Uses of Isopropyl Alcohol

Isopropyl alcohol is one of those ubiquitous chemicals everyone recognizes. However, its uses stretch across numerous industries. Industrial ingredient supplier Bell Chem’s varied strengths of isopropyl alcohol are ideal for specific tasks, as noted below. But how does isopropyl alcohol perform all these functions? At strengths of 70% and higher, rubbing alcohol is chemically able to penetrate the cell walls of bacteria, fungi, and viruses. Once inside the microorganism, isopropyl alcohol causes the cell’s proteins to coagulate and the organism perishes. Isopropyl alcohol generally contains a percentage of water since alcohol evaporates rapidly; the addition of water slows this evaporation rate and increases the effectiveness of isopropyl alcohol.

Antiseptic

At a solution greater than 50%, isopropyl alcohol is a high-proof ethanol bactericide; it kills existing bacteria but does not completely prevent future growth. It is also effective against fungi and viruses. Its role in hospital and clinic settings is multipurpose. Think of receiving an injection: a small package is ripped open and a sliver of cloth wipes the affected area beforehand. That small cloth is doused in 70% isopropyl alcohol. Before the doctor and nurses visit with a patient and after examining the patient, hands are washed with soap and water and disinfected with hand sanitizer — with 70% isopropyl alcohol as the primary ingredient.

Astringent

An astringent is defined as a substance that constricts body tissues. A 70% solution of rubbing alcohol has long been utilized in the cosmetics industry to tighten pores. The sensation of isopropyl alcohol on most peoples’ faces is described as a clean, refreshing feeling. This shrinking of tissue is a key reason isopropyl alcohol is a topical ingredient in products that help small wounds close and heal.

Solvent

An industry favorite, isopropyl alcohol is an inexpensive, reliable carrier for pharmaceuticals, topical ointments, printing, laboratory reagents, et cetera. Sticky substances, ink, oils, and grease are quickly dissolved with isopropyl alcohol. Industries use isopropyl alcohol in the manufacture of acetone and glycerol. In biology laboratories, the ability of rubbing alcohol to dry and tighten tissues gives it a role in specimen preservation. Lab chemicals are diluted and extracted with rubbing alcohol, paint strips more easily, electroplate cold cleaning and lithography find isopropyl alcohol their perfect solvent. 

Bell Chem is an industrial chemical supplier based in Longwood, FL (just north of Orlando) with hundreds of products, including isopropyl alcohol, 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.

Citric Acid

The use of citric acid has been recorded for centuries, beginning when it was isolated from lemon juice in 1784 to when it was industrialized in 1890. The food and beverage industry relies heavily on citric acid because of its versatility as an oxidizer, pH stabilizer, and flavoring, among other functions. Citric acid supplier Bell Chem’s pure citric acid should be part of your ingredient lineup. 

Flavoring
The naturally tart, tangy flavor of citric acid is regularly added to candy, foods, and beverages. Sweet and sour candy is an example of how citric acid is added to foods to balance their overly sweet taste, and the balance enhances both flavors. Nearly half of all citric acid production is utilized in beverages as a flavoring. In powdered form, dried foods also benefit from citric acid flavoring, and it plays a role as an ingredient in snacks, powdered drinks, and seasonings. 

Preservative
As its name implies, citric acid has a low pH. Because most microbes exist within a specific pH range, lowering the pH with citric acid disrupts the environment for bacteria, fungi, et cetera. Without microbial growth, foods and drinks have an extended shelf life. Industries add citric acid to preserved and canned fruits and vegetables, many forms of meat, jams and jellies, and snack foods. 

Oxidizer/Antioxidant
When sprayed directly on freshly cut fruits, citric acid prevents oxidation, which causes fruits to develop an off-colored appearance. Adding citric acid to substances containing fats and oils stimulates antioxidant action, and because antioxidants diminish product deterioration rates, shelf life is extended.  

pH Adjuster and Buffer
When beer and wine are manufactured, a specific pH must be achieved. The addition of citric acid to a basic solution adjusts the pH to create more perfect brews. In the cheese-making process, citric acid acts as a catalyst by facilitating many varieties of cheese (mozzarella in particular) to ripen more rapidly. The cosmetic industry greatly benefits from citric acid as an ingredient; along with adjusting pH, it also sequesters pollutants, removing them from hair and skin. 

Bell Chem is your citric acid 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.

USP Grade Inhibited Propylene Glycol: Jeffcool P-200

Jeffcool P-200 is a USP grade inhibited propylene glycol that designates its use around food, food-based industries, and potable water. The “inhibited” portion of its title deems it safe for use in metals since it is corrosion-inhibited. Its primary roles are as an industrial coolant and heat transfer fluid. However, Florida ingredient distributor Bell Chem stocks this important chemical for more than food use. Read below for more details on inhibited propylene glycol.

Coolant
Many food and beverage industries rely on Jeffcool P-200 within their machinery as it maintains, cools, or freezes edible products. Breweries and wineries find Jeffcool P-200 ideal for cooling beverages expediently. The dairy industry understands the importance of quickly reducing the temperature of fresh milk, and inhibited propylene glycol is able to substantially lower milk temperatures quickly and evenly. 

Outside the food and beverage industry, USP grade inhibited propylene glycol (Jeffcool P-200) continues to prove its worth in HVAC systems and skating rinks as it maintains constant temperatures necessary for either application.

Heat Transfer
Frozen foods are generally processed with either spray or immersion freezing methods. Inhibited propylene glycol transfers heat from foods for rapid freezing. During winter, accumulated snow and ice can greatly impact walk-in traffic for businesses. When sidewalk and walkway infrastructure is designed with snow-melt systems with inhibited propylene glycol coursing through their channels, the affected areas remain ice and snow free. Applications of snow-melt systems include helipads, walkways, loading docks, and ramps. 

Bell Chem is the Florida 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.

Safely Using Sodium Hypochlorite

You have undoubtedly used sodium hypochlorite both at home and in your business. Commonly known as bleach, the chemical percentage varies depending on your uses. You probably also recognize some of the dangers while using sodium hypochlorite; its ability to whiten clothes in a diluted form can quickly destroy clothes as a concentrated chemical. Bell Chem wants you to be safe around chemicals. The following information will help you safely handle sodium hypochlorite as you disinfect solids and liquids.

• On metals: Because sodium hypochlorite is corrosive, metal surfaces disinfected with bleach should be wiped with water or ethanol after application.

• With other chemicals: Sodium hypochlorite should not be combined with ammonia, acids, hydrogen peroxide, or any other commercial cleaners. It can become toxic in many situations. On the other hand, sodium hypochlorite evaporates at a rate of 0.75g a day in a solution, which is why swimming pools and water supplies need a steady supply of chlorine. 

• When disinfecting liquid materials: Household bleach is typically 5% sodium hypochlorite. General disinfecting requires 0.5% sodium hypochlorite concentrations. Therefore, dilute bleach 1:10 with water before applying. Read industrial-strength sodium hypochlorite labels to determine the strength and necessary dilution ratio. When mixing bleach with water, measure the water first, then add the bleach to the water.

• In hospitals or hospitality industries: Fats, blood, and proteins are disinfected with a 1% sodium hypochlorite solution. 

• Disinfection times: For solid materials, sodium hypochlorite should be applied for 1 minute. For liquids, soak for 20 minutes.  

• Effects of different percentages of sodium hypochlorite: A 5% solution of bleach has an average pH of 11, which is irritating to skin, eyes, and nasal passages. A 10–15% sodium hypochlorite solution has a pH closer to 13, which is corrosive and causes severe burns on the skin.

• Work environment: Sodium hypochlorite can be harmful if inhaled. Work in a well-ventilated area with open windows. If a vent hood is available, mix and use bleach beneath it.

• Personal protective devices: When handling sodium hypochlorite, don long-sleeved shirts and pants, a face mask or shield, and gloves. 

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.

Calcium Lactate Uses

Calcium lactate, unsurprisingly, contains calcium, making it beneficial to the human body by providing a method of calcium absorption. But calcium lactate also has an important role in the body’s reliance on magnesium as well. Read the information below provided by Bell Chem, your nutritional ingredient supplier, to see how calcium lactate aids in many of the body’s most important chemical processes.

• Approximately 99 percent of the body’s calcium and more than 50 percent of magnesium are stored in the bones. When supplies of either of these important nutrients are depleted from the bloodstream, both calcium and magnesium are pulled from bones, which causes bones to become more brittle.

• Because calcium and magnesium are positively charged; they stimulate heart function, neuronal impulses, muscle contraction, and fill cells with ample ions to perform properly. 

• Magnesium is a starring component in enzymatic reactions, with adenosine triphosphate (ATP) being one of the most important. ATP is the primary chemical necessary for creating the energy cells need to function. Another important function of magnesium is the synthesis of deoxyribonucleic acid, or DNA.   

• Because calcium lactate allows for easier absorption of both calcium and magnesium, it is often administered to patients with nerve conduction or muscle contraction difficulties. Patients with low coagulation time rates and immune system responses also benefit from calcium lactate. And, obviously, once calcium is available in the bloodstream, it can be absorbed by the bones and stored for later use.

• Calcium lactate is often prescribed for individuals with known low bone density and is often administered to pregnant or nursing mothers to supplement the calcium lost to their growing babies. It has been found that calcium lactate works more readily when consumed with food.

For further information on calcium lactate, contact Florida’s nutritional ingredient supplier, Bell Chem. 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 handle all your needs by calling 407-339-BELL (2355) or send us an online message.

Xanthan Gum in the Food Industry

When glucose or another polysaccharide is fermented, the result is a natural carbohydrate gum — xanthan gum. This versatile ingredient has proven extremely useful with the public’s insistence of a greater abundance of gluten-free products. Learn how food ingredient distributor Bell Chem’s xanthan gum meets this need and many others. 

Viscosity

Consider ranch salad dressing as an example of how xanthan gum reacts in lower viscosity circumstances: When salad dressing is shaken, it’s easier to pour from the bottle. After the dressing has “settled,” it becomes thicker, which makes it more difficult to pour. Xanthan gum is added to many milk-based products to increase the viscosity, and shaking it will release chemical bonds, causing the product to become more liquefied.

Emulsification

Another one of xanthan gum’s properties is emulsification. Oil and water do not mix, and neither do milk and cream. When xanthan gum is added to a vinaigrette or to whole milk, the individual ingredients with chemical properties that do not allow for easy mixing will disperse evenly, giving the same taste from one bite to the next. 

Thickening

Xanthan gum’s thickening properties are ideal for use as a substitute for wheat, barley, or any other grain containing gluten. When substituting, these products are able to be advertised as gluten-free while maintaining a similar mouthfeel and texture to traditional bread. 

The thickening property is used for more than gluten-free foods, though. The ability of xanthan gum to add bulk to products makes it ideal for soy milk, soups, gravies, and sauces. 

Stability

Xanthan gum has a wide temperature range of stabilization, which means it will keep ice cream from melting as quickly when it is removed to room temperature. It is also an ingredient in frozen foods to stabilize individual components within the meal. Xanthan gum also delays ice crystal formation when foods are frozen for extended periods of time.

Learn more about xanthan gum and its uses by contacting Bell Chem, your food ingredient distributor. 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 handle all your needs by calling 407-339-BELL (2355) or send us an online message.

Industry Uses of Phosphoric Acid

Phosphoric acid is available under a variety of names, such as phosphoric (V) acid, orthophosphoric acid, and H3PO4. Regardless of its nomenclature, most of its use is in one field: fertilizer. However, this colorless, odorless, viscous crystalline solid or liquid has other uses as well, and Bell Chem stocks phosphoric acid and many other tech grade products for all of their uses. 

• Agriculture: Phosphoric acid’s starring role is as a phosphate salt in three varieties of fertilizer: mono ammonium dihydrogen phosphate (MAP), diammonium hydrogen phosphate (DAP), and triple superphosphate (TSP). Because phosphoric acid is an acid, it is also added to animal feed to deter microbial growth while adding flavor to the feed.

• Food and beverage: Much as in animal feed, phosphoric acid is added to foods and beverages to regulate pH, stanch biological growth, and as a flavoring. Phosphoric acid is an ingredient in carbonated beverages, jams, processed meats and cheeses, and cereal bars. 

• Cosmetics and personal care: The manufacture of fragrances, hair and nail care products, makeup, and cleansers is much smoother with phosphoric acid controlling pH levels. 

• Pharmaceutical: Dentistry relies on phosphoric acid as an intermediary in etching solutions to cleanse teeth. It is also utilized as a teeth whitener and is often added to mouthwash for brightening teeth. Mixed with glucose and fructose, phosphoric acid coats the stomach lining to prevent nausea. 

• Machinery: Phosphoric acid reacts readily with rust-coated surfaces, sequestering iron from ferric oxide to create ferric phosphate, a black substance easily removed from metal surfaces. Mineral deposits and stains on cement are also removed with phosphoric acid in much the same manner.

• Energy generation: Fuel cells and oxyhydrogen generators rely on phosphoric acid as an electrolyte, stimulating ions to generate energy at a more rapid pace. 

Discover how non-volatile phosphoric acid can be used in your business by contacting Bell Chem. Bell Chem is based in Longwood, FL (just north of Orlando) with hundreds of products, including tech grade 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 handle all your needs by calling 407-339-BELL (2355) or send us an online message.

EDTA

EDTA, also known as ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, is famous as a chelating agent, or a chemical capable of capturing metal ions by forming bonds with them. Chelating these metal ions removes them from water and food sources. Bell Chem, your Jacksonville ingredient supplier, lists several examples of how ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid is used across industries.

Medical
Individuals suffering from heavy metal poisoning are given EDTA intravenously or intramuscularly to capture mercury, lead, iron, or calcium. Instead of damaging the brain and other neural tissue, these metals are excreted from the body via the urinary system when they are sequestered by EDTA. When added to fresh blood in blood banks, EDTA captures calcium. Since calcium clots blood, EDTA prevents clotting. In orthodontia and dentistry, EDTA prepares areas before dental adhesives are added or root canals are performed. The ability for EDTA to chelate metals makes it ideal for patients with calcium deposits in their field of vision since it grabs these metals and removes them from the eye. High levels of blood calcium can interfere with heart rhythm. EDTA counters these dangerously high rhythms whether they are naturally occurring or the result of digitalis or another heart medication. Other cardiovascular uses for EDTA are control of atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries), angina (chest pain), stroke, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol.

Foods and Beverages
Colors fade over time in processed foods; EDTA allows foods and beverages to maintain a constant color. In dressings and mayonnaise, EDTA bonds with enzymes that would normally cause foods to spoil. Beverages such as sodas owe their long-standing flavor retention in part to EDTA. Fortified foods, such as breakfast cereals and snack bars, contain EDTA-bound iron.

Cosmetics
When added to soap, EDTA is able to capture the metals in hard water, enhancing the cleaning ability of soap as well as laundry detergent and cleaning products. Topical cosmetics, cleansers, and mouthwashes also contain EDTA to improve product stability.

Learn more about the additives in your foods and pharmaceuticals by reading Bell Chem’s blogs. Bell Chem is a Jacksonville 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.

Caustic Soda: Industry Uses

Caustic soda, also known as NaOH, lye, or sodium hydroxide, is an alkali with the ability to react with many chemicals. The water treatment chemical supplier Bell Chem understands the importance of caustic soda and wishes to share that knowledge with its customers. 

Aluminum Manufacturing
Minerals — especially bauxite — containing alumina, the derivative of aluminum, are removed with caustic soda. The alumina is then processed into aluminum used in building, construction, aluminum foil, lightweight airplane components, beer kegs, and kitchen utensils.

Chemical Manufacture
As a basic feedstock for chemicals and an intermediate and reactant in the production of solvents, synthetic fibers, adhesives, herbicides, dyes, plastics, and pharmaceutical products, caustic soda is an undeniably important chemical.

Food Manufacturing
Olives are cured using caustic soda, and tomato, potato, and vegetable skins are removed with its use. Large pretzels brown more thoroughly with caustic soda. Canning is made possible with caustic soda since it prevents microorganism growth. 

Furniture Manufacturing
Wood furniture and solid wood cabinets transform from raw material to finished product with the help of caustic soda, which also acts to clean and bleach wood, giving the finish a more even, refined look. 

Pharmaceutical Manufacturing
From the manufacture of aspirin to high-cholesterol and blood thinners, caustic soda has dozens of pharmaceutical uses. 

Pulp and Paper Manufacturing
Caustic soda bleaches and renders pulp, removes ink from recycled paper, and treats the water used during the paper manufacturing process. At the beginning of processing wood into paper, caustic soda is combined with sodium sulfide to dissolve all but cellulose, which is the main component of creating paper. 

Soap and Detergent Manufacturing
Cleansers and disinfectants are often components of caustic soda. Chlorine bleach, for instance, combines chlorine and sodium hydroxide to create a powerful disinfectant. Its ability to saponify fats and greases allows for quick clean up.

Water Treatment
Acidic water is corrosive and “soft”; treating water with caustic soda stabilizes the water’s pH while removing heavy metals such as lead and zinc from the water. Caustic soda is also used in the production of sodium hypochlorite which is used to disinfect water. 

From clean energy to dirty countertops, caustic soda has an amazing variety of uses. Bell Chem is your water treatment chemical supplier based in Longwood, FL (just north of Orlando) with hundreds of products including caustic soda 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.

Medical Uses of Dextrose

The human body runs on energy, and the energy it needs is provided in the form of a simple sugar created in the liver that courses through the blood system to supply cells with fuel — glucose. When the human body is not able to produce adequate amounts of glucose, cells react negatively and medical intervention is often necessary. To answer that call, dextrose is available. Like glucose, dextrose is a simple sugar the body absorbs rapidly to stabilize its myriad functions.

Dextrose’s Role in Medicine
Dextrose and glucose are chemically identical, meaning the body utilizes them in the same manner. Therefore, an intravenous dose of dextrose delivers a rapid response. Depending on the nature of the disorder, varied amounts of dextrose may be necessary to bring the body back into homeostatic equilibrium.  

• Carbohydrate Supplement: Dextrose is also used to provide carbohydrate calories to a person who cannot eat because of illness, trauma, or other medical condition. 

• Dehydration: Rapid loss of fluids is generally thought to occur with exercise but is also evident in burn victims and other medical disorders. Along with water, the body loses important chemicals. Dextrose is often given intravenously to combat dehydration.

• Nutritional Supplement: The body relies on proteins, fats, and carbohydrates to function. As a carbohydrate, dextrose fills that need and is often supplemented with a form of protein and fat to offer total parenteral nutrition. Patients suffering from trauma, illness, or medical conditions that prevent them from either eating a proper amount of calories or malnourishment may require an injection of dextrose.

• Diabetes Control: Patients with diabetes mellitus who take insulin and neglect to eat afterward may experience insulin shock. Low blood sugar causes mental confusion, rapid heart rate, excessive sweating, and weakness.

• Blood Potassium Level Control: A high blood potassium level can throw off the tenuous balance of the body’s electrolytes. When dextrose is given, cells eagerly accept it from the bloodstream, inadvertently accepting potassium at the same time. As the potassium leaves the bloodstream, blood potassium levels return to normal.

• Alcohol Overconsumption: Excessive alcohol ingestion can cause sickness, and dextrose can counter that effect.

• Oral Dextrose: Diabetic patients or those with hypoglycemia may supplement their intake of nutrients with dextrose tablets or gels. 

Bell Chem is a food and USP ingredients 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.