The Uses of Citric Acid in the Food Industry

As a citric acid supplier, we know that most people associate citric acid with citrus fruits – oranges, lemons, and grapefruit, for instance. Citric acid also occurs in peppers, tomatoes, artichokes, and most berries. For humans, citric acid is a vital component of the Krebs cycle in metabolizing and oxidizing fats, carbohydrates, and proteins. The food industry utilizes citric acid in a much different fashion, with its marvelous acid fermenting, catalyzing, preserving, and flavoring foods and beverages.

• Cheese Manufacturing: – The cheese industry uses citric acid, particularly with mozzarella. It utilizes citric acid as a catalyst to quickly ferment milk. Faster fermentation means large-scale operations can create cheese more rapidly.

• Shelf Life: Bacteria needs a stable pH to survive. Because citric acid reduces the pH to levels too low for most bacteria, the shelf life of processed foods increases dramatically for jams and jellies, canned foods, meat products, and other foods.

• Taste: Along with preserving carbonated beverages, teas, and juices, citric acid adds the sour or acidic flavor consumers enjoy.

• Emulsifier: Citric acid acts as a vegetable fat emulsifier. Because fats are unable to coagulate, ice cream and sherbet retain a consistent texture and flavor throughout.

• Effervescence: When coupled with sodium bicarbonate, citric acid effervesces. Fizzy candies, carbonated beverages, and powdered drinks, as well as antacid tablets and powders, owe their effervescence to this chemical reaction. In fact, approximately 50% of citric acid production is utilized in beverages.

• Beer & Wine: Because citric acid is a weak acid, it is often utilized to create an acidic environment in beer and wine production.

• Absorption: Many common vitamins and minerals work more expediently within an acidic pH environment. Citric acid is used in dietary supplements to accelerate absorption. Also, without citric acid, a vitamin C tablet would taste quite bitter.

To learn more about citric acid or any of our other products, contact the citric acid supplier, Bell Chem, at 407-339-BELL (2355).

Uses of Benzyl Alcohol

Part of our Florida chemical supply at Bell Chem is benzyl alcohol. Benzyl alcohol is a general solvent, or a substance that dissolves a solute (usually a solid, although it can be another liquid or a gas) to form a solution. Unlike other solvents, however, benzyl alcohol is not flammable. This small fact makes benzyl alcohol safe to ship around the world. Its other function is as a precursor to different esters, or chemical compounds derived from an acid in which one or more hydroxyl groups are replaced with an alkoxy group. Esters are commonly used in the cosmetic industry.

• In healthcare, intravenous medications are treated with benzyl alcohol where it acts as a bacteriostatic preservative at low concentrations.

• Head lice can be stanched with a 5% solution of benzyl alcohol.

• In cosmetics, benzyl alcohol acts as an ester and is added to perfumes and soaps.

• The food industry utilizes benzyl alcohol in pre-packaged foods to enhance flavors.

• In photography, benzyl alcohol develops photos.

As a solvent, benzyl alcohol is a component of inks, paints, epoxy resin coatings, and lacquers.

Interestingly, quartz and wool fiber have the same refraction index as benzyl alcohol. If either of these solids is immersed in benzyl alcohol, they become virtually invisible, thereby assuring they are true products and not fraudulent copies. With its ease of shipment and versatility in a variety of industries, the remarkable benzyl alcohol is a must-have solvent or precursor to esters. For Florida chemical supply, contact Bell Chem today to learn how your business will benefit by using benzyl alcohol.

Laboratory and Pharmaceutical Uses for Copper Sulphate

Copper sulphate (CuSO4) is a widely used chemical salt in agricultural and industrial fields as well as in pharmaceuticals and research. Because copper sulphate exothermically dissolves in water, it gives off heat and can substantially raise the temperature of the water in which it is added. For copper sulphate, or other chemicals needed, your chemical supplier in Florida, Bell Chem, is happy to provide more information on our products and services.

Medical applications:  Copper sulphate is a commonly used germicide and antiseptic agent in public swimming pools, either by adding it to the water or incorporating it into the foundation of the floor where it has been proven to eliminate the spread of athlete’s foot and contagious diseases. Copper sulphate also inhibits bacterial growth such as Escherichia coli. Medical tests for anemia utilize copper sulphate at a specific gravity; as blood is added to CuSO4, it should sink unless the individual’s blood being tested is anemic, in which case the insufficient amount of hemoglobin in the blood causes it to remain buoyant within the solution.

Pharmaceutical applications: As a raw material, copper sulfate is used in the manufacture of copper catalysts.

Agricultural applications:  Copper sulphate is a herbicide, but is generally not used on crops. Instead, it controls invasive aquatic plants growing near public water or sewer pipes.  Very diluted copper sulphate treats aquarium fish for parasitic infections, or the aquarium itself to remove snails. It may also be used as a fungicide when mixed with either lime or ammonium carbonate.

Analytical applications: The Biuret reagent reaction tests for proteins by adding copper sulphate, and Fehling’s solution and Benedict’s solution both test for sugar reduction by copper sulphate’s indicative color transformation. To distinguish barium from copper sulphate, a flame test proves that CuSO emits a much deeper green light than barium. In the presence of chlorine, however, copper sulphate emits a deep blue light.

From farmers to pharmacists, copper sulphate is a chemical salt with interesting and differentiated properties. Contact your chemical supplier in Florida Bell Chem today to determine how your business can benefit by adding copper sulphate to its chemical inventory.

Industrial and Laboratory Methods to Prepare Toluene

As a chemical distributor in Florida, some of our clients use toluene. Toluene is a clear, sweet-smelling liquid occurring naturally in pine oil. It is referred to as an aromatic hydrocarbon – a hydrocarbon with alternating double- and single-bonded rings. Toluene is used as a solvent and as a feed stock, a selected naphtha fraction. In the past, toluene (C6H5CH3) was manufactured primarily by distilling coke from coal. Recently dozens of new methods have been tested and proven worthy. While many approaches are specific to a manufacturer, others are utilized worldwide. Each process includes the final step of separating the isomers of benzene, xylene, and toluene via distillation or solvent extraction.

• Fractional distillation - Crude oil consists of several components of different sizes, weights and boiling temperatures. To separate the components, use varied boiling points.

• Azeotropic distillation – an azeotrope is two or more liquids that cannot be separated by simple distillation. Currently, two processes for separating toluene involve using an aqueous solution of methyl ethyl ketone and water, or using methanol.

• Extractive distillation – A non-volatile substance is added to the components being separated to create an appreciable concentration of components.

• Solvent extraction – A solvent with a high selectivity for aromatics that works in a reasonable temperature range, such as sulfur dioxide or aqueous diethylene glycol, works in a two-phase system to release toluene.

• Reformation of naphtha in the presence of a catalyst (catalytic reforming method) - A mixture abundant in aromatic hydrocarbons is superheated and a catalyst is added, thereby dehydrogenizing the mixture. Light hydrocarbon gases are released and toluene is extracted from the center of the core.

• Steam cracking of liquid hydrocarbons – Steam cracking occurs when larger hydrocarbons are broken down into smaller components. Naphtha, or flammable hydrocarbon molecules, contains copious amounts of aromatic compounds. Both pyrolysis gasoline and toluene are derived from steam cracking naphtha.

• Friedel-Crafts reaction – Methyl chloride and anhydrous aluminum chloride react; benzene is added as the raw material to produce toluene.

• Wurtz-Frittig reaction – Bromebenzene and methyl bromide react in the presence of sodium metal in a dry ether solution to produce toluene.

• Decarboxilation reaction – Soda lime and sodium toluate are heated in a decarboxylation reaction.

• Distillation of cresol and zinc dust – Cresol, distilled in the presence of zinc, produces toluene.

Toluene is a useful solvent in a variety of applications, including as a fuel additive to increase octane ratings, manufacturing cosmetics, as a solvent in cleaning agents and adhesives, manufacturing dyes in inks, and manufacturing polymers for plastic bottles and polyurethane. With its myriad uses and forms of manufacture, toluene will surely be a chemical used for years to come. Contact your chemical distributor in Florida Bell Chem today to find how easy it is for your company to order toluene.

Seven Benefits of Orange Oil

Orange oil is a natural component of the orange’s peel, or external layer. By pressing orange peels between two heavy stainless steel sheets, the oil is extracted and ready to assist in an array of aromatic uses.  The following is a short list of orange oil’s many benefits.

Orange oil contains linalool known for its soothing and calming effect on the human body.  This places it firmly in the category of a strong aromatherapy agent. It is often used as a massage oil as well and a few drops rubbed onto the temples relieves headaches.

Acne and aging are both assuaged with orange oil. Apply it on cracked or dry skin for a smoother appearance, or you can enhance your skin’s beauty with a few drops rubbed into the face twice a day.

Chances are you have used orange oil to clean many surfaces in your house. You probably bought the product because the orange oil made every surface smell fantastic. Its fragrance is only half the story, however. Orange oil’s antiseptic properties make it ideal as a disinfecting agent.

Digestive issues such as distention and indigestion are eased with a topical application of orange oil on the abdomen. Just a couple of drops and a few minutes later, many symptoms completely disappear.

Add a few drops of orange oil to a natural oil, such as olive or sunflower oil, and it becomes an insect repellent. By mixing different essential oils together, such as orange, cinnamon, and citronella oil, different families of insects will be repelled.

You can also use orange oil in potpourri to give any area a fresh smell and to keep the insects at bay. Dab a small amount on your skin for a light fragrance sure to stimulate your senses. While working with food that may be prone to salmonella, spritz orange oil on the cutting surface. Orange oil inhibits the multiplication of salmonella bacteria, giving you peace of mind and your food a savory flavor.

Be sure to keep orange oil in the pantry, the spice rack, your first-aid kit, and the cosmetics drawer. No matter where you use orange oil, you know its natural formula will enhance the senses also while inhibiting bacterial growth. From our headquarters in Longwood, Florida, we provide prompt delivery of hundreds of stock items on our own fleet of trucks. We also have the ability to ship large volumes of bulk chemicals from our own location, as well as our suppliers’ terminals. Please call 407-339-BELL, and we will be happy to answer any questions you may have.

Five Healthy Benefits of Honey

Recently, honey has been touted as a new health miracle with benefits both external as a salve and internal as a cough suppressant or digestive aid. However, the human body’s positive reactions to honey are far from a modern wonder: documents thousands of years old describe honey’s medicinal properties in many different cultures around the world.  Below are only five of the myriad uses for honey.

Many individuals suffering from acid reflux or GERD (gastroesophageal reflux) find relief when they ingest honey. It seems honey’s thick viscosity coats the esophagus and stomach, alleviating hydrochloric acid’s overwhelming presence in the stomach lining. By coating the inside of the stomach, less acid is able to seep past the esophageal sphincter and into the throat, thereby relieving symptoms of reflux.

A long touted remedy for allergies is honey. Because bees gather pollen from plants closely associated with many environmental allergens, a small dose of honey stimulates white blood cells to form antibodies to those specific types of pollen. The body’s defensive mechanisms quell allergic rhinitis because of the antibodies formed with the introduction of honey containing those same respiratory stimulants.

My grandmother often dosed me with a tablespoon of honey when she heard me cough.  Science is backing her home remedy. Honey quells coughs because of its viscosity, and it also has the power to calm inflamed membranes in the respiratory system.

Although infants should not ingest honey, young children experiencing gastroenteritis found their symptoms shortened when they ingested honey. Honey can also be substituted for glucose in an oral electrolyte solution with good results.

The topical application of honey seems rather sticky but has been found to be effective in treating a multitude of skin situations, from cellulitis to skin ulcers. A key antimicrobial peptide in honey, bee defensin-1, destroys harmful bacteria and may even prevent infections from forming. Honey even outranks oral antibiotics in treating specific infections in some cases.

Stock up on honey for your first-aid kit as well as your kitchen cabinet. With its wide range of uses, you and your family will benefit from its applications.  Best of all, honey tastes great so your children will complain far less when you tell them to eat honey for their upset stomach.

At Bell Chem, we are happy to provide our clients the highest quality products with exceptional service. We stock many highly-specialized botanical and nutritional chemicals, as well as hard to find technical grade chemicals and custom compounds. For more information, contact us today.

Healthy Benefits of Grapefruit Oil

Grapefruit oil is something we have probably taken for granted our entire lives. While peeling a grapefruit – or any other citrus – the tangy oil spurts from the skin, infusing our senses with satisfaction.

Recent research has proved the effectiveness of grapefruit oil on a variety of skin afflictions and beauty treatments. The main component of this nutrition chemical is d-limonene – another chemical sold by Bell Chem, which protects the body’s cells and is a powerful antioxidant.  Antioxidants inhibit the oxidation of other molecules, a chemical reaction that creates free radicals. By removing free radicals from the body, the likeliness of illness, such as cancer, decreases.

Along with its ability to maintain oxidation homeostasis, grapefruit oil naturally suppresses the appetite, aids in urinary problems by acting as a diuretic, is a natural antioxidant and can be used topically on bruises and sore muscles. Works with your current shampoo or conditioner to leave hair less oily and more easily manageable. Plus, grapefruit oil is antimicrobial – no need for refrigeration or specific handling instructions since it naturally deters pathogens. Many forms of eczema and acne show signs of improvement with a regular regimen of grapefruit oil.

Adding grapefruit oil to your daily routine is extremely simple – a few drops in your drinking water or even white wine rejuvenate and revitalize your day especially, when it’s noted that this nutritional chemical relieves stress and lowers levels of anxiety. Learn more about grapefruit and other oils from nutritional chemical supplier Bell Chem.

Healthy Benefits of Cooking with Avocado Oil

Forty years ago, chefs across the continent switched from butter to margarine. Thirty years ago the trend shifted from margarine to sunflower oil. Since then, a series of oils, including canola, safflower, sunflower and olive oil have debuted and either found a permanent place on the grocery store shelf or been shoved to the back of the discount rack. Today’s consumers are demanding natural oils over man made, and one of the relative newcomers in beneficial natural oils is avocado or nutrition oils. The surprising and broad sweeping benefits of avocado oil will quickly win over many who may doubt its effectiveness.

For cooking, avocado oil contains heart-friendly monounsaturated fats. Its high-smoke point exceeds that of olive oil, making it ideal for cooking at higher temperature ranges. Unlike many other nutrition oils, avocado oil is rich in fiber giving users a healthier alternative that actually aids digestion. As a matter of fact, avocado oil retains many of the nutrients and vitamins of the avocado, including folate, potassium, antioxidants and Vitamins B5, B6, C, E and K, along with other nutrients in trace amounts that your body needs.

Knowing avocado oil contains these nutrients is not nearly as important as understanding their roles in the body.

• The monounsaturated fat (oleic acid) in avocado oil lowers triglyceride and cholesterol levels, decreases inflammation and positively enhances a gene’s ability to detect cancer. Oleic acid has also been proven to aid arthritis sufferers.

• Fiber is indigestible but acts as a catalyst in digestion by moving other food stuff through the intestinal tract. This leads to weight loss and better digestive health. Avocado oil also reduces blood sugar spikes after hearty meals.

• Potassium (Vitamin K) lowers blood pressure, which decreases chances of heart attack, stroke and kidney failure.

• In numerous studies on the effects of avocado oil on the heart, it has been proven that ongoing ingestion of avocado oil reduces total cholesterol levels significantly, lowers blood triglycerides and reduces LDL cholesterol levels while maintaining healthy HDL cholesterol levels.

Consider switching your common cooking or nutrition oil to avocado oil. It could be the best decision you make this year – and for years to come. Learn more from the nutrition-oil experts at Bell Chem.

Why Coconut Oil?

Coconut oil brings to mind tropical beaches, calypso music and beautiful skin. Surprisingly, the fragrant oil we have been rubbing on our bodies to promote a healthy, robust tan has been found to house properties that reduce the effects of the sun. In fact, this beauty care chemical diminishes the appearance of fine lines in the face and hands, and its repertoire stretches from the kitchen to the shower to the makeup table. Valentine’s Day is coming up, so add coconut oil to your beauty regimen and diet for amazing results before the day of love is here.

While this blog is focusing on coconut oil’s beauty benefits, do not overlook how cooking or baking with coconut oil as an ingredient may help the body as well as the skin and hair. Coconut oil contains medium-chain triglycerides that the brain utilizes as fuel in place of glucose. A small study of patients with Alzheimer’s and other cognitive disorders who used coconut oil as part of their daily regimen found their impairments were more than halted. In fact, they were reversed. While a large-scale study is still in the future, many families find that if this small change in consumption opens their loved ones’ abilities to reason, then why not switch? The cost is minimal, and the results may be extraordinary for the investment you’ve made with your over-the-counter coconut oil purchase.

In the meantime, the switch to cooking with coconut oil will benefit almost everyone because this no-cholesterol alternative to butter is heart healthy and acts as a solid at room temperature. Switching from olive oil to coconut oil is just as simple since the boiling point for coconut oil is quite low because it rapidly changes to an oil with a touch of heat.

Coconut oil is naturally anti-microbial, making it a good fit for your beauty regimen.  Individuals suffering from dermatitis, including eczema, rosacea, acne or any condition that causes skin fragility respond favorably to coconut oil because of its high levels of lauric acid.  Medical studies of eczema patients found that given a cleansing regimen with this beauty care chemical stopped the Staphylococcus bacteria from invading the skin – remarkable news for these sufferers.

Along with its medical advantages, coconut oil also has beauty secrets to share. If your hair is dry, damaged or frizzy, dab a bit of coconut oil on your palm and brush it through your hair at night. In the morning, wash your hair as normal and awaken the natural beauty of your hair.  Keep coconut oil on your dresser or in the bathroom to remove makeup, even long-lasting mascara. After shaving, coconut oil soothes the skin and leaves your legs supple and healthy.

With its myriad of uses, it’s no wonder coconut oil has become popular in the marketplace. Learn more about the healthy, rejuvenating benefits of this beauty care chemical for Valentine’s Day and beyond from Bell Chem.

Bell Chem Sponsors Central Florida Community Arts Christmas Concert

December 15, 2014 — Longwood, Fla. — Bell Chem, a full-line independent chemical distributor in Orlando, sponsored this year’s Central Florida Community Arts’ Christmas concert. The annual holiday concert provided an evening of enjoyment for families at Northland, A Church Distributed on December 11 and 12, 2014 in Longwood, Fla.

The concert featured a voice choir of 300 and 100-member orchestra that transported the audience back in time during the big-band and swing era of the 1930s and 1940s, which is the period where Christmas music found its sound.

“We are proud to sponsor the Central Florida Community Arts Concert,” says John Cervo, president of Bell Chem. “This year’s concert was one to remember and offered a great opportunity for families to enjoy the spirit of Christmas.”

To learn more about Bell Chem and the chemical products they offer, please visit http://www.bellchem.com or call 407-339-2355.

About Bell Chem

Founded in 1992, Bell Chem is an independent chemical distributor located in Longwood, Fla. On top of a full line of industrial and water treatment chemicals, Bell Chem offers a diverse blend of food, pharmaceutical and personal-care raw materials, as well as technical-grade and sanitation chemicals and custom compounds. Bell Chem’s vision is to provide high-quality chemical products with a “just-in-time” inventory approach to provide customers with the very best service in the industry.