DL-Choline bitartrate falls under the family of choline salts, used widely both in industrial manufacturing and nutritional supplements. Its core structure features a blend of choline and tartaric acid, attaining a balanced form that makes it suitable for chemical processing and human consumption. As a raw material, this compound appears in several forms—powder, flakes, granular pearls, and crystalline solid—each shape serving a practical role in formulation and processing. Choline itself is a water-soluble nutrient, crucial for many biological functions, and the bitartrate salt acts as a stabilizer, extending shelf life and ensuring steady release during application. The critical role of this component, especially in the food and feed industry, shows up through its wide adoption in supplements for cognitive and liver health.
The molecular structure of DL-Choline bitartrate consists of choline, a quaternary ammonium salt, ionically bound with bitartrate—a naturally occurring derivative of tartaric acid. Its chemical formula reads C9H19NO7 with a molecular weight of about 253.25 g/mol. At the micro-level, the substance arranges itself into well-defined crystals, giving it a solid, sometimes glossy appearance, especially in its flake or pearl forms. Chemical properties reflect its dual solubility profile: strong affinity in water, sparingly soluble in ethanol, and virtually insoluble in chloroform or ether. These solubility traits make it easy to incorporate into aqueous solutions or powdered blends while retaining the active choline component without substantial degradation over time.
DL-Choline bitartrate can look different based on how it gets processed and what grade the manufacturer pursues. In bulk handling, the material shows up as a white or off-white solid. Powders often feel smooth and flow well, which is important during mixing or capsule filling, while flakes and crystals demonstrate a denser texture and higher mechanical stability—helpful for certain applications requesting gradual dispersion. Density averages between 1.3 and 1.4 g/cm³ depending on measurement method and environmental factors. The compound dissolves quickly in water, yielding a clear, odorless solution often leveraged in liquid supplements and laboratory usage. Melting temperatures generally exceed 150℃, helping maintain chemical integrity even during heat-intensive processing.
Product grades span food, feed, and industrial categories. Each batch typically carries certification verifying purity, moisture content, and residual solvents. Purity rates hover around 98% or greater, as demanded by nutritional uses. The HS Code for DL-Choline bitartrate, widely recognized in customs and global registries, falls under 2923.10.00, indicating its place among quaternary ammonium salts. Grain size varies: powders often sieve below 60 mesh, while pearls and granules land between 2 to 3 mm in diameter. Each format allows for specific manufacturing needs, whether blending into pre-mix blends for animal feed or tableting for dietary supplements. Quality control measures take into account both chemical purity and physical traits, like caking or dusting tendencies.
Safe handling draws on direct experience in chemical labs and feed-mixing facilities. Users should avoid generating airborne dust and use local exhaust ventilation in enclosed spaces. Contact with eyes can cause mild irritation, and excessive inhalation of powder, while unlikely in standard handling scenarios, should be avoided by wearing particulate respirators. Machinery operators often find gloves and protective clothing prevent skin dryness. Choline bitartrate holds a GRAS (Generally Recognized As Safe) rating from agencies like the U.S. FDA, supporting its adoption in food and supplement industries, but accidental ingestion of large volumes could trigger gastrointestinal upset. Environmental management involves stable shelf-life in dry storage, as the substance quickly absorbs moisture from air, and prolonged humidity can cause lumping or dissolving—posing challenges for both transport and production.
DL-Choline bitartrate serves several important uses as a raw material. In health and nutrition products, it is incorporated in nootropic blends aimed at supporting memory and mood. Food scientists use it to enrich infant formulas, energy drinks, and fortified cereals. Animal feed formulas include this compound to help optimize animal growth and reproductive health, especially in poultry and swine. Beyond nutrition, lab researchers exploit its solubility and reactivity to study metabolic processes or engineer synthetic pathways. Manufacturers find its stability critical for shipping long distances, and consumers benefit from its established safety record. My own experience with compounding powders for daily use revealed that DL-Choline bitartrate readily integrates into multicomponent blends without caking or loss of potency, speeding up workflow for supplement producers and ensuring batch-to-batch consistency.
The consistency of DL-Choline bitartrate in bulk manufacturing settings links back to its molecular and structural reliability. Technicians can count on its high water solubility—upwards of 650 g/L at room temperature—to dissolve cleanly in premix solutions. Its neutral to slightly acidic pH ensures compatibility with sensitive enzymes and vitamins, helping preserve nutritional efficacy when used in food and supplement applications. Chemical stability in both powder and solution forms allows long-term storage as long as it remains cool and dry. In a typical lab, the pleasant lack of strong odor or dustiness means operators rarely struggle with cross-contamination or environmental controls, especially when handled directly from sealed drums.
Direct comparison with other quaternary ammonium compounds shows DL-Choline bitartrate as low risk. The material classification places it outside of controlled substances lists, with no acute toxicity noted in standard safety databases. Occasional exposure to skin or eyes may prompt mild irritation, but such effects resolve with quick washing and don’t compare to more reactive chemical hazards. Workers managing several metric tons each year seldom report chronic effects, provided basic dust control measures are followed. Ingestion of concentrated powder may cause gastrointestinal effects like nausea or diarrhea, but the thresholds for toxicity rest much higher than typical usage levels in feed or supplements. Spill response involves sweeping up the material and disposing according to local chemical waste guidelines; no special remediation is required for minor releases.
Every specification listed—density, solubility, purity, and even appearance—anchors the value DL-Choline bitartrate offers, whether in formulation labs, feed mills, or health supplement production lines. In my own routines, I appreciate how predictable the material remains from opening drum to final product, reducing the hassle of batch inconsistencies or expensive rework. Product managers and safety officers alike depend on clear property profiles when auditing suppliers or researching new raw materials, since downstream success often rides on reliable inputs. Tight quality controls, paired with up-to-date hazard documentation, provide peace of mind for everyone from forklift drivers to the quality assurance lead. DL-Choline bitartrate sits as a backbone component in many growth and maintenance solutions, with traceability from chemical specification all the way through end-use in food, feed, and research.
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