What Is Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C) Used For?
By on Oct 15th 2020
When you hear the ingredient Ascorbic Acid you immediately think the worst. It's a corrosive, caustic, even destructive ingredient that may cause a lot of harm. But the reality is quite the opposite. Ascorbic Acid is a fancy way of saying 'Vitamin C'. It is commonly found naturally in certain foods such as potatoes, tomatoes, citrus fruits, and leafy vegetables. It is most commonly known for its health benefits and helping your body build up its immune system to ward off illnesses. However, there are a lot of other things that ascorbic acid is used for. |
Health
When people think of Vitamin C they most likely think of using it to fight a cold or illness, which it does help with. When it comes to health benefits Vitamin C can help protect cells, maintain healthy skin, blood vessels, bone, and cartilage and is great at helping with wound healing.
Cosmetics
Ascorbic Acid is often used in cosmetic products to help slow down the deterioration that can be caused by any exposure to the air. It is also used to control the pH of the product.
Ascorbic acid is very beneficial for the skin. It is a strong antioxidant and a great skin-soothing substance that has been proven to improve the appearance of the signs of aging. When mixed with other antioxidants it is also known as a powerhouse for evening out skin tone as well.
Water Treatment
Ascorbic acid is used in a lot of different manufacturing applications, including water treatment. Chlorine is used in water treatment plants to remove any bacteria from the water supplies. To neutralize the chlorine, ascorbic acid can be used so that the water can be released into streams without affecting the environment and harming any wildlife.
Ascorbic acid is also used in water treatment to help reduce the iodine taste in sterilized water so that it tastes better when it is being consumed.
Food and Beverages
During the process of making beverages such as fruit juices a lot of the naturally occurring vitamin C that is found in these fruits is lost along the way. So, to get some of this vitamin C back into the final product, manufacturers will use ascorbic acids in them as a natural additive. Ascorbic acid can also be used to act as a preservative to keep food from spoiling as quickly.
Similarly, ascorbic acid is used in meat to prevent oxidation, which can turn meat brown. Whilst the meat is still safe to eat, a lot of supermarkets, restaurants, and consumers will not accept it. Ascorbic acid preserves the meat and delays this browning so that the meat looks fresh and is more appealing for longer.
Plastic Production
Ascorbic acid has been discovered to be able to help with the production of plastic as it helps with the chemical reaction that makes plastic. Using a natural substance such as ascorbic acid is much more environmentally friendly and is an attractive alternative to the usual plastic manufacturing technique called free radical polymerization that is harmful to the environment.
Ascorbic acid has many more uses than you may have imagined and is involved in a lot of processes in different industries. It is a volatile substance that is eco-friendly, and more uses of ascorbic acid are being found each day.
At Ingredi.com, we are committed to providing high-quality ascorbic acid and have an expert team on hand to answer any of your questions.
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