Medical Uses for D-Limonene

It seems every so often a miracle cure is discovered that heals the body or prevents disease or distress.  Typically, science proves the cure to be a farce, at least for the most part.  D-limonene does not fit this criterion. Scientists have tested d-limonene on rats and humans, and the success of their studies is overwhelmingly positive. Read below for a synopsis of only a few health benefits of d-limonene.

• Derived from the rind of citrus fruits, d-limonene is a prevalent terpene. Terpenes are potent antioxidants, have anti-inflammatory properties, help control or prevent cancer, and curb appetite. All plants synthesize terpenes, which act as a natural resistance against physical and environmental stress, as well as insect defense. Since people eat plants, the terpenes enter our bodies and interact with NF-kappaB, the gene signal regulating immunity and cellular inflammation, thereby supporting the body’s normal defense systems against invasive pathogens.

• As a solvent for cholesterol, d-limonene dissolves gallstones that contain cholesterol.

• Sluggish bowels are often caused by abundant amounts of Candida albicans or other harmful pathogens, which produce toxic waste metabolites. D-limonene neutralizes these pathogens with its natural antibacterial and antifungal properties. Within the stomach, d-limonene also neutralizes gastric acid to support normal peristalsis, and relieves heartburn and gastroesophageal reflux (GERD) in the stomach and esophagus.

• The liver is a powerful detoxification center in the body. D-limonene aids the liver’s Phase I and Phase II detoxification enzymes in their important role of cleansing the body of harmful chemicals and fat.

• As an aid to the lymphatic system, d-limonene breaks down fat-soluble barriers that cause headaches, mucus buildup, and joint stiffness.

• Breathing in the pure aroma of citrus, where d-limonene originates, has been proven to elevate hormone levels to reduce anxiety and calm allergic reactions.

• In clinical trials involving diabetic rats, d-limonene improved all major antioxidant enzymes. Further studies found animals given d-limonene reduced their food intake and body weight, had lower blood cholesterol levels, and prevented the buildup of fat in the liver and elsewhere in the body.

• D-limonene activates adenosine A(2A) receptors on cell membranes, which, in turn, triggers dopamine transmission. When A(2A) receptors are not activated, a hyperimmune response results, like allergic reactions, or other fallacies of the nervous system may occur, such as anxiety or insomnia.

For more information on d-limonene, or other chemicals, call Orlando chemical supplier, Bell Chem, at (407) 339-BELL, or browse the website. Bell Chem is proud to be a leader in the chemical supply industry.

Isopropyl Alcohol 99% as a Cleaning Product

Orlando chemical supplier, Bell Chem, knows that isopropyl alcohol 99% has proven itself as a disinfectant, but did you know that its uses exceed these humble beginnings as a cleaning product with dozens of uses? Here is a list of its other uses:

• Candles: Many special occasions are the perfect opportunity to bring out festive candles. The times in between the festivities are not so good for the candles, however, and the waxy dust that accumulates is alleviated with a bit of isopropyl alcohol – spray it on and the candles shine like new.

• Countertops: Along with eliminating germs, it removes streaks and spots water leaves behind on granite or laminate countertops or floor tiles.

• De-greaser: Have a vent or burner on your stove with caked-on grease? Remove the grease with a splash of isopropyl alcohol 99%.

• Dry-erase Boards: Finally, something that removes marks that even dry-erase markers leave behind.

• Electronics: Gently wipe isopropyl alcohol 99% over keyboards, cellular phones, headphones, or many other electronic devices to remove ground-in debris. The added power of disinfectant keeps you healthier by significantly decreasing germs.

• Glass and Mirrors: Isopropyl alcohol 99% removes the patina from aged mirrors and glass. Dab a little on a soft cloth to bring back the mirror’s original sheen. Car windows doused with a mix of isopropyl alcohol 99% and water remain frost-free during winter months, and if you forget to wash the windows with the alcohol/water mix, simply pour isopropyl alcohol 99% onto the windshield to immediately remove even the heaviest frost.

• Gummy Residue Remover: Isopropyl alcohol 99% removes most bandage, sticky tape or sticker residue.

• Ink Remover: Use isopropyl alcohol on carpets or clothing to blot fresh permanent marker or ink stains, or soak for standing marker or ink stains.

• Metal: Shine any metal surface, knobs, light fixtures, handles, fixtures, jewelry, etc, with a soft cloth dabbed with isopropyl alcohol 99%.

Contact Orlando chemical supplier, Bell Chem, to order isopropyl alcohol 99% for your company. Our representatives are available to answer your questions concerning isopropyl alcohol 99% or any of our other products. Call 407-339-BELL (2355) for more information.

The Health Benefits of Dextrose

Dextrose, chemical formula C6H12O6, is commonly referred to as glucose. However, the two differ because of dextrose’s added water molecule. The food industry utilizes dextrose as a preservative to increase the shelf life of packaged foods. The human body, on the other hand, uses dextrose in a much different and significant manner: dextrose plays a starring physiological role in the human body by delivering energy to cells. In fact, the brain runs almost exclusively upon energy supplied from dextrose. Bell Chem, a nutritional chemical supplier in Orlando, provides prompt delivery of this chemical, along with any others.

Since it is a monosaccharide, a simple carbohydrate, dextrose is easily absorbed through cellular membranes to stimulate muscle cells during performance and recovery.

A substance’s glycemic index indicates its effect on the body’s blood glucose levels. The high glycemic index of dextrose means it is quickly utilized without further breaking down by chemical or mechanical processes. Dextrose works by spiking insulin; in turn, insulin rushes dextrose, proteins, amino acids, creatinine, alanine, carnitine, arginine and other necessary nutrients to cells throughout the body. This rapid influx of nutrients keeps muscle cells at peak performance before, during, and after exercise.

Because dextrose is rapidly absorbed, athletes use it to gain muscle weight, as well as use it for endurance training since carbohydrates provide almost immediate energy for working muscles. Dextrose replaces the glycogen stores in muscles when they are energy depleted from exercise and diminishes muscle recovery time. Bell Chem is a nutritional chemical supplier who offers a large quantity of products from industrial to nutritional to botanical. Contact one of our knowledgeable representatives at 407-339-BELL (2355) for more information about dextrose or any of our other products to enhance your business.

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.