their reaction. Available from your local water treatment chemical supplier, caustic soda beads tend to corrode or burn any organic material, but most often its reaction is associated with a huge exothermic conflagration when it comes into contact with acids or a heat source.
Knowing the propensity of this chemical to violent reactions, it is extremely important to understand how to safely handle caustic soda beads. When caustic soda beads come into contact with skin, it breaks down proteins and lipids at and beneath the skin’s surface, causing severe chemical burns, deep ulcerations, and scarring.
When working with caustic soda beads, personal protection devices (PPDs) are not suggested or recommended, but imperative. Included in your protective wear should be a particulate filter respirator with full face-piece; close fitting chemical safety goggles; natural rubber, nitrile, or neoprene gloves; boots; and an apron or full chemical suit. Ensure a barrier exists between your skin and eyes, and the caustic soda beads. If you are wearing gloves and a face mask, do not, under any circumstances, rub your face or eyes with gloves that may have come in direct contact with caustic soda beads.
While diluting caustic soda beads or creating a solution, be sure to slowly add the caustic soda beads to the surface of cold--not hot--water since warm or hot water may cause an explosive reaction. Two other solids--sugars and glass--also cause a reaction when mixed with caustic soda beads. Sugars and caustic soda beads generate carbon monoxide, a deadly gas; caustic soda beads corrode glass, which may damage ground glass joints or glazing.
Ensure any room where caustic soda beads are stored or used is well ventilated. Containers of caustic soda beads should be stored in a cool, dry room. Lastly, while pouring or using caustic soda beads, maintain dust levels below permissible levels of exposure. Using these guidelines while handling caustic soda beads will prove much safer for you and your employees.
For additional safety information or to purchase caustic soda beads from a water treatment chemical supplier, contact the experts at Bell Chem today.
Sanitizers and Common Sanitizing Agents
The words “clean” and “sanitary” are often used interchangeably in everyday speech. However, the two have very specific definitions, especially when associated with food or health service. “Clean” is defined as free of dirt or marks while “sanitary” involves the reduction of pathogens, or anything that may endanger health. While a home may be free of dirt or smudges, it may still harbor pathogens that afflict humans.
If a cutting board is used to cut raw chicken, for instance, it may appear clean if a rag is swiped across the board and no chicken remains. Dangerous pathogens are still present on the cutting board until it is thoroughly sanitized, however. Sanitizing is dependent on water temperature, pH, and strength of the sanitizing agent; sanitizing requires the use of heat, chemicals, or radiation. If any of these factors are not correct, the surface may be clean, but dangerous microorganisms may still be present. In the United States, a product cannot be labeled as a sanitizer unless it has been proven to eradicate 99.999% of the original bacteria present on a surface.
Sanitizers, as found at a sanitation chemical supplier, are categorized by their ability to kill or debilitate certain microbes. While some sanitizers, such as bacteriostats, prevent the growth of bacteria, other sanitizers are bactericides, killing all existing bacteria. Germicide in a sanitizer is all-purpose since it destroys all microorganisms: once the microorganisms are destroyed, the surface is considered sterile. “Antiseptic” is a term used with living organisms since it prevents sepsis or putrefaction. Its sister term, “disinfectant” is used on inanimate objects and may not necessarily kill all microorganisms.
If a surface is to be properly cleaned and sanitized, the appropriate tools need to be utilized. A damp sponge that was not sanitized after its previous use may contaminate a surface rather than cleaning it. Likewise, some tools, such as abrasive pads, may disintegrate while in use. The residue remaining afterward may be far less clean and sanitary than believed.
Storing cleaning tools is as important as using the correct tools. If a cleaning rag, sponge, or abrasive scouring pad is simply swished through dish soap and left on a counter to dry in a heap, chances are it will not dry completely. A warm, moist environment is usually the ultimate breeding ground for bacteria and other microorganisms. Ensure proper storage by sanitizing all cleaning paraphernalia after use.
For additional information on sanitation products, contact Bell Chem today. Founded in 1992, we’re the Orlando sanitation chemical supplier that offers a diverse selection of raw materials, botanical, and natural ingredients.
Salicylic Acid as a Beauty Care Product
When acne medicines are discussed, salicylic acid reigns as the leading beauty care chemical for gentle cleansing and the removal of blemishes. Working below the skin’s surface, salicylic acid disintegrates the chemicals that hold quickly-multiplying cells together--it has been found that acne is often caused by inordinately fast cell division within the face’s pores. Therefore, salicylic acid not only reduces the appearance of acne, it prevents its occurrence. Clogged pores, redness, and breakouts are alleviated with the addition of salicylic acid to a skin maintenance routine. Two of its other tasks, exfoliation and anti-inflammation, work beautifully for those afflicted with acne breakouts since other medications tend to irritate the skin. Salicylic acid exfoliates more than simply the skin’s surface, penetrating the pores and removing dead and injured cells deeper than other cleansers.
Acne is not the only skin complication salicylic acid benefits. The action of dissolving the chemical bonds between molecules releases cells from agglutinating within skin pores. As these cells are released, the old and dead cells are removed from the surface (keratolysis), giving the skin a clean, smooth appearance. The keratolytic effect of salicylic acid also aids in the absorption of other medicines when multiple medicines are applied simultaneously.
Studies have also proven salicylic acid’s ability to treat dandruff and fungal problems while alleviating itching and irritation, advantages not found in many other medicines. While performing these myriad tasks, salicylic acid moisturizes and conditions the skin and hair. However, because it absorbs harmful ultraviolet rays, salicylic acid should not be used or stored in direct sunlight.
One beauty care chemical form of salicylic acid, beta hydroxy acid, is used commercially to reverse the visible signs associated with aging. Another closely related chemical, acetylsalicylic acid, has many of the same benefits as salicylic acid. As a matter of fact, most households in the United States will find acetylsalicylic acid in their medicine chests; its common name is “aspirin”. If you have used aspirin in the past, you are already familiar with many of the benefits of salicylic acid.
Bell Chem is your Orlando chemical manufacturing expert. We look forward to providing you with quality customer service and quality beauty care chemicals--including salicylic acid. For more information, contact us by phone at (407) 339-BELL(2355).
Vitamins Used in Beauty Care Products to Improve Skin
Much as the body requires vitamins to maintain homeostasis, the skin also needs a regimen of vitamins. Vitamins are natural defenses to aging, sun damage, healing, and they enhance the skin’s potential to protect the body. While many of these vitamins serve specific purposes, it has been proven that their capabilities improve when they are used in beauty care chemicals in conjunction with one or more additional vitamins.
Vitamin A. Vitamin A and its derivative beauty care chemicals (retinoids) are remarkable wrinkle reducers, skin smoothers, acne preventers, and spot reducers. Added into many night creams, Vitamin A reacts and breaks down when introduced to sunlight. Retinoic acid is an active form of Vitamin A used to reduce wrinkles by restoring elastin, the elastic-like fibers that maintain the skin’s youthful appearance.
Vitamin B. Vitamin B3 (niacinamide) reduces redness in the epidermis and strengthens the skin’s ability to retain moisture and keep out impurities. When applied with Vitamin A, niacinamide reduces the side effect of skin irritation, which may occur if Vitamin A is added too frequently or in an elevated dosage.
Vitamin C. Vitamin C is a free-radical policeman, stalking and removing free radicals that can damage skin. Free radicals associated with the effects of aging cause wrinkles, sagging, discoloration, et cetera. Adding Vitamin C deters and may reverse these changes. Vitamin C should be applied in the morning to enhance the skin’s ability to shield the body from ultraviolet rays.
Vitamin E. Vitamin E assists in the epidermis’ capacity to retain moisture. It is also an excellent free-radical eliminator. Much like Vitamin C, Vitamin E may act to reverse skin damage. Combine it with Vitamin C in the morning if you are planning to spend any time in the sun.
Vitamin K. Vitamin K is often added to creams containing Vitamin A since it serves many of the same purposes – removing discoloration, especially around the eyes. Because Vitamin K is essential in clotting blood, it also aids in healing any skin blemishes, and is frequently found in moisturizers specifically designed to fade dark circles under the eyes.
Vitamins are essential to life, and they make beauty and skin care a bit easier as well. For additional information about the vitamins in beauty care chemicals and their positive impact on your skin care, contact Bell Chem at (407) 339-BELL(2355).
Magnesium Stearate PDR NF
Magnesium stearate NF (National Formulary) is a pharmaceutical-grade tableting excipient, which is an inert ingredient added to a substance to bind and disperse active ingredients in medications and other products. Magnesium stearate NF is recognized worldwide as an outstanding mold release agent, lubricant, water repellant, and anticompacting agent. For these reasons, pharmaceutical companies and chemical suppliers in Florida readily add magnesium stearate NF to most solid-dosage drug applications (powders, tablets, and capsules). As a matter of fact, more than 2,500 pharmaceutical products contain magnesium stearate NF, giving it the impressive title of the most used excipient of the top 200 most often prescribed drugs.
Magnesium stearate NF is known by a variety of alternate names, including magnesium octadecanoate, dibasic magnesium stearate, and magnesium salt. Chemically, magnesium stearate combines two anions of stearic acid (stearate) with a magnesium ion cation to form a salt with the chemical formula C36H70MgO4.
The “NF” nomenclature denotes a food-grade descriptor. When purchased from a chemical supplier in Florida, magnesium stearate is a fine, white precipitate powder that becomes a solid when exposed to an ambient temperature, and a liquid at 88°C. Because it is not soluble in water, it is frequently used as an anti-adherent in the pharmaceutical industry.
Cosmetics are also imbued with magnesium stearate NF for a variety of reasons, including the prevention of caking; suspension of particulate matter; binding of specific ingredients; and as an emulsifying, thickening, or gelling agent. All these properties allow make-up and other cosmetic products to flow smoothly without clumping, and distribute pigments evenly throughout.
The properties of magnesium stearate also give it a role in the manufacturing of foods ranging from baby formula to hard candies, where it binds sugar to create an even distribution of flavor.
The next time you reach for your favorite brand of medication for a headache or a prescription drug, think of how magnesium stearate NF contributed to helping you feel better. For additional information about magnesium stearate NF, contact Bell Chem, a trusted chemical supplier in Florida, today at (407) 339-BELL.
Polysorbate 80
Polysorbate 80 is a viscous (thick), yellow, water-soluble non-ionic surfactant and emulsifier often utilized in the food industry and sold by a food chemical supplier. Similar to Polysorbate 20 in its initial structure, Polysorbate 80 differs in the number of polyoxyethylene groups (80) attached to the sorbitan monolaurate base.
If you have ever enjoyed a bowl of ice cream, you have undoubtedly consumed Polysorbate 80. Its power to emulsify foods, or mix two or more ingredients that are traditionally not compatible – such as water and oil – create an ice cream that is smoother, easier to handle, and more resistant to melting. In the case of ice cream, Polysorbate 80 prevents the proteins in milk from completely coating the milk’s fat droplets, allowing the milk and fat droplets to adhere firmly in a netted pattern that holds in air more readily than it would normally. Along with ice cream, your trusted food chemical supplier can tell you that many other foods contain Polysorbate 80, such as whipped cream, gelatin, shortening, and condiments. Also, almost every processed food contains Polysorbate 80.
Foods are not the only place you will find this substance, however. The pharmaceutical industry finds Polysorbate 80 indispensable in emulsifying liquid mixtures to give proper dosages with each prescription. Influenza and HPV vaccines, heart medications, contraceptives, and anti-cancer treatments all contain Polysorbate 80 to give exact measurements of the medication needed to treat a disease or illness. Vitamins, tablets, and supplements also contain Polysorbate 80 because of its preservative nature.
The solubility of Polysorbate 80 allows it to assist in dissolving ingredients that would remain solid under normal circumstances. Liquid and solid soaps, creams, and bath gels take advantage of this behavior to create an even distribution of oils and fragrances. In cosmetics, the surfactant action of Polysorbate 80 gives a creamier, more appealing look to make-up.
In the laboratory, Polysorbate 80 acts as a lipase (a catalyst that dissolves lipid molecules); therefore it is used to identify the phenotype of an isolate by causing a distinct color change in a mixture.
For additional information, or to purchase Polysorbate 80, contact the Florida food chemical distributor, Bell Chem. We’re located in Orlando and can be reached at (407) 339-BELL.
Polysorbate 20
Polysorbate 20 has various roles in biotechnical, pharmaceutical, personal care, industrial, and domestic uses. It acts as an emulsifier to bind ingredients securely together; for instance, it impedes oils from separating from water. Another function is as a surfactant, or a substance that reduces a liquid’s surface tension, thereby acting as a dispersing agent. This ability allows foods to become easier to spread more evenly, either within a liquid or atop a solid surface. These two functions – surfactant and emulsifier – give Polysorbate 20 the dual uses of industrial cleaner and personal care product ingredient. Among other locations, Polysorbate 20 can be found at a personal raw care materials supplier.
Biotechnical - Biotechnological applications of Polysorbate 20 are many and varied, ranging from use as a washing agent in immunoassays to prevent non-specific antibody binding; to saturating surface binding sites; to lysing animal cells; and to solubilizing membrane proteins within cells.
Pharmaceutical - The pharmaceutical industry relies on Polysorbate 20 to act as an excipient in the stabilization of suspensions and emulsions. This power allows the same amount of liquid or solid to be released with every dosage.
Personal Care - In the personal care industry, Polysorbate 20, as found at a personal raw care materials supplier, acts as an emulsifier with fragrances or essential oils since it keeps these products from separating once they are combined with water or alcohol. Mouth drops, for instance, employ the powers of Polysorbate 20 as a wetting agent as well as an emulsifier to evenly spread minty flavor throughout the tablet.
Industrial Use - Industrial uses for Polysorbate 20 take advantage of its powers to both emulsify and act as a detergent in floor cleaners and other cleaning products.
Domestic Use - Lastly, philatelists list Polysorbate 20 as their preferred medium to remove the adhesive backing of stamps from envelopes because it does not harm the paper stamp’s integrity.
Polysorbate 20 has a variety of uses and is nonionic and nontoxic. Its suffix of “20” derives from the amount of ethylene oxide added (the polyoxyethylene) to the base sorbitan monolaurate; in this case, a chain of twenty.
If you have any questions regarding this highly versatile and fully functional substance, contact Bell Chem, a personal raw care materials supplier. Call us today at (407) 339-BELL.
Dipropylene Glycol
Dipropylene glycol is a liquid that is nearly odorless and completely colorless. Its boiling point is high while its toxicity level is low. Dipropylene glycol is a combination of three isomeric chemical compounds; isomers are different combinations of chemical structures of the same molecular formula. Dipropylene glycol (DPG) is available in two different forms: fragrance grade and industrial grade. In its fragrance grade form, the odor is nearly untraceable; industrial grade DPG is practically identical in its chemical properties with less concern placed on odor. Both can be found at an industrial chemical supplier.
Dipropylene glycol is often used as an intermediate in chemical reactions for industrial purposes, when purchased from an industrial chemical supplier. DPG has a variety of uses, including as a:
Monomer to bind with other molecules, forming a larger molecule called a polymer, or macromolecule. Polymers are found in various standard structures, from the plastic known as polystyrene to the DNA found in our bodies.
Polymerization initiator, which induces monomers to form a three-dimensional network with unpaired valence electrons. The unpaired valence electrons seek to bond with other electrons to form longer chains.
Dispersant, or plasticizer, to enhance the fluidity (plasticity) of a material. The most widely recognized application of DPG is polyvinyl chloride (PVC).
Humectant to attract and retain moisture.
Solvent, or a substance that forms a solution when a solute dissolves within it.
Along with low toxicity, the last two uses, as a humectant and solvent, give dipropylene glycol the ideal chemical makeup to be used in the cosmetology industry. Many skin and hair-care products, perfumes and lotions contain dipropylene glycol because of these properties as well as its low potential for skin irritation.
A completely unrelated but extremely interesting use of dipropylene glycol is as an ingredient in commercial fog fluid, the hazy smoke that stage performers use in rock bands and magic acts. From the makeup the band applies, to the plastic microphone the performers use, and the smoke emanating from the stage, DPG rocks!
Learn more about the properties and uses of dipropylene glycol with Bell Chem, a leading industrial chemical supplier. Call us today at (407) 339-BELL.
Sucralose
Table sugar, or sucrose, is the traditional sweetener you will find in the average household kitchen. The ingestion of sucrose rapidly produces a spike in blood glucose levels, making it extremely difficult for individuals with diabetes to use since they must closely monitor their carbohydrate intake. Sucralose, on the other hand, is an artificial sweetener derived from table sugar that can be purchased from a food chemical distributor. Because its structure differs from traditional table sugar, the human body is unable to break it down into smaller molecules; therefore, it passes through the digestive system intact, without causing a blood sugar spike. For this reason, sucralose is an extremely important chemical for those with blood sugar disorders.
Unlike sucrose, which contains 16 calories per teaspoon, sucralose is calorie-free, giving those watching their caloric intake reason to celebrate. At a rate of 300-1000 times sweeter than sucrose, only a small amount is necessary to sweeten a large product. When used in cooking or baking, sucralose is usually combined with a bulking agent to give it the texture and volume of table sugar. Recipes calling for sugar can easily substitute a portion or the entire amount with sucralose to decrease the amount of calories per serving.
Because sucralose contains no calories, it does not promote tooth decay. For this reason, sucralose is often added to gum and sugar-free candy to enhance the flavor without harming the enamel of teeth. Many major food manufacturers are now purchasing sucralose from a food chemical distributor to make their products low-calorie and safe for those with blood sugar issues. Sucralose is found in baked goods, dairy products, canned fruit, nutritional products, diet soft drinks, and many products labeled as “sugar free” or “reduced sugar” (sucralose added to another sugar source reduces the amount of sugar necessary to sweeten a product, which, in turn, lowers the caloric intake per serving).
Sucralose is stable in most pH conditions and is extremely heat stable. Both of these qualities give sucralose excellent advantages for cooking and baking. Sucralose is often manufactured in a granular form, which include fillers to promote a likeness to table sugar; or in a sucralose-water blend when distributed in bulk.
If you have any questions about sucralose and its many uses, contact Bell Chem, a trusted food chemical distributor. Call us today at (407) 339-BELL.
Dicalite (Diatomaceous Earth)
Diatomaceous earth is almost a misnomer since no earth is involved in its structure. Instead, diatoms are the only component of this functional filler. Unlike other marine animals whose exoskeletons are calcium-based, diatoms are tiny sea-dwelling phytoplankton whose hard, outer shells are comprised of silica. These shells range in size from microscopic to macroscopic, and much like snowflakes, no two are alike. Structures may resemble rods, crescents, polygons, disks, hemispheres, et cetera. These non-specific exoskeletons give diatoms the ability to interlace and overlay each other in a stiff, three-dimensional matrix, thereby reinforcing and improving diatomaceous earth’s structural durability. Another positive aspect of these differentiated shells is the low-density filler (nearly the lowest density of any mineral filler) they create which is highly absorptive, creating a lightweight filler with a sponge-like capacity to soak up liquid. Dicalite is one of the best-known--and safest--water treatment chemicals available today.
Dicalite, or diatomaceous earth (D.E.) is a fine, white to off-white powder with an abrasive feel. The abrasion leads to several of its uses – as an ingredient in toothpaste, facial scrubs, and metal scrubbers. Dicalite has a myriad of uses. It is used in the manufacture of plastics and rubber as a filler, in cat litter, as a thermal insulator, and as a stabilizing component in dynamite. As a matter of fact, Alfred Nobel added D.E. to nitroglycerine in 1866 to create the first application of dynamite. D.E. also played another role in history when it was used as a water treatment chemical and filter during the horrendous cholera outbreak in Hamburg in 1892.
Filtering is one of diatomaceous earth’s greatest feats. Swimming pool filters use Dicalite because of its high porosity, and chemists use D.E. to filter extremely fine particles that would pass through traditional filter paper. Water treatment chemical plants, fish tanks, and wine and beer tankards also rely on Dicalite for filtration purposes. Its ability to filter without altering color, taste, or nutritional properties makes it ideal for filtering foodstuffs. Its absorbency leads to environmental capabilities: oil and toxic liquid spill cleanup. Because it is not harmful to small animals (and it is comprised of small animals), diatomaceous earth is trusted by environmental groups as well as homeowners. From cleaning an ocean to its use as kitty litter, D.E. is an animal-friendly and versatile product.