Manganese(II) gluconate brings manganese, an essential trace mineral, together with gluconic acid, a compound that's known for its solubility in water. This partnership turns out a material that's easy to handle in various forms — powder, granules, crystals, sometimes flakes. Its molecular formula sits at C12H22MnO14, with a molecular weight of about 445.25 g/mol. Analyzing it up close, it shows a pale pink to beige color, and when held in the hand, it feels solid and slightly gritty. The density comes in around 0.8 to 1.0 g/cm³, and you can dissolve it well in water, creating a clear solution without much fuss.
Under the microscope or in the lab, this chemical shows up as a non-volatile, non-flammable solid. The standalone manganese at its core bonds with two gluconate ions, leading to a stable crystalline structure that doesn’t easily break down under usual storage conditions. This form creates a manageable raw material for those who need strict ingredient control — you notice this in the pastel shade and mildly sweet scent, which comes from the gluconic acid backbone. As for the crystal structure, it aligns in an orthorhombic pattern, packing tightly yet dissolving fast when dropped into water. That means it mixes smoothly into preparations, whether the goal is a supplement, a food fortifier, or a laboratory reagent. It doesn’t give off fumes, show volatility, or form fine dust that causes trouble during weighing or transfer.
Every container of manganese(II) gluconate links back to an HS Code, a trade identifier important for shipping and customs paperwork. Most international trade marks this under code 29181690, which points directly to its classification as a carboxylic acid, specifically a gluconate salt. Genuine batches always carry assay values for manganese content, typically ranging from 10% to 12%, ensuring the product meets nutritional or industrial standards. Water content usually stays below 11%, limiting any risk of clumping or degradation. Real-world suppliers and manufacturers expect these numbers and perform tests for heavy metals, like lead (not exceeding 2 ppm), arsenic (capped at 3 ppm), and chloride (under 0.05%). Every test creates accountability and helps maintain a product that fits into sensitive uses, from medical and food products to chemical research.
You can find manganese(II) gluconate on the shelves as a fine powder — the most common form for blending into tablets, encapsulation, or adding to mixtures as a nutritional fortifier. This powder flows easily, makes for steady measurements, and disperses without leaving lumps in liquids. Flakes or small pearls sometimes show up, mostly in bulk business supply — they avoid dust issues and suit processes needing slower, controlled dissolution. Crystals turn up where purity comes first, since they demonstrate a well-formed structure, lower moisture, and limited impurities. In specific applications, manufacturers prepare this as a liquid concentrate — a clear, mildly pinkish solution with concentrations up to 25% by weight. Liquids reduce handling errors, especially for those working with automated dispensing equipment or where high precision matters.
Walk through any modern facility in the nutrition, food, or pharmaceutical worlds, and you might spot this compound behind the scenes. In food supplement production, manganese(II) gluconate acts as a reliable source of dietary manganese, which supports bone development, enzyme function, and metabolism. Food technologists blend it into fortified cereals, drinks, and nutrition bars, using it because of its steady release and low taste profile. Pharmaceutical labs use it as a mineral additive, and it’s often written up in pharmacopoeias for meeting high-purity criteria. Industrial chemists lean on the high solubility and consistent manganese content, allowing for measurable, controlled reactions in synthesis, pigment creation, or catalyst preparation.
Handling manganese(II) gluconate calls for basic safety practices, much like any prepared chemical material. While not classified as highly dangerous, long-term or excessive ingestion can lead to health issues — mostly due to manganese buildup. For skin or eye contact, mild irritation may develop if protective gear isn’t worn. Inhalation of powder — although unlikely given the grainy nature of the solid — might lead to lung irritation, leading safety officers to recommend dust masks and gloves during processing. Storage guides recommend sealed containers, dry environments, and ambient temperature, all reducing risks of degradation or accidental exposure. In case of spills, sweeping up and washing the area with water prevents environmental discharge; this keeps groundwater and surface water free from mineral contamination, since concentrated manganese over time can shift ecosystems.
Regulators worldwide treat manganese(II) gluconate with both respect and caution. In the European Union, food-grade forms need to meet Regulation (EC) No 1935/2004. The United States monitors the purity under the Food Chemicals Codex and limits how much goes into fortified foods or feeds. Globally, exporters and importers must reference the proper HS Code to clear customs and comply with shipping restrictions, particularly when quantities exceed kilogram volumes. Waste management rules encourage proper disposal — residual powder or expired product belongs in chemical waste, not a standard landfill.
Reliable supply of manganese(II) gluconate depends mostly on upstream quality — everything begins with the purity of gluconic acid and the refined grade of manganese source. Trusted producers stick to ISO and GMP standards, run regular batch testing, and label their containers with detailed analysis results. For users, this makes traceability simple and gives assurance that what goes into the process remains consistent every time. In the real world, these measures protect against contamination, off-quality lots, or unexpected composition changes that could impact nutrition, safety, or shelf life. Modern labs and food plants as well as pharmaceutical companies rely on this transparency, connecting each package back to source documentation and safety data.
Providing high-quality chemical products and logistics solutions for global trade partners.
