Definition:

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Mineraux®Ferrous sulfate Health Benefits:

Iron is a widely present metal element in biological systems. It participates in hemoglobin synthesis, hematopoiesis, boosts immunity, catalyzes the conversion of beta-carotene to vitamin A, the synthesis of purines and collagen, produces antibodies, transports lipids from the blood, and detoxifies drugs in the liver. Anemia is the primary manifestation of iron deficiency. Iron-deficiency anemia can cause impairment in infants' psychomotor abilities and behavioral changes, as well as impaired body temperature maintenance in cold environments. It can also lead to weakened immunity, fatigue, intolerance to cold, rapid heartbeat, loss of appetite, nausea, and tingling in the hands and feet. Iron deficiency increases the absorption of divalent metals, including harmful metals (lead and cadmium). Iron deficiency reduces muscle function, leading to weakness, fatigue, and impaired work ability. Iron-deficiency anemia in pregnant women is associated with premature birth, low birth weight, and fetal death. Iron is present in all living organisms on Earth, but its concentration is low in plants and animals. Good sources of dietary iron are animal liver, animal whole blood, livestock and poultry meat, etc. You can also take iron supplements to prevent iron deficiency.

Mineraux®Ferrous sulfate is an important inorganic compound and a good source of inorganic iron. Its most common form is the heptahydrate (FeSO4·7H2O), commonly known as "green vitriol." It appears as bluish-green monoclinic crystals. It weathers easily in dry air and oxidizes to brown basic ferric sulfate in humid environments. Dried ferrous sulfate is a gray or light green powder with a solubility of 32g/100mL. It turns bluish-green upon reaction with water. In the food industry, ferrous sulfate is used as an iron fortifier for various foods.

Particularities of Mineraux®Ferrous sulfate:

Product Specifications:

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Product quality standards:

● GB 29211, USP, BP, EP, Food grade, In-house

▶Prevents and treating iron-deficiency anemia

Mineraux®Ferrous sulfate Applications:

The primary health benefit of food-grade ferrous sulfate lies in its ability to prevent and treat iron-deficiency anemia. Iron is a key building block for the synthesis of hemoglobin (the protein in red blood cells responsible for oxygen transport) and myoglobin (the protein in muscle that stores oxygen). Iron deficiency can lead to insufficient hemoglobin synthesis, causing iron-deficiency anemia. The divalent iron (Fe2+) provided by ferrous sulfate is directly absorbed in the small intestine (without requiring conversion in the body) and has a higher absorption rate than the trivalent iron (Fe3+) found in plant foods. Supplementation can promote red blood cell production, increase hemoglobin concentration, and restore the blood's oxygen-carrying capacity.

■ Type

The core difference between Mineraux®Ferrous sulfate heptahydrate, commonly known as "green vitriol", and dry ferrous sulfate (usually referring to anhydrous ferrous sulfate or low-crystallization water ferrous sulfate) comes from the crystalline water content, which directly leads to significant differences in the physical and chemical properties, preparation, application scenarios and storage requirements of the two.

Ferrous sulfate heptahydrate has a molecular weight of 278.02 and appears as lustrous gray or blue-green granular crystals that tend to clump. It contains 99.5-104.5% ferrous sulfate and is readily soluble in water (approximately 25.6g/100mL at 20°C). Dissolution is endothermic, and the aqueous solution is light yellow-green. It readily weathers in dry air (losing some of its water of crystallization and turning into an off-white powder). In moist/aerobic environments, it readily oxidizes to brown basic ferric sulfate. Dry ferrous sulfate has a molecular weight of 151.91 and is a matte off-white or light green powder with good fluidity. It contains 86.0-89.0% ferrous sulfate and is readily soluble in water, with a solubility similar to that of the heptahydrate, but dissolving faster due to the powder's larger surface area. Its aqueous solution also appears light yellow-green.

It lacks water of crystallization, making it resistant to weathering and still exhibits reducing properties, but its oxidation rate is slower than that of the heptahydrate (lower water content slows the oxidation reaction).

Mineraux®Ferrous sulfate is available in the following specification and contents:

☑  Mineraux®Ferrous sulfate heptahydrate

Mineraux®Ferrous sulfate's applications focus on supplementing the essential trace element iron and improving food quality, primarily in the food additive and dietary supplement sectors. Food nutrient fortifiers primarily target iron. By adding food-grade ferrous sulfate to everyday foods, they address iron deficiency (such as iron-deficiency anemia) in a targeted manner. They are particularly suitable for groups with high iron requirements or insufficient iron intake, such as pregnant women, infants, and vegetarians. It is most widely used in cereals and their products, and is also used in dairy products and milk substitutes, infant formula and complementary foods, and other fortified foods.

In addition to nutritional enhancement, ferrous sulfate can also improve the color, taste, or stability of food through its chemical properties. It is primarily used to protect and preserve the color of processed fruits and vegetables, for color development and preservation in meat products, and to improve dough quality in baked goods. In addition, customized fortified foods are developed for different groups of people (such as pregnant women and vegetarians), nitrites are partially replaced in meat products, and sulfur dioxide is replaced in fruit and vegetable processing, thereby reducing the use of synthetic additives and improving food safety.

■ Production technology characteristics

The production of Mineraux®Ferrous sulfate heptahydrate requires precise control of temperature and humidity during the reaction-purification-crystallization process to prevent the loss or oxidation of crystal water. At the same time, heavy metal impurities (such as lead, cadmium, and arsenic) in the raw materials are removed to ensure that they meet food-grade safety requirements.

Use food-grade high-purity iron powder or food-grade iron filings (degreased and derusted). First, soak the iron filings in a 1%-2% food-grade citric acid solution for 10-15 minutes to remove surface iron oxide. Rinse with deionized water 3-5 times until the pH of the rinse solution stabilizes at 6.5-7.0 to prevent residual acid from affecting subsequent reactions. The replacement reaction is then carried out in a sealed, enameled reactor to prevent metal ion dissolution. The temperature is controlled at 50-60°C and the stirring rate is 300-500 rpm. Solution purification is crucial for removing heavy metals and impurities, a step that distinguishes food-grade from industrial-grade solutions. The reaction solution is filtered through a food-grade polypropylene filter cloth to remove unreacted iron filings and mechanical impurities. The filtrate then enters a purification tank. Food-grade sodium sulfide or food-grade calcium hydroxide is added to the filtrate to adjust the pH to 4.5-5.0 to precipitate the heavy metal ions. The supernatant is treated with a food-grade ion exchange resin (such as chelating resin IRN-77) to absorb residual trace heavy metal ions (removal efficiency ≥ 99.9%). Vacuum low-temperature concentration is used to prevent loss of crystallization water due to high temperatures. Concentration is stopped when the solution concentration reaches 45%-50%. The concentrate is transferred to a crystallization tank and slowly cooled to 20-25°C with low-speed stirring to promote uniform crystal growth (to avoid agglomeration). Crystallization takes 12-16 hours to produce blue-green ferrous sulfate heptahydrate crystals. Centrifuge for 10-15 minutes in a three-column centrifuge to separate the crystals from the mother liquor (the mother liquor can be recycled to the concentration process). Drying is performed in a low-temperature fluidized bed dryer to remove only the free water on the crystal surface (water content ≤ 1%). Deep drying is strictly prohibited (otherwise, loss of crystallization water will occur). Finally, the crystals are screened with a stainless steel sieve to remove oversized and undersized particles and ensure uniform particle size.

The process for drying ferrous sulfate is based on refined ferrous sulfate heptahydrate. The key difference lies in the deep dehydration step, which requires complete removal of crystal water while avoiding oxidation of the ferrous iron. The core process adds a deep dehydration step to the ferrous sulfate heptahydrate process. The raw material pretreatment, replacement reaction, and solution purification steps are identical to those used in the ferrous sulfate heptahydrate process, ensuring the purity of the refined solution and providing high-purity raw materials for subsequent dehydration. Unlike low-temperature concentration of ferrous sulfate heptahydrate, drying ferrous sulfate requires concentrating the refined solution to a higher concentration. A dual-effect vacuum concentrator, controlled by vacuum and temperature, is used to concentrate the solution to a concentration of 60%-65%, forming a concentrated ferrous sulfate slurry (to avoid prolonged subsequent dehydration). Deep dehydration is the core process to remove all crystal water. Depending on the production scale and product form (powder or granular), different dehydration processes are selected, including vacuum drying, spray drying, and fluidized bed drying. The dehydrated product is immediately cooled in a cooler to prevent oxidation from high temperature exposure to air. Agglomerated particles are removed using a food-grade stainless steel sieve or a 0.5-1.0 mm (granular) sieve.

Iron is a crucial component of key enzymes in the human cellular respiratory chain, such as cytochrome c oxidase and succinate dehydrogenase. These enzymes are involved in the oxidation and breakdown of glucose and fat, generating cellular energy (ATP). Supplementing with ferrous sulfate ensures the activity of these enzymes, promoting the metabolism of energy substances in food and preventing the "energy production impairment" caused by iron deficiency.

▶ Metabolic health

Iron is essential for the development and maintenance of the nervous system. Iron is involved in the synthesis of dopamine (which regulates attention and motivation), serotonin (which regulates mood), and norepinephrine (which regulates stress responses). These neurotransmitters directly influence cognition, mood, and sleep. Iron deficiency can lead to poor concentration and memory in children (impacting academic performance) and depression, anxiety, or sleep disturbances in adults. Ferrous sulfate supplementation can improve these neurotransmitter imbalances. Iron is essential for myelin synthesis and is particularly crucial for brain development in infants and young children (the critical period between ages 0 and 3 years). It can prevent permanent cognitive delays caused by iron deficiency.

▶ Neurological health

Chemistry name: Iron(III) sulfate

CAS No.: 7720-78-7

EINECS No.: 231-753-5

Chemical formula: FeSO4

Molecular mass: 151.91 g/mol

The core health benefits of Mineraux®Ferrous sulfate stem from its role as a readily absorbable source of ferrous iron (Fe2+), which replenishes the essential trace element iron. Iron is crucial for maintaining normal physiological function, and a deficiency can lead to a variety of health problems. Food-grade ferrous sulfate can be used to specifically address iron deficiency through dietary fortification (such as in cereals and dairy products) or as a dietary supplement.

Physical and Chemical Properties:

Iron is essential for the activation and function of immune cells. The proliferation and pathogen-phagocytic ability of immune cells (such as lymphocytes, macrophages, and neutrophils) all rely on iron. Lymphocytes (responsible for specific immunity, such as antibody production) require iron for DNA synthesis and cell division. Macrophages (which phagocytize bacteria and viruses) require iron for oxidative stress responses (producing free radicals to kill pathogens). Supplementing with food-grade ferrous sulfate can improve immune function caused by iron deficiency and reduce the frequency of common illnesses such as colds and respiratory infections. It is particularly suitable for children, the elderly, and other vulnerable populations.

▶ Immune health

☑  Mineraux®Ferrous sulfate dried