Ascorbic Acid

Ascorbic acid, as an integral component of Vitamin C, is an excellent antioxidant. The nutritional ingredient supplier, Bell Chem, stocks ascorbic acid for use in several industries, including food, reagent, nutrition, personal care, and as a USP ingredient.  

• Vitamin C contains ascorbic acid along with several other trace minerals and compounds that work together to keep the body healthy. Within the vitamin, ascorbic acid acts as the antioxidant portion, enabling the function of the vitamin to occur in the presence of oxygen. Because oxygen is detrimental to many functions in the body, ascorbic acid, acting as an antioxidant, protects the functions by staving off oxygen.

• Along with countering bacteria in the human body, ascorbic acid also acts as a building block for collagen. Collagen is an abundant protein that offers structural support to bones, tissue, skin, teeth, and tiny capillaries as it aids in healing wounds. 

• Ascorbic acid binds with heavy metals in the body, safely eliminating them.

• Excess heat and boiling water break Vitamin C apart and diminish its activities. The protective nature of ascorbic acid replenishes the lost Vitamin C content.

• The tangy flavor of ascorbic acid is what we associate with citrus drinks. Ascorbic acid is often added to fruit juices, dried fruit, candied fruit, and fruit juices as a flavor enhancer. 

• Because ascorbic acid has a low pH, it is often an ingredient in foods with short shelf lives, such as breads and pastries, jams and jellies, and cured meats and cold cuts. Microorganisms generally do not thrive in low pH conditions, so ascorbic acid preserves foods from spoiling while it retains the original color of the food.

• Used in photography as a developing agent, ascorbic acid is environmentally friendly and produces negatives with sharp, fine-grain, high-image quality.

• The acidic properties of ascorbic acid catalyze chemical reactions during the manufacture of plastic.

• Water treatment plants add ascorbic acid to sterilized potable water to eliminate the taste of iodine.

• Researchers have found ascorbic acid enhances the ability of microscopic cells to fluoresce, making it simpler for scientists studying the behavior of cells to delve deeper into the microscopic world of cells.

Bell Chem is the nutritional ingredient supplier based in Longwood, FL (just north of Orlando) with hundreds of products — such as ascorbic 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.

Foaming Cleaners

Spraying a surface with a clear detergent generally cleans the area, so why would manufacturers go through additional steps to create a product that foams as it cleans? Is it purely for aesthetics? Bell Chem, the sanitation chemical supplier, answers these questions and more with our information on foaming cleaners.

Flat Surfaces

Foam is a mass of individual bubbles with added cleaning detergents or degreasers. When applied to a flat surface, these bubbles pile up like melted ice cream. Does it matter how thick the bubbles are? Not at all. As a matter of fact, foam on a flat surface is generally unnecessary unless the intent is to thoroughly coat a surface and know precisely that every point is covered with cleaner. In this respect, foam is ideal since the dimensions make it simple to determine if an area was or was not sprayed. 

Machinery

In a bulky piece of machinery, nooks and crannies often need a cleaning substance that adheres for an extended stretch of time as it breaks down oil and grime. This job is tackled more rapidly and precisely with a foam cleaner. If you spray a traditional cleaner on a vertical surface and a foam cleaner next to it, you will note the traditional cleaner quickly runs down the surface with very little contact time. Foam has the ability to hold its position much longer, allowing the detergents and degreasers time to break through grime and oil to thoroughly clean surfaces. Tight spaces and gears are other areas where foam is an ideal cleaner. 

Versatility 

Foam cleaners are now used in several diverse manufacturing areas, such as meat and poultry plants, food and beverage processing plants, breweries, and restaurants. Difficult cleaning projects, such as environmental cleaning, heavy equipment cleaning, and vertical surface cleaning are more easily handled with foam cleaners.

Bell Chem is a sanitation chemical supplier based in Longwood, FL (just north of Orlando) with hundreds of products, such as foam cleaners, 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.

Zinc Oxide

Watch any summer movie from the 1980s and you will see zinc oxide’s starring role as it coats the noses of lifeguards. This inorganic mineral was traditionally found as an insoluble white powder derived from zincite, a mineral found in the earth’s crust. Today’s commercial use of zinc oxide is synthetic, but the properties remain virtually unchanged. Learn how personal care raw materials supplier Bell Chem’s zinc oxide has enhanced many aspects of your life without your knowledge.

Rubber
More than half of all zinc oxide manufactured is used in the vulcanization of rubber. From shoe soles to hockey pucks, the addition of zinc oxide allows rubber to be supple and strong.

Medical
Zinc oxide’s role in the manufacture of rubber has uses in medical fields as well. Surgical tape contains zinc oxide since it extends shelf life, resists extreme levels of heat, bonds strongly, peels off easily, and reduces bandage stress.

Personal Care
Mothers treat their babies’ diaper rashes with zinc oxide. Zinc oxide absorbs UV rays that cause sunburn and aids in the healing of burns as well as extremely chapped skin. The simple salts of zinc act as an astringent and skin conditioner in creams. More complex zinc salts have antifungal properties used in deodorants, dandruff shampoos, and soaps.

Automotive
The automotive industry has determined that zinc oxide, when reacting with organic phosphates, reduces oxidative corrosion when added to engine oil, extreme pressure lubricants, and seizure resistant lubricants. 

Solar Cells
In copper indium gallium selenide (CIGS) solar cells, zinc oxide acts as a buffer layer with high electron mobility and excitation binding energy. 

Paint
Paint manufacturers include zinc oxide as a paint ingredient because it gives better coating to hide blemishes, brushes on a whiter finish without fading, and tints other colors more thoroughly. The anti-corrosive aspect of zinc oxide has led to the development of zinc chromate primers for use on metal surfaces, especially galvanized iron. Steel used in dams and other underwater areas is protected with zinc oxide.

Pharmaceutical
The antibacterial properties of zinc oxide give it the ability to act as a deodorant since the by-products of bacterial growth is what we associate with body odor. Therefore, zinc oxide is added to creams and powders for topical application. 

Bell Chem is a personal care raw materials 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.

Uses of Salicylic Acid

Salicylic acid has a longstanding tradition as an anti-inflammatory pain reliever. This white, crystalline solid is a derivative of the biosynthesis of the amino acid phenylalanine. Tampa ingredient supplier Bell Chem’s pure salicylic acid is a primary component of several cosmetic, personal care, and skin care products. As an acid, salicylic acid forms oxidation reactions. The cosmetics, pharmaceutical, and personal care industries find salicylic acid ideal because of its antioxidant abilities.

Pain Relief 
Aspirin’s basic raw material is acetylsalicylic acid, which is derived from salicylic acid. Aspirin’s main features of being anti-inflammatory and relieving pain are due to salicylic acid.

Personal Care
Salicylic acid is the active ingredient in many acne treatment medications. As a keratolytic (a product removing the skin’s outermost epidermal layer), salicylic acid peels away blemishes, acne, warts, calluses, and corns, leaving skin smoother and with fewer blemishes. It is also used topically to treat dandruff, psoriasis, and seborrhea. Because many skin conditions are due to microbial growth, salicylic acid deters bacterial and fungal growth. Meanwhile, salicylic acid’s low pH makes it an excellent utilizer in the perfume industry.

Food Preservation
The antiseptic, anti-fungal, and anti-bacterial properties of salicylic acid gives it a role in food preservation enabling a lengthier shelf life. 

Photosynthesis 
Many processes of organic synthesis use salicylic acid as a catalyst. This function causes it to be ideal for stimulating plant growth and development along with photosynthesis and transpiration. When utilized during organic dying processes, salicylic acid acts as a photosynthesizer. In azo dyes, the addition of salicylic acid creates a bold, red dye due to an electrochemical response.

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, including versatile salicylic acid. 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. To learn more about the chemicals we offer, read our blog.

Everyday Chemicals: Acetic Acid

Most people recognize acetic acid as the main component of vinegar, with five percent to 20 percent acetic acid per volume. Undiluted, this product is known as glacial acetic acid. Bell Chem ensures a constant supply of acetic acid is available for our customers and can help you learn more about this everyday chemical. 

In Medicine
Research from the National Institute of Health Research noted that a one percent dilution of acetic acid applied to burn wounds inhibits pathogenic growth and deters Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection and biofilm formation. Acetic acid’s antimicrobial properties make it ideal for treating outer ear infections. In fact, the World Health Organization has listed acetic acid as one of the world’s essential medicines. Meanwhile, in physiotherapy, acetic acid acts as a carrier in the process of iontophoresis, in which medicine is delivered via the surface of the skin. Bypassing needles by administering medication through the porous skin is non-invasive and well received.

In the Household
The recent push for organic and eco-friendly household cleaners has led to an upswing in the use of acetic acid — generally in the form of vinegar — as an antibacterial, anti-fungal, and overall antibiotic cleaner of everything from windows to hard surfaces. Additionally, most paints and adhesives are composed of vinyl acetate, a chemical compound consisting of acetic acid, ethylene, and oxygen along with a catalyst. 

In Science
Meanwhile, in biochemical laboratories, acetic acid is bound to coenzyme A to act as a carbohydrate and fat metabolizer. Its properties cause it to easily mix with chloroform, hexane, water, and other liquids. Organic compounds recrystallize when acetic acid is used as a solvent.

The vast array of functions performed by acetic acid prove it is a positive addition for almost every industry. 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.

Methylparaben in Personal Care

Look on almost any bottle of shampoo, conditioner, moisturizer, personal hygiene product, or cosmetic and you are likely to find a form of paraben listed as an ingredient. Most commonly, you will find methylparaben. In fact, almost any cosmetic with a high water content contains water soluble methylparaben. Personal care products rely on methylparaben as a useful antifungal, antibacterial, and antimicrobial preservative to extend shelf life as it keeps so many of our everyday products fresh. Read more about your personal care raw materials supplier Bell Chem’s methylparaben below.  

• As a group, parabens are naturally occurring acids derived from para-hydroxybenzoic acid (PHBA). Carrots, blueberries, onions, cucumbers, cherries, and other natural foods contain PHBA. 

• Our bodies produce parabens as a by-product of the breakdown of amino acids, the building blocks of DNA. Because amino acids are constantly being created and depleted, parabens are present naturally in the body. When water-soluble methylparaben is consumed, it is quickly converted to paraben. The body takes what it needs, and the remainder of this important additive is filtered from the body.

• Methylparaben’s defense against microorganisms does more than extend shelf life of products; it protects consumers from contracting diseases associated with bacteria, yeast, mold, and fungi. 

• With a track record extending over a century, methylparaben has proven a safe preservative for food, pharmaceuticals, and personal care.

• Methylparabens may be listed on an ingredient label as 4-hydroxy methyl ester benzoic acid or methyl 4-hydroxybenzoate.

You can rely on Bell Chem to supply safe, pure raw materials, such as methylparaben for your industry. Bell Chem is a personal care raw materials supplier based in Longwood, FL (just north of Orlando) with hundreds of products – including methylparaben – 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 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.