Ascorbic Acid

1. Product Overview

Ascorbic acid, commonly known as Vitamin C, is an essential water-soluble vitamin with potent antioxidant properties. It is a naturally occurring organic compound found abundantly in citrus fruits, vegetables, and various plant sources . Its chemical formula is C₆H₈O₆ with CAS number 50-81-7 and molecular weight of 176.12 g/mol . The product typically appears as a white to pale yellow crystalline powder, odorless with a sharp acidic taste .

Ascorbic acid is a vital nutrient that humans cannot synthesize endogenously and must obtain from dietary sources or supplementation . It plays a fundamental role in numerous biological processes, including collagen synthesis, immune function, and as a reducing agent in various metabolic pathways .

Industrially, ascorbic acid is produced through both traditional fermentation-based methods (Reichstein process) and modern flow synthesis techniques . It serves as a critical ingredient across multiple industries—from food preservation and fortification to pharmaceutical applications, cosmetic formulations, and biochemical research .

2. Key Features

• Essential Human Nutrient: Humans cannot synthesize ascorbic acid and must obtain it through diet or supplementation . It is essential for preventing scurvy and maintaining overall health .

• Powerful Antioxidant Properties: Exhibits strong free radical scavenging activity, protecting cells from oxidative damage and reducing oxidative stress in biological systems .

• Enzymatic Browning Inhibitor: Effectively prevents enzymatic browning in fresh fruits and vegetables by reducing quinones back to phenolic compounds and inactivating polyphenol oxidase enzymes .

• Versatile Therapeutic Applications: Demonstrates potential benefits in multiple clinical areas including oral health, periodontal disease management, and as an adjunctive cancer therapy at high doses .

• High Pharmaceutical Purity Standards: Available in multiple pharmacopoeia grades (USP, EP) with strict quality specifications for pharmaceutical and food applications .

• Multi-Industry Essential:

• Pharmaceutical: API in vitamin supplements, antioxidant in formulations

• Food Industry: Preservative (E300), nutrient fortification, anti-browning agent

• Cosmetics: Skin brightening, anti-aging, collagen synthesis promoter

• Research: Cell culture, biochemical assays, antioxidant studies

3. Technical Specifications with Explanations

Pharmacopoeia Standards Comparison

4. Applications

Pharmaceutical & Healthcare

• Vitamin Supplementation: Primary ingredient in oral vitamin C supplements (tablets, capsules, chewables, powders) for preventing and treating deficiency .

• Therapeutic Applications:

• Oral Health: Adjunctive therapy for periodontal diseases, reducing bleeding on probing, plaque index, and gingival index . Accelerates alveolar healing after tooth extraction .

• Cancer Research: High-dose vitamin C demonstrates potential anti-tumor capabilities in various cancer treatment modalities including chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and immunotherapy .

• Wound Healing: Essential for collagen synthesis and tissue repair .

• Parenteral Nutrition: Component in intravenous vitamin formulations .

• Antioxidant in Pharmaceutical Formulations: Prevents oxidation of active ingredients and excipients .

Food & Beverage Industry

• Antioxidant (E300) : Prevents oxidative rancidity in oils, fats, and processed foods .

• Enzymatic Browning Inhibitor: Highly effective in preventing browning of fresh-cut fruits and vegetables by:

• Reducing quinones back to phenolic compounds

• Inactivating polyphenol oxidase (PPO) enzymes

• Acidifying the medium to inhibit enzyme activity

• Nutrient Fortification: Added to beverages, juices, cereals, dairy products, and infant formula to enhance nutritional value .

• Flour Treatment Agent: Improves bread quality by strengthening gluten .

• Beverage Stabilizer: Precludes oxidation and color changes in soft drinks, fruit juices, and beers .

• Meat Processing: Enhances color stability and prevents nitrosamine formation .

Cosmetics & Personal Care

• Skin Brightening: Inhibits melanin production by interfering with tyrosinase activity .

• Anti-Aging: Promotes collagen synthesis, reducing fine lines and wrinkles .

• Antioxidant Protection: Neutralizes free radicals from UV exposure and environmental pollutants .

• Product Stabilization: Prevents oxidation of other cosmetic ingredients .

• Typical Formulations: Serums, creams, lotions, masks, and eye treatments .

Research & Biotechnology

• Cell Culture Media: Essential component for many cell lines .

• Biochemical Assays: Reducing agent in enzymatic and colorimetric assays .

• Antioxidant Studies: Model compound for oxidative stress research .

• Plant Science: Studies on plant vitamin C biosynthesis and function .

Industrial Applications

• Photographic Processing: Reducing agent in developing solutions .

• Chemical Synthesis: Reducing agent and intermediate in organic synthesis .

• Water Treatment: Oxygen scavenger in boiler water treatment .

5. Product Grade Comparison

6. Purchasing & Selection Guide

Select by Application Area

1. Food & Beverage Manufacturers:

• Standard powder: General purpose

• Fine powder: Quick dissolution in beverages

• Coated grades: Enhanced stability in challenging matrices

• Select Food Grade (FCC) meeting local regulations

• Verify purity (99.0-100.5%) and heavy metals compliance

• Consider particle size for specific applications:

• For anti-browning applications, note that ascorbic acid is highly effective at preventing enzymatic browning, but may require combination with synergists for optimal results

• Certificate of Analysis with full impurity profile

• Drug Master File (DMF) access

• cGMP manufacturing certification

• Must select Pharmaceutical Grade (USP/EP) meeting pharmacopoeia standards

• Require comprehensive documentation:

• Verify specific optical rotation (+20.5° to +21.5°) ensures correct stereoisomer

• Confirm heavy metals (≤10 ppm) and trace metals (Fe, Cu) meet specifications

• Storage: Pharmaceutical grade requires 2-8°C storage to maintain stability

• Select High Purity Grade (≥99.5%) with strict color and odor specifications

• Consider microencapsulated or stabilized forms for enhanced stability in aqueous formulations

• Verify compatibility with other ingredients

• Note: Ascorbic acid is pH-sensitive and degrades rapidly in aqueous solutions

• Pharmaceutical Grade: For cell culture and biochemical assays

• Analytical Standard: For HPLC calibration and quantitative analysis

• High Purity: For sensitive research applications

Critical Selection Considerations

• Stability Concerns:

• Ascorbic acid is sensitive to light, heat, air, and moisture

• Degrades rapidly in aqueous solutions, especially at neutral pH

• Solutions should be prepared fresh and used promptly

• Consider stabilized derivatives (sodium ascorbate, calcium ascorbate, ascorbyl palmitate) for challenging formulations

• pH Considerations:

• 5% solution pH is 2.2-2.5 (acidic)

• May require pH adjustment in formulations

• Acidic nature can affect stability of other ingredients

• Regulatory Status:

• Food: Approved worldwide as E300

• Pharmaceutical: Listed in USP, EP, JP, and other pharmacopoeias

• Nutrient Reference Values: RDA varies by population (typically 40-120 mg/day)

7. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: What is the difference between L-ascorbic acid and ascorbic acid?

A: They are the same compound. L-ascorbic acid specifies the naturally occurring, biologically active stereoisomer. The L- designation refers to the configuration around the asymmetric carbon, which is essential for biological activity. Synthetic ascorbic acid is chemically identical to the natural L-form.

Q: How is ascorbic acid produced commercially?

A: Traditional production uses the Reichstein process, a combined chemical and microbial method developed in 1933 . Key steps include:

1. Hydrogenation of D-glucose to D-sorbitol

2. Microbial oxidation of sorbitol to L-sorbose

3. Protection, oxidation, and lactonization steps to yield ascorbic acid
   Modern methods include direct oxidation with platinum catalysts and newer flow synthesis approaches that achieve conversion in minutes with high yields .

Q: Is ascorbic acid stable in aqueous solutions?

A: No, ascorbic acid is unstable in aqueous solutions, particularly at neutral or alkaline pH. It undergoes oxidative degradation accelerated by:

• Light exposure

• Elevated temperatures

• Presence of oxygen

• Metal ions (iron, copper)
  Solutions should be prepared fresh and used promptly. For extended stability, consider using stabilized derivatives or incorporating antioxidants and chelating agents.

Q: What are the main health benefits of ascorbic acid?

A: Key health benefits include:

• Collagen synthesis: Essential for skin, blood vessels, bones, and wound healing

• Immune function: Supports various immune cell functions

• Antioxidant protection: Neutralizes free radicals and reduces oxidative stress

• Iron absorption: Enhances absorption of non-heme iron from plant foods

• Oral health: Reduces gingival bleeding, plaque index, and periodontal inflammation

• Cancer research: High-dose vitamin C shows potential anti-tumor activity in various treatment modalities

Q: Can ascorbic acid prevent enzymatic browning in fruits and vegetables?

A: Yes, ascorbic acid is highly effective at preventing enzymatic browning . It works through multiple mechanisms:

1. Reducing quinones (brown pigments) back to colorless phenolic compounds

2. Lowering pH to inhibit polyphenol oxidase (PPO) activity

3. Acting as a preferential substrate for PPO
   It is considered a non-toxic, effective alternative to synthetic anti-browning agents .

Q: How should ascorbic acid be stored?

A: Storage requirements vary by grade:

• Pharmaceutical grade: 2-8°C recommended

• Food grade: 15-25°C, cool, dry place

• All grades: Store in tightly sealed, light-protected containers

• Avoid exposure to air, moisture, and elevated temperatures

• Under proper conditions, shelf life is typically 2-3 years

Q: Is ascorbic acid safe for use in infant formula?

A: Yes, ascorbic acid and its salts (sodium ascorbate, calcium ascorbate) are approved for use in infant formula . Recent EU regulations authorize sodium ascorbate (E 301) in microencapsulated vitamin A preparations for infant formula at specified levels, with maximum carry-over of 1 mg/L in the final formula .

Q: What is the recommended daily intake of vitamin C?

A: Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDAs) vary by age, gender, and life stage:

• Adults (19+ years): 75-90 mg/day

• Smokers: Additional 35 mg/day

• Pregnancy: 85 mg/day

• Lactation: 120 mg/day
  Therapeutic doses for specific conditions may be significantly higher under medical supervision.

Q: Can high-dose vitamin C be used in cancer treatment?

A: Research indicates that high-dose vitamin C demonstrates potential anti-tumor capabilities in various cancer treatment modalities including chemotherapy, radiotherapy, immunotherapy, and combination therapies . However, this remains an area of active research and should only be pursued under appropriate medical supervision .

8. Delivery, Certification & Service

Delivery Capabilities

• Inventory Status: Multiple grades available from regional warehouses (Asia, Europe, Americas)

• Sample Program: Small quantities available for research institutions and manufacturers for formulation testing and evaluation

• Packaging Options:

• Research quantities: 100 g, 500 g, 1 kg sealed containers (amber glass or foil bags)

• Industrial quantities: 25 kg multi-layer paper bags with polyethylene liner, fiber drums

• Bulk quantities: 500 kg supersacks, palletized, 20 MT containers

• Temperature-controlled shipping available for pharmaceutical grades (2-8°C)

• Protective Measures: Light-protective, moisture-proof packaging standard; inert atmosphere for sensitive grades

• Shipping: Non-hazardous material; standard freight shipping available (express, LTL, full truckload, container)

Quality Certifications

• Certificate of Analysis (COA) provided with each batch, documenting:

• Appearance and color

• Purity (assay)

• Specific optical rotation

• Loss on drying

• Residue on ignition

• Heavy metals (lead, iron, copper)

• Related substances/impurities

• Oxalic acid content

• Safety Data Sheet (SDS) available in multiple languages

• Product Specification (PS) documenting chemical composition and physical properties

• Certificates of Origin (COO) available upon request

• Additional certifications available:

• USP/EP certification for pharmaceutical grades

• FCC certification for food grades

• GMP documentation for pharmaceutical manufacturing

• KOSHER certification

• Halal certification

• ISO 9001 quality management certification

• Non-GMO declaration

• Allergen statement

Regulatory Compliance

• Food Grade: Meets FCC, EU E300, GB 2760 (China) requirements

• Pharmaceutical Grade: Meets USP, EP, JP, BP pharmacopoeia standards

• Export Documentation: Full compliance package for international shipping

• REACH: Registered for EU commerce

• TSCA: Listed for US commerce

• FDA: GRAS status for food applications

Technical Support & Services

• Technical Consultation: Application specialists available for:

• Formulation development and optimization

• Stability guidance and degradation prevention

• Regulatory compliance assistance

• Analytical method support

• Custom Services: Tailored particle size, quality specifications, and packaging options for qualified customers

• Regulatory Support: Documentation for product registration in target markets

Documentation Available

• Certificate of Analysis (COA) with batch-specific data

• Safety Data Sheet (SDS/MSDS)

• Technical Data Sheet (TDS)

• Product Specification (PS)

• Certificate of Origin (COO)

• USP/EP certification (pharmaceutical grades)

• FCC certification (food grades)

• KOSHER certificate

• Halal certificate

• Non-GMO declaration

• Allergen statement

• GMP compliance statement (pharmaceutical grades)

• Stability data (by request)