Caustic Soda in Water Treatment

Caustic soda (sodium hydroxide, or NaOH) is a commonly used water treatment chemical that raises the pH of water by absorbing water and carbon dioxide. Bell Chem, your water treatment chemical supplier, keeps abundant supplies of caustic soda on hand for your treatment needs. Read below to learn how sodium hydroxide can benefit your water treatment plant.

Hard Water
When water is “hard,” it causes corrosion. Hard water has an abundance of dissolved magnesium and calcium. Minerals adhere to the tanks and lines in a water treatment facility, which inhibits water flow and, if not treated, can eventually corrode through the line. Hard water is also renowned for lowering the saponification of soaps and detergents; clothes feel scratchy and look dingy, dishes and glasses are spotty, and a buildup forms on skin and appliances. Caustic soda increases the pH of water and can easily change hard water to a much closer approximation to neutral when injected into the water treatment system. 

Decreases Dangerous Metals
Caustic soda decreases the solubility of dangerous metals, such as lead and copper. In their insoluble state, these metals are both heavy and bulky, giving them a greater likelihood of being caught in a filtration system or falling to the bottom of a tank to be gathered. 

Corrosion Inhibitor
Unlike other additives that release calcium carbonate as a by-product of sequestration, caustic soda acts as a corrosion inhibitor without the uneven distribution of calcium carbonate. Although calcium carbonate adheres to the walls of pipes, giving them a level of protection against caustic chemicals, an abundance and uneven distribution prevents water from freely moving.  

Caustic soda sequesters and saponifies grease and oils, helping clear lines and increase water flow, and it has been proven that treating water with caustic soda does not require as much maintenance as when other pH adjustors are added. Bell Chem is your water treatment chemical supplier based in Longwood, FL (just north of Orlando) with hundreds of products stocked in their 50,000+ square-foot warehouse, including caustic soda. 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.

Baking Preservatives

Almost every packaged baked good contains some sort of preservative. While many preservatives are created in a manufacturing facility, others are considered natural. How do preservatives work, though? The food ingredient distributor Bell Chem wants you to be informed about the different types of preservatives, how they help protect food and extend shelf life, and which would be best suited for your business. 

Synthetic Chemicals
Synthetic chemicals split into two categories: antimicrobials and antioxidants. Antimicrobials, such as Bell Chem’s potassium benzoate, potassium sorbate, and sodium benzoate, are good choices of antimicrobial preservatives that counter yeast, bacterial, and fungal growth in low pH environments. Benzoates and sorbates are traditionally utilized as preservatives in sparkling and carbonates beverages, fruit juices, and high-acid foods, such as canned pickles. Antioxidants remove available oxygen, which is necessary to oxidize fats (primarily mono- and polyunsaturated) and lipids. Antioxidants are generally used on cereal grains, fruits, and vegetables to extend shelf life by preventing spoilage or over-ripening. Bell Chem’s butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) is a stunning example of a well-known antioxidant. 

Natural Extracts
Natural antimicrobials inhibit the growth of harmful microbes. An example is Bell Chem’s calcium propionate. Because propionic acid naturally occurs in fruits, cheese, and grains, it is considered a natural extract. Calcium propionate is added to bread during manufacturing to prevent “ropy” bread, a bacterial condition that causes bread to lose its structure. Calcium propionate is also a good choice to prevent bread mold. Other examples of natural extracts include vinegar and ascorbic acid. 

Chelating Agents
These sequestrants bind to metals, which are oxidizers. Therefore, chelating agents work with antioxidants as catalysts. Excellent chelating agents include ethylenediamine (EDTA), phosphoric acid, and, as a fantastic natural extract, citric acid. 

Keep your baked goods safe for consumers by adding preservatives to combat microbiological growth and contamination. Bell Chem is a food ingredient distributor 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.

Diatomaceous Earth (DE) by Dicalite®

Imagine stocking an eco-friendly product that polishes silver, filters pool water, absorbs oil, acts as a desiccant, and works as an insecticide. It may seem that these uses are too diverse for one product, but diatomaceous earth by Dicalite® is able to tackle these myriad tasks and many more! Tampa ingredient supplier Bell Chem supplies its customers with an array of Dicalite’s diatomaceous earth (DE) gradients and would be happy to recommend the specific variety for your business needs.

As a Cleaner
With a feel of powdered sugar, DE’s small particle size has a surprisingly large capacity to absorb liquid. This feature is ideal for cosmetics as it absorbs oils on the skin’s surface, and it works in the same respect to clean spilled oil in a garage or a massive oil spill at sea by absorbing 145% of its weight in oil. Any spills absorbed by DE are quickly swept away without leaving any residue — no-sticky cleanup!

As an Insecticide
DE is composed of diatoms, but not earth. Diatoms are tiny, silicate, pre-historic sea creatures with an interesting variety of shapes containing sharp edges and points. When consumed by insects, DE’s sharp texture destroys their digestive tracts. However, DE is safe for animals larger than insects and is regularly added to animal feed in silos to absorb any water that may destroy feed. Pelleted feed is likely to contain DE since it maintains shape integrity over time while keeping grains in the feed from adhering to the machinery.

As a Fertilizer
If you add DE to soil before gardens are planted, insects are much less likely to infiltrate fruits and vegetables. Coating seeds with DE gives a more uniform — and larger — size to the seed, which increases the ability for planting machines to drop the correct amount of seed at specific intervals. Fewer errors occur, and the coating of DE absorbs water, which the seed utilizes as it germinates.

Bell Chem proudly stocks six varieties of Dicalite diatomaceous earth for any of your needs. Bell Chem is the Tampa ingredient supplier based in Longwood, FL (just north of Orlando) with hundreds of products stocked in their 50,000+ square-foot warehouse. You can expect the highest quality products, expedited shipping options for maximum efficiency, and unrivaled personalized customer service. Let our knowledgeable and friendly customer service representatives and accounting staff personalize all your needs by either calling 407-339-BELL (2355) or by sending us an online message.

Quality: Food Safety Audits

When ordering chemicals and ingredients from a vendor, it is imperative to understand the standards behind the finished product. How pure is the product? How often is the machinery cleaned and maintained? Are workers properly trained? Your Orlando ingredient supplier Bell Chem’s facilities, employees, and products are regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).

To maintain these standards, Bell Chem is regularly audited. To ensure every step of the food supply chain meets or exceeds expectations, D. L. Newslow and Associates, Inc., a third-party auditor, measures Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) and Codex Alimentarius guidelines.

What do the regulations require? Quality approaches: carefully and systematically checking and calculating precise amounts of ingredients. The entire chain of supply is affected by quality approaches, so any ingredients or chemicals delivered to Bell Chem must also meet standards and guidelines before incorporation into the Bell Chem supplies you know and trust. Likewise, all equipment must be clean and free of dangerous mechanical problems and threatening contaminants. Food-grade ingredients are purer and safer since they are created for human consumption. The standards these ingredients meet are stricter than other non-consumable products and quality controls are more difficult to maintain. With its multiple regulations, Bell Chem exceeds expectations consistently.

Audits determine that every phase of production, from raw materials to finished product, are followed without any shortcuts. Bell Chem understands that audits are more than a certification process; their quality methods of production keep their employees safe and give their customers trusted, reliable ingredients that do not vary from batch to batch. Following safety and quality guidelines means fewer errors and recalls, which is better for Bell Chem’s customers. Prices are also affected since less time is dedicated to reacting to errors since mistakes are determined proactively. Along with quality manufacturing processes, GMP certification also includes:

• Bookkeeping methods, ensuring more stable prices;

• Hiring of qualified employees only;

• Sanitation and cleanliness of all areas of production;

• And proper complaint management.

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

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.