Quick Facts
| CAS Number | 50-81-7 |
|---|---|
| Molecular Formula | C6H8O6 |
| Molecular Weight | 176.12 |
| HS Code | 2936270000 |
| Pharmacopoeia | BP/EP/USP/E300/FCC |
| Packaging | 25 KG/DRUM |
Product Story
Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) was isolated in 1928 by Hungarian biochemist Albert Szent-Gyorgyi, who extracted a reducing substance from adrenal glands, oranges, and cabbage that he first called "hexuronic acid." Working at Cambridge with Norman Haworth, Szent-Gyorgyi confirmed the substance was the anti-scurvy factor and renamed it ascorbic acid — "a-scorbutic," meaning "against scurvy." Independently, Charles Glen King at the University of Pittsburgh isolated crystalline vitamin C from lemons in 1932. Szent-Gyorgyi was awarded the 1937 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for his discoveries related to vitamin C and biological oxidation, and Haworth received the 1937 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for determining its structure and synthesis. The industrial synthesis of vitamin C — the Reichstein-Grussner process — was developed in 1933, making it the first vitamin produced at commercial scale.
Ascorbic acid's biochemical importance stems from its role as a co-factor for prolyl hydroxylase and lysyl hydroxylase, enzymes essential for collagen cross-linking. Without adequate vitamin C, collagen fibres cannot stabilize, leading to the tissue fragility and impaired wound healing characteristic of scurvy. Beyond collagen synthesis, vitamin C is the body's primary water-phase antioxidant — it directly scavenges reactive oxygen species and regenerates vitamin E from its oxidized form — and it enhances non-heme iron absorption from the diet by reducing ferric iron (Fe3+) to the more absorbable ferrous form (Fe2+). These mechanisms explain its near-universal use across pharmaceutical, food, animal nutrition, and cosmetic industries.
A unique aspect of ascorbic acid as an industrial commodity is that it is produced via a hybrid fermentation-chemical process, not purely chemical synthesis. China's innovation — the two-step fermentation method developed at the Chinese Academy of Sciences in the 1970s — replaced a chemical oxidation step with microbial fermentation, dramatically improving yields and reducing solvent waste. This process uses Gluconobacter oxydans to oxidize D-sorbitol to L-sorbose, then a co-culture of Ketogulonicigenium vulgare and Bacillus megaterium converts L-sorbose to 2-keto-L-gulonic acid (2-KLG), which is then chemically lactonized to ascorbic acid. This technology underpins China's dominant position in global vitamin C production.
As of mid-2026, the global ascorbic acid market is valued at approximately USD 1.5-2.0 billion, with China supplying over 80% of global production. Key manufacturing clusters are in Shandong, Hebei, and Henan provinces. Demand growth is driven by the functional food and beverage sector (vitamin-fortified products), the pharmaceutical sector (effervescent tablets, injectables), and the animal feed sector (especially aquaculture, where vitamin C is an essential dietary supplement). Market dynamics are cyclical — periods of oversupply and price erosion alternate with consolidation-driven price recovery. KingWish supplies multi-standard ascorbic acid suitable for all major application sectors, backed by full QC documentation across BP, EP, USP, E300, and FCC standards.
Quality Specifications
| Assay (iodometric, dried basis) | 99.0% - 100.5%, per BP/EP/USP monograph |
|---|---|
| Appearance | White or almost white crystalline powder; free from yellowing |
| Melting Point | Approximately 190 °C with decomposition |
| Specific Optical Rotation | +20.5° to +21.5° (c=10, water) |
| pH (5% solution) | 2.1 - 2.6 (de facto industry specification) |
| Clarity & Color of Solution | Absorbance at 420 nm ≤ 0.06 (EP/BP); clear solution in water |
| Heavy Metals | Pb ≤ 2 ppm; as a food additive ≤ 10 ppm total heavy metals |
| Shelf Life | 3-4 years under recommended storage conditions |
Applications
Pharmaceutical
Ascorbic acid tablets, effervescent formulations, sterile injectable solutions (IV vitamin C). Direct compression grades available for efficient high-speed tableting.
Food & Beverage
Juice fortification, functional beverages, dairy enrichment, processed food antioxidant (E300). Also used as flour improver and browning inhibitor in fruit processing.
Dietary Supplements
Standalone vitamin C supplements (500-1000 mg), multivitamin blends, immune support formulations. Available in fine powder, granular, and DC-grade particle sizes.
Animal Feed
Nutritional supplementation in poultry, swine, and aquaculture. Vitamin C is essential for fish and shrimp — most aquatic species cannot synthesize it endogenously.
Additional Applications
- Cosmetic formulations: Antioxidant serums, anti-aging creams, and skin brightening products using ascorbic acid's free-radical scavenging and tyrosinase-inhibiting properties.
- Meat processing: Ascorbic acid accelerates cure colour development in cured meats and acts as an oxygen scavenger in modified-atmosphere packaging.
- Industrial antioxidant: Used as a water-phase oxygen scavenger in various industrial and chemical processes.
Sourcing Ascorbic Acid: Key Checks
Documentation
Request CoA with assay (iodometric, 99.0%-100.5%), specific optical rotation, clarity/color of solution (A420 0.06), heavy metals, and loss on drying. Depending on application: confirm residual solvents (ICH Q3C), microbiological limits (TAMC/TYMC), and for pharma — GMP certificate and DMF status. Multi-standard CoAs that reference BP, EP, USP, FCC, and E300 simultaneously indicate well-controlled production.
Red Flags
Yellow or brown discoloration indicates oxidative degradation. Consistently borderline or failing solution color (A420 >0.06) suggests poor storage, aged inventory, or inadequate purification. Prices significantly below prevailing China FOB market levels often indicate non-food-grade material repackaged as pharma grade. Suppliers unable to provide manufacturing date or retest date should be avoided.
Packaging & Logistics
Standard: 25 KG/DRUM with HDPE inner bag. For moisture-sensitive applications, specify aluminium foil laminate inner bags. Ascorbic acid is hygroscopic — confirm sealed packaging and include desiccant if shipping to humid climates. Standard lead time 4-6 weeks. Avoid bulk sea freight during monsoon season to tropical destinations without moisture-controlled containers.
Market Context
Global ascorbic acid market valued at ~USD 1.5-2.0 billion, with China producing >80% of global supply. Prices are cyclical: consolidation and environmental enforcement tighten supply periodically, followed by new capacity-driven corrections. Major producers: CSPC (Shijiazhuang Pharma), NHU, Northeast Pharma, and Shandong Luwei. Tier-1 suppliers differentiate through multi-standard compliance, consistent quality, and reliable supply. Market report