Glycine (CAS 56-40-6) is a simple amino acid, but buying it well means choosing the right grade — food, pharmaceutical or technical — and verifying the right specifications on the COA. This purchasing guide covers the specification sheet, packaging, storage and the supplier checklist for glycine.
1. Reading the Glycine Specification
| Parameter | Typical value | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Purity (assay) | 99%+ (food), 99.5%+ (pharma) | Active amino-acid content |
| Appearance | White crystalline powder | Visual QC |
| Chloride | Low | Purity indicator |
| Heavy metals | Low (As, Pb, Hg limits) | Safety for food/pharma |
| Sulfate | Low | Purity |
2. What a Complete COA Should Contain
- Product name and CAS number (56-40-6)
- Batch number and production date
- Assay (measured)
- Chloride, sulfate, heavy metals (measured)
- Grade declaration (food/pharma/technical)
- Test methods and quality manager signature
3. Choosing the Right Grade
- Food grade: food/beverage/supplements — meets food-additive specs.
- Pharma grade: pharmaceutical formulations — stricter impurity limits.
- Technical grade: industrial/chemical use — lower cost, looser limits.
Never substitute technical grade in food or pharma applications.
4. Packaging, Storage and Shelf Life
- Packaging: typically 25 kg bags; food grade in food-safe packaging.
- Storage: dry, sealed, cool; glycine is stable and low-hygroscopic.
- Shelf life: typically 24-36 months.
5. How to Verify Quality on Arrival
- Check packaging and labels against the COA batch number.
- Visual check: white crystalline powder, no lumps or discoloration.
- Verify assay and chloride/heavy metals against the COA.
- Run a small application trial (formulation) against your current batch.
- Keep a retained sample per batch.
6. Supplier Checklist
- Manufacturer vs trader — manufacturers control purity and consistency.
- Consistent COA with measured assay/impurities on every batch.
- Both food and pharma grades available.
- Stable supply and reasonable lead time.
- Price comparison on a per-kg basis at the same grade.
7. FAQ
What purity of glycine should I buy?
Food grade 99%+; pharma grade 99.5%+; confirm the grade and measured values on the COA.
Is food-grade glycine safe for supplements?
Yes — food grade is suitable for food and supplement use when it meets the applicable specifications.
How is glycine usually packaged?
Typically 25 kg bags; food-safe packaging for food grade.
Can I get a trial sample?
Yes. PolyblueChem offers trial samples for validation before bulk orders.
8. References and Further Reading
- Food/pharma specifications for glycine (FCC/JP/EP)
- Manufacturer SDS and COA guidance
This article is published for industrial and technical reference by PolyblueChem. Specifications are typical; verify against the supplier’s COA.
PolyblueChem supplies glycine (CAS 56-40-6) in food, pharmaceutical and technical grades with COA and MSDS. See our glycine guide and our glycine mining applications guide. Contact us for samples and quotations.