Evaluating Beta Carotene

Most people take vitamins for granted. After all, they’re present in the foods we eat and the supplements we take.  But how do vitamins originate? The nutritional ingredient supplier Bell Chem shares the following information on beta carotene, the precursor to an important daily vitamin.

Carota
Beta carotene may sound familiar; carota is the Latin root word for “carrot.” In 1831, Mr. H. Wackenroder crystallized beta carotene from carrots; this nutrient is what gives fruits and vegetables variants of carroty hues, including yellow, red, and orange. The human body transforms beta carotene into vitamin A, an important antioxidant.

Oxygen
While oxygen is crucial for us to live, it is not as friendly as it may seem. The rust that appears on many forms of metal when they linger outside and other forms of corrosion are the direct results of oxygen exposure. In the body, oxygen freely associates with dangerous molecules, breaking them down and causing a disruption in chemical balances and cell maintenance. Antioxidants diminish oxygen’s association with these free radicals; they are literally against oxygen, picking it up and stabilizing the functions it disrupts. As a powerful antioxidant, beta carotene is responsible for: 

• Improving lung health by taking on free radicals that cause lung cancer;

  • A report published by the BMJ explained that high levels of beta carotene in the blood improve lung capacity. The study measured the amount of air 535 individuals could expire in one breath. Participants with higher levels of beta carotene had a higher lung capacity (FEV1) than those with lower beta carotene blood levels. In fact, beta carotene’s antioxidant behavior is beneficial for thwarting many forms of cancer.

• Lowering the risk of heart disease;

• Diminishing levels of oxidative stress;

  • Mental cognition is closely tied to oxidative stress. When levels of oxidative stress are lower, mental cognition improves.

• Reducing age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

Bell Chem is the nutritional ingredient supplier based in Longwood, FL (just north of Orlando) with hundreds of products stocked in their 50,000+ square-foot warehouse, including the antioxidant beta carotene. 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 personalize all your needs by either calling 407-339-BELL (2355) or by sending us an online message.

Industry Uses of Sodium Nitrate

Sodium nitrate (NaNO3) is a well-known ingredient in the manufacture of pyrotechnics and fertilizers. Known commercially as nitrate of soda, Chile saltpeter, or soda niter, sodium nitrate is a crystalline compound with no odor or color. Its price and reliability raise it above other chemicals in its class, and industrial ingredient supplier Bell Chem has technical grade sodium nitrate available to serve your business needs.

As an Explosive
Explosives and sodium nitrate have a long history together. Sodium nitrate is inexpensive, non-toxic, non-poisonous, and stable, which gives it advantages over other additives in the black powder used in pyrotechnics and smoke bombs. The slow burn rate of sodium nitrate makes it ideal as a solid rocket propellant.

As a Fertilizer
As a fertilizer, sodium nitrate acts as a storage vessel for nitrogen. Nitrogen stimulates overall plant growth, giving fullness to leaves, stems, and roots. Lack of nitrogen stunts plant growth while excess nitrogen can deter flower and fruit growth. Sodium nitrate used as a fertilizer rushes nitrogen to plant roots to stimulate processing throughout the plant’s vascular system.

As a Preservative
Sodium nitrate acts as a processed meat preservative, especially in meats containing a red hue. For instance, hot dogs, deli meats, and ham contain sodium nitrate to prevent bacterial colonization, which spoils meats rapidly. Country ham, which has an extremely long aging process, relies on sodium nitrate as a long-term stabilizer. The pharmaceutical industry also uses sodium nitrate as a preservative, sometimes adding it in eye drops and in medicines as a control compound since it contains nitrogen.

As an Enamel
The tough, shiny outer coating of glass and pottery enamel is often due to sodium nitrate. Immersion in a sodium nitrate bath increases textile strength. This chemically strengthened glass is installed in aircraft canopies to give pilots the optical clarity they desire while providing tensile strength to their quarters. For this same reason, the molten glass used in high-quality eyewear manufacture is also tempered with sodium nitrate.

Contact Bell Chem, the industrial ingredient supplier based in Longwood (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 personalize all your needs by either calling 407-339-BELL (2355) or by sending us an online message.

Common Grades for Chemicals and Reagents

Chemicals and reagents are utilized in countless industries for a wide variety of reasons. While some of these ingredients come into close contact with foods and beverages, others are strictly industrial. Bell Chem, the USP ingredient supplier, presents the following information on seven various grades of chemicals and reagents, how they differ and the uses of each.

 Technical Grade
Used for commercial and industrial purposes, technical grade chemicals and reagents do not meet standards designated for food and drink or pharmaceuticals.  

Purified Grade
Commonly called “pure” or “practical” grade, purified grade has no standard distinction of percent pure. Because of the fluctuation in purity, it is not intended for food, drink, or pharmaceutical industries.

Laboratory Grade
As with purified grade, laboratory grade does not have a stringent percentage of purity. Because of its low cost and solid chemical purity, laboratory grade is the most common grade for experimentation in secondary- and post-secondary science classrooms.  

NF Grade
National Formulary (NF) grade meets or exceeds specific demands of pharmaceutical standards for chemical and biological drug substances. Along with product standards, the manner in which products may be consumed (tablet, liquid, gelcap), compound preparations, excipients, dietary supplements, and medical devices are all aligned under NF grade standards.

USP Grade
Together with NF grade, United States Pharmacopeia (USP) publishes a book of pharmacopeial standards. USP grade meets or exceeds standards for pharmaceuticals, foods, and beverages and is used in top-ranking laboratories worldwide.

Reagent Grade
With a purity rating of ≥95%, reagent grade may be used in food, beverage, pharmaceutical, and medical industries, in both analytical applications and laboratory experimentation. 

ACS Grade
Meeting or exceeding American Chemical Society (ACS) purity standards of ≥95%, ACS grade is regularly used with foods and beverages, pharmaceutical and medical industries, and in any instance where high purity is necessitated. While USP-NF, Reagent, and ACS grades are oftentimes considered interchangeable, regulatory requirements must be followed precisely prior to application of any of these grades. 

Generally speaking, the lower-quality grades, such as Technical and Purified, are more cost-effective but lack the purity of ACS and Reagent grades. Be sure to understand the specific application of each product before you purchase one or more of these seven grades. For more information on choosing the correct chemical or reagent for your intended use, contact Bell Chem, the USP ingredient supplier. Bell Chem is based in Longwood (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 personalize all your needs by either calling 407-339-BELL (2355) or by sending us an online message.

Quality Control

Bell Chem strives to ensure its employees work in a safe environment and that its products meet quality guidelines before they are shipped to you. To meet these goals, we are regulated by four authorities. Below is a brief explanation of each and how they assure all safety goals are met or exceeded.

FDA
The Food and Drug Administration, or FDA, ensures the “…safety, efficacy, and security” of drugs and biological products. The FDA also ensures the safety of products in the food and cosmetic supply chain. The FDA stimulates food and product innovation that will positively impact the public’s health. Among other factors, the FDA oversees pigments added to cosmetics, skin cleansers and moisturizers, nail products, and perfumes. In foods, the FDA is responsible for the safety of food additives and bottled water. In pharmaceuticals, the FDA ascertains that the proper ingredients are added to both prescription and non-prescription medications. The Drug Supply Chain Security Act states all portions of the supply chain must be licensed and registered with the FDA, drugs must be traced throughout the supply chain, and if illegal drugs are suspected, they must be reported.

DEA
The Drug Enforcement Administration, or DEA, enforces controlled substances laws and regulations. By reducing the amount of illegal controlled substances within the United States, the volume of drugs illegally grown, manufactured, and distributed is vastly reduced. The Controlled Substance Act regulates the transfer and disposal, record-keeping, inventory, and ordering of controlled substances.

EPA
The EPA, also known as the Environmental Protection Agency, focuses on the environment and human health. Their goal is for every American to enjoy clean air, land, and water while reducing environmental risks. The EPA ensures everyone has access to information pertaining to human health and environmental risks and that all chemicals in a supply chain are handled and processed safely. Regulations focus on identifying hazardous waste, calculating the total weight of hazardous waste, notifying authorities on how the waste will be disposed of, tracking how hazardous waste is disposed of, and recycling or treating all hazardous waste when possible.

OSHA
The Occupational Safety and Health Act, or OSHA, assures “…safe and healthful working conditions” by setting standards and enforcing them with training and assistance. Their focus is on reducing or eliminating workplace hazards. To this end, employers must provide personal protective equipment such as gloves, masks, or earplugs to employees in conditions that require their use. OSHA requires employers to provide ventilation systems for employees working with chemicals, post information and train employees on hazardous chemicals, and keep records on any injuries or illnesses on the worksite.

Know you are in capable hands when you order your ingredients and chemicals from Bell Chem. Based in Longwood, FL (just north of Orlando) Bell Chem has 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 personalize all your needs by either calling 407-339-BELL (2355) or by sending us an online message.

All About: Salicylic Acid

Salicylic acid has been recognized as an effective pain reliever for hundreds of thousands of years. Evidence exists showing that ancient civilizations used the bark of a willow tree (later classified as the Salix species) as an analgesic, fever reducer, and anti-inflammatory drug. While willow trees provided the primary ingredient long ago, it is now recognized that several other plant species contain either esters or salts of salicylic acid. In modern times, the microbial degradation of naphthalene produces salicylic acid, and currently, this ingredient is chemically derived from phenylalanine. This most modern form is one of many of Bell Chem’s, a personal care raw materials supplier, long line of quality ingredients.

Salicylic acid is commonly used in skin-care products and topical medications and as a food preservative. According to a recent report, the volume of salicylic acid utilized in pharmaceuticals and cosmetics is anticipated to escalate throughout the next few years.

Cosmetics
Salicylic acid is often listed as beta hydroxy acid (BHA) on cosmetic packaging. It may be used as salicylic acid salts or esters. Found in moisturizers, shampoos and conditioners, skin cleaners, sunscreen, mouthwashes, and other dental products, salicylic acid is a powerful antibacterial agent that separates cells within skin pores. These cells tend to conglomerate, block the pores, and cause a backup of oil, which leads to blackheads and whiteheads. Salicylic acid unclogs pores, reduces the amount of oil produced, and evens out skin tones.

Pharmaceutical
Patients suffering from psoriasis or seborrheic dermatitis benefit from a topical application of salicylic acid. As a keratolytic, salicylic acid breaks through keratin, releasing layers of skin to expose the underlying smooth skin cells. Salicylic acid is slightly acidic and acts as an exfoliator, anti-inflammatory, and acne medication.

Food and Beverage
Salicylic acid has antibiotic properties which fend off bacteria that spoil foods. For this reason, it is a great choice as a preservative. One of salicylic acid’s esters, methyl salicylate, has a strong, minty flavor which can enhance foods and beverages. Salicylic acid is by far most commonly used as a preservative in the bottling industry for carbonated beverages and beer.

Bell Chem is a personal care raw materials supplier based in Longwood, FL (just north of Orlando) with hundreds of products, including salicylic acid, 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 personalize all your needs by either calling 407-339-BELL (2355) or by sending us an online message.

Industry Trends of Detergents

In an effort to determine just how clean is clean, the detergent industry is constantly re-evaluating its products to give the consumers the best possible product for their money. The industrial chemical supplier, Bell Chem, follows this same philosophy, giving its customers the best value for its long list of chemicals and ingredients.

The History of Detergent
The need to clean clothes quickly followed the trend for man to wear clothes. Modern detergents are based on Roman civilization; Mount Sapo contained sacrificial land where animals were slaughtered and offered to the gods. The tallow from the animals combined with the ash from the fires as rains washed down the mountainside. The river containing the runoff became a magnet for women washing clothes; everything washed along the base of Mount Sapo was cleaner.  

Detergents in the Modern Age
Depending on where you reside in the world, your detergent will differ. The ingredients are stable — bleaches, brighteners, enzymes, fillers, polymers, surfactants, and water softeners — but the percentage of each ingredient is altered. In North America, for instance, detergents contain a higher percentage of bleach, enzymes, polymers, and surfactants. Africa and Asia, on the other hand, rely on a less expensive alternative for their detergents. Throughout the industry, certain trends have emerged in cleaning, chlorine, and environmental progress.  

Cleaning
Detergents were created to clean, and the ingredients utilized focused on thorough, fast, inexpensive detergents — such as the leftovers from animal sacrifice. Coal tar has replaced animal fats as a more reliable alternative.

Chlorine
Warren Schmidt, an industry consultant for detergents, notes a trend towards bleach: "Advancement is driven less by soaps and cleaning and more by bleach and bleach activators and perfumes.” In his research, he has discovered that the general public focuses on the smell of laundry to determine its level of cleanliness. With 90% of the population satisfied with their laundry’s cleanliness, how can science improve detergent?

Environmental Progress
The focus of detergent manufacturing has recently shifted to environmental concerns with consumers pushing to change the chemical makeup of detergents to environmentally-friendly ingredients. Concentrated detergents in liquid and powdered form are on the rise. Their ability to maintain the same level of cleanliness while using less product decreases packaging and the enormous expense of transportation. Petroleum-based surfactants are currently under fire and may be replaced by surfactants derived from natural oils. New detergents designed for energy-efficient washers dominate the market, and the trend towards washing clothes in cold water will surely alter detergent makeup.

Learn more about industrial chemical supplier Bell Chem’s inventory by reading our blogs. Bell Chem is 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 personalize all your needs by either calling 407-339-BELL (2355) or by sending us an online message.

The Benefits of Oleic Acid

Oleic acid is a colorless, odorless, monounsaturated omega-9 fatty acid that occurs naturally in plants and animals. With the recent popularity of the Mediterranean diet, many health-conscious consumers are looking toward oleic acid to benefit their health. The Tampa nutritional ingredient supplier, Bell Chem, stocks pure oleic acid for its customers and wants to pass along information pertaining to oleic acid’s beneficial health properties. 

Cellular Health
Every cellular membrane in the human body relies on oleic acid to maintain fluidity and ensure the correct substances are either repelled, such as pathogens, or taken in, such as nutrients. Fluidity of the cellular membrane makes it possible for cells to respond to hormones and for minerals to be transported into and from the cells.

 Heart Health
Oleic acid plays a key role in reducing blood pressure. Because oleic acid is present in cell membranes, it is able to control G protein-mediated signaling, which is directly responsible for regulating blood pressure. Cholesterol levels are closely tied to oleic acid consumption; it lowers bad (LDL) cholesterol, maintains good (HDL) cholesterol, and reduces triglycerides.

Weight Loss
Your body craves fat and sugar. Satisfying those fat cravings with oleic acid reduces hunger. A Miriam Hospital and Brown University study compared findings for a low-fat diet with those of an olive oil-enriched diet. 80% of women who consumed 3 teaspoons of olive oil daily dropped 5% of their total weight over an 8-week period compared to their counterparts who were deprived of olive oil.

Diabetes Prevention

Oleic acid helps maintain insulin levels in the bloodstream. Oleic acid prevents the insulin signal pathway from activating, leading to a reduction in the release of insulin into the bloodstream.

Antioxidant Properties
Oleic acid is an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory, which heals wounds, seals moisture into skin, and softens hair. The antioxidant properties of oleic acid are beneficial in preventing oxidative stress, which is related to the development of cancer.

Stock your kitchen with beneficial oleic acid from the Tampa nutritional ingredient supplier, Bell Chem. Bell Chem has 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 personalize all your needs by either calling 407-339-BELL (2355) or by sending us an online message.

Pharmaceutical Cleaning

Working in a pharmaceutical supply company means your end product must meet extreme guidelines to ensure consumers have the correct medications delivered in the safest manner possible. To this end, pharmaceutical manufacturers practice cleaning validation processes, including specific cleaning and disinfecting agents. The sanitation chemical supplier Bell Chem stocks dozens of top-end chemicals perfect for use in cleaning validation for pharmaceutical manufacturers.  

Cleaning Validation
Cleaning validation is a quality control measure that ensures machinery is cleaned properly to remove microbial and chemical residues, including detergents utilized during cleaning. Depending on the type of residue, method of production, and end product, detergents may be acidic (such as sulfuric acid), alkaline (sodium hypochlorite), oxidative, surfactant, foaming, et cetera.

The validation process is not a one-way street that only determines rules and ensures they are followed. Cleaning validation allows corporations to operate more efficiently and effectively, which increases financial gains. Machines containing sticky or grating substances will cause delays, as they need to be taken apart during manufacturing to be cleaned. By ensuring a clean environment at each stage of manufacture, the process runs without unnecessary delays.

Safety
Employee safety is tantamount in any industry, and working with potentially hazardous pharmaceutical products can endanger your workforce if areas are not properly sanitized. With the correct products, areas can be cleaned and sanitized, even while using sanitation products at lower water temperatures.

Efficiency
The correct product can expedite cleaning time; the proper detergent can clean and sanitize an area quickly. The saved time can be dedicated to creating more product rather than cleaning an area. While some individuals believe elbow grease is the ultimate form of cleaning, keep in mind that scrubbing machine parts can damage them.

The Right Detergent
Detergents work in specific manners, so choose a detergent that will give the best results. Acid detergents remove inorganic residues and salts, alkaline detergents are powerhouse chemicals that work in the majority of manufacturing applications, and neutral detergents are compatible with most other chemicals and can be used with hand cleaning of delicate parts. Along with detergents, products used during cleaning validation include chelators, dispersants, emulsifiers, solvents, and wetting agents.  

Pharmaceutical corporations must meet strict criteria concerning cleaning validation. Contact the sanitation chemical supplier Bell Chem to ensure your company meets those standards with our pure supply of cleaning and sanitizing supplies. Based in Longwood, FL (just north of Orlando), Bell Chem has 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 personalize all your needs by either calling 407-339-BELL (2355) or by sending us an online message.

The Benefits of Soy Lecithin

Because of soy lecithin’s ability to interact with the body’s cells, it’s essential in short-term cell signaling. The cells of the human body rely on acetylcholine to stimulate different processes, including nerve impulses. When soy lecithin is ingested, the choline it contains converts to acetylcholine to further those impulses. A diet low in choline reduces the pliability of cell membranes, and nutrients are unable to be absorbed and metabolized, which weakens internal and external cellular processes. Bell Chem, a food ingredient distributor, carries this versatile ingredient.

Manufacturing
Soy lecithin is inexpensive and does not require a lengthy manufacturing process. In fact, most lecithin is a by-product after the generation of soybean oil. Soy lecithin is also virtually free of soy proteins, making it safe for individuals with soy allergies to consume. During manufacturing, most of the oils are removed from soy lecithin, thus the created product is considered virtually free of soy proteins.

As a Stabilizer
Soy lecithin acts as a stabilizer in blended ingredients. When liquids contain both oil and water, soy lecithin quickly blends the two. This makes it ideal to add to products such as salad dressings, margarine, and mayonnaise. Manufacturers admire the stabilization aspect of soy lecithin since it extends shelf life.

Soy lecithin’s stabilization causes bread dough to spread more evenly without being “sticky” or hard to manipulate. This also comes in handy with rising bread since air is evenly trapped throughout the dough; bubbles that erupt are therefore small and manageable rather than large air pockets. Anti-stickiness is the stabilization factor manufacturers require for non-stick sprays, and soy lecithin is a perfect ingredient for these cooking sprays.

As an Emulsifier
Emulsification is closely related to the properties of a wetting agent, or surfactant — another role of soy lecithin. Confections, such as chocolate bars and peanut butter treats, benefit from a perfectly blended flavor bite-after-bite. Instant drinks and foods add soy lecithin for the same reason; it reduces the surface tension of water to facilitate easier mixing and blending. Without soy lecithin, mixes would include large clumps of solid interspersed with a weak, watery product.

Stock your kitchen with beneficial soy lecithin from the food ingredient supplier Bell Chem. Based in Longwood, FL (just north of Orlando), Bell Chem has 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 personalize all your needs by either calling 407-339-BELL (2355) or by sending us an online message.

The Benefits of Aloe

Aloe vera is a succulent plant well known for its healing properties, especially in treating burns. The viscous gel inside the leaves contains a bevy of amino acids, antioxidants, minerals, and vitamins, giving aloe vera a strong corner in industries such as cosmetics, food and beverage, and pharmaceuticals. The annual global market value of aloe has skyrocketed to $13 billion. The personal care raw materials supplier Bell Chem has long stocked its impressive inventory with aloe vera.

Polyphenols
Aloe contains polyphenols, which can help with digestion, weight management, bacterial growth, and more. Polyphenols encompass a large family of antioxidants that prevent bacterial growth. Because bacteria are closely associated with infection, aloe has had centuries of use as a healing salve, keeping wounds and burns free of microbes and stimulating healing.

Scientific Studies
Several studies have proven aloe vera is responsible for accelerating burn victims’ healing time by nine days when compared to traditional medication. Canker sores treated with aloe vera also reduce in size. Although aloe did not match corticosteroids in treating canker sores, the amount of pain associated with the sores diminished with aloe vera treatment, and ulcers healed more quickly with its topical application.

A 2014 study published in the Ethiopian Journal of Health Sciences compared 100% pure aloe vera extract, which contains naturally elevated amounts of vitamin C, to chlorhexidine (the active ingredient in most toothpastes) and found aloe to be as effective in reducing the amount of bacterial biofilm (plaque) on teeth. Aloe acted in killing or preventing the growth of Streptococcus mutans and Candida albicans in the mouth.

Keep aloe vera on hand as a fantastic additive for your pharmaceutical, food and beverage, or cosmetics business. Bell Chem, the personal care raw materials supplier based in Longwood, FL (just north of Orlando) has hundreds of products, including aloe vera, 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 personalize all your needs by either calling 407-339-BELL (2355) or by sending us an online message.