Adrenaline tartrate, also recognized by many as epinephrine tartrate, takes shape as a chemical compound essential in medicine and research. Often manufactured as a white or off-white crystalline solid, this material shows more than one face in physical appearance. Whether you see it as powder, flakes, or tiny pearls, you discover a raw material engineered for both stability and potency. Hospitals, laboratories, and pharmaceutical factories have relied on it because it brings together powerful stimulant properties that help manage severe allergic reactions and cardiac events. Each batch follows strict chemical rules to ensure consistency in molecular structure and performance.
Adrenaline tartrate’s molecular formula walks a careful balance between simplicity and complexity: C9H13NO3·C4H6O6. You’re looking at a composition of carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, and oxygen—brought together as adrenaline, combined with tartaric acid forming a stable crystalline salt. Molecular weight stacks up to 333.29 g/mol. The chemical structure packs aromatic rings, amine, and hydroxyl groups, which help drive its biological action. A close look reveals chiral centers, setting the stage for high specific activity. This crystalline material owes much of its stability and solubility to this salt form, rather than being used in its free base, which is far less manageable.
I remember opening a container of adrenaline tartrate in the lab. The material presented itself as fine powder, though sometimes the surface clumped into small flakes or soft pearls. On pressing, it crumbled into a soft mass, not sticky and free of strong odor. Color often covers a range from bright white to very pale yellow, depending on storage and purity. The density lands near 1.38 g/cm3, packing plenty of material into a small volume. It dissolves easily in water—important for medical injections—giving a clear, colorless solution that tests for purity through UV absorption and thin-layer chromatography. Not every batch looks identical, particularly if storage temperatures fluctuate, which tends to turn even stable crystals into a caked solid. That change warns chemists to check the integrity of the chemical before mixing or administration.
Quality standards for adrenaline tartrate arrive stricter than most household chemicals. Common specifications demand purity above 98%, with control measures for moisture, metal ions, and residues. Professionally, I’ve seen the importance of chromatographic assays and melting point tests, which should remain steady between 120-125°C. Even small shifts in these results prompt questions around contamination or degradation. Pharmaceutical companies run a barrage of tests, measuring specific optical rotation, pH in solution (usually between 2.5 and 3.5), and confirming correct molecular signatures through NMR spectroscopy and IR analysis. Each shipment includes batch analysis, covering all these points and listing the HS Code for global trade—2904.20—a marker for customs authorities and regulatory filing.
Adrenaline tartrate starts out with careful selection of raw chemicals. Laboratories look for pharmaceutical-grade tartaric acid plus high-purity synthetic adrenaline base before salt formation. The compound enters final products mostly in injectable form. Clinics use it in precise doses to reverse acute hypersensitivity and as a life-saving component in advanced cardiovascular life support kits. In my experience, paramedic teams handle sealed ampoules, avoiding direct contact with the crystals themselves. Storage matters: cool, dark, dry spaces prevent breakdown. Gloves, masks, and eye-shields turn crucial in production to keep the risk of accidental inhalation or skin contact to near zero.
Working with adrenaline tartrate calls for respect and training. It’s classed as hazardous according to OSHA’s chemical standards. In solid form, dust can irritate eyes, skin, and airways. Accidental ingestion or injection without medical need triggers rapid increases in heart rate and blood pressure—truly dangerous for certain people. The safety data sheets prescribe thorough washing after handling, immediate cleaning of spills, and sealed waste management. Fume hoods protect workers from dust exposure. Transported as regulated material, adrenaline tartrate travels in labeled, tamper-proof containers. Emergency procedures in place include eye rinsing stations and first aid kits at every production or handling point—which, in working environments, I’ve needed speedy access to after a minor chemical splash. Nobody takes chances: safety and training stay ever-present in every facility that uses or trades adrenaline tartrate.
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