Sodium Gluconate

Introduction

Sodium gluconate is the sodium salt of gluconic acid, produced by fermentation of glucose. It is a white to tan, granular to fine, crystalline powder, very soluble in water. Non corrosive, non-toxic and readily biodegradable (98% after 2 days), sodium gluconate is more and more appreciated as chelating agent.

The outstanding property of sodium gluconate is its excellent chelating power, especially in alkaline and concentrated alkaline solutions. It forms stable chelates with calcium, iron, copper, aluminium and other heavy metals.
For highly alkaline solutions it surpasses all other chelating agents, such as EDTA, NTA and related compounds.

Aqueous solutions of sodium gluconate are resistant to oxidation and reduction, even at high temperatures. However, it is easily degraded biologically (98% after 2 days), and thus presents no wastewater problem.

Sodium gluconate is also a highly efficient set retarder and a good plasticiser / water reducer for concrete, mortar and gypsum.

And last but not least, it has the property to mask bitterness in food products.

Functions

This ingredient offers you the following excellent functions.

• Bitterness masking agent
• Buffering agent
• Chelating agent
• Chelation​
• Flavour modulation​
• Off-note masking​
• pH-Regulation​
• Phosphate replacement​

Specifications

Jungbunzlauer offers food grade as well as technical, feed, USP and Personal Care grade of sodium gluconate. The sodium gluconate food grade is supplied in accordance with the latest requirements of the United States Pharmacopeia (USP), the Food Chemicals Codex (FCC) and of Commission Regulation (EU) No. 231/2012.

The product is available as granular material and powder. Special granulations are available upon request.

Jungbunzlauer sodium gluconate is available in 25kg net polyethylene (LDPE) bags or in 1000kg net polypropylene big bags.

Specifications are available on request.

Legal aspects

In Europe, sodium gluconate is listed as a generally permitted food additive (E576) and may be added to all foodstuffs, following the ‘quantum satis’ principle, as long as no special regulation restricts the use.

In the USA, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) affirmed sodium gluconate as Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) and permitted the use in food as sequestrant (21 CFR §182.6757) or nutrient supplement with no limitation other than current good manufacturing practice.

Sodium gluconate is exempted from the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) by means of Commission Regulation (EC) No. 987/2008 of 8 October, 2008 (amending Annex IV). As a consequence thereof, there is no need to register sodium gluconate.