98% Dihydroxyacetone/1,3-Dihydroxyacetone
How much do you know about dihydroxyacetone?
Dihydroxyacetone (DHA; 1,3-dihydroxyacetone; molecular formula C₃H₆O₃) is the simplest ketose. At room temperature, it appears as a white crystalline powder with a sweet taste and is readily soluble in water and various organic solvents. As a natural intermediate in the carbohydrate metabolism of living organisms, it can be efficiently produced via microbial fermentation and is characterized by good biodegradability and a high level of safety in use. DHA is a versatile compound, with its primary applications concentrated in the cosmetics and animal feed sectors. In cosmetics, it serves as a key active ingredient in sunless tanning products; through the Maillard reaction, it interacts with amino acids in the skin's stratum corneum to produce melanoidins, thereby creating a natural-looking bronze tan that lasts for several days, while also offering moisturizing and auxiliary sun-protection benefits. It is a fine chemical product of practical value across multiple industries.
Why Choose YTBIO Dihydroxyacetone (DHA)？
We own our factory with over 12 years of experience supplying high-purity cosmetic and functional raw materials for personal care and cosmetic industry. Our full production line holds complete international certifications: cGMP, FSSC22000, BRC, HACCP, HALAL, KOSHER, ISO9001 & ISO22000, fully compliant with global cosmetic safety standards.
Our Dihydroxyacetone (DHA, CAS 96-26-4) is high-purity cosmetic grade sugar ketone raw material. Main specification: 98% Min Dihydroxyacetone. White crystalline powder, stable purity, low impurity content, reliable batch-to-batch stability, widely recognized as safe and effective self-tanning active ingredient.
TSET REPORT OF DIHYDROXYACETONE
What are the main uses of dihydroxyacetone?
Cosmetics Industry (Core Application Area)
DHA is the core ingredient in sunless tanning products. Its mechanism of action is to react with free amino acids in the stratum corneum of the skin through the Maillard reaction, producing brownish melanin-like polymers, thus creating a natural, long-lasting tan effect on the skin surface, usually lasting 5-7 days. At the same time, the products formed by this reaction can form a protective film on the skin surface, providing auxiliary moisturizing, reducing water evaporation, and having a certain auxiliary effect in resisting ultraviolet radiation.
Feed Additive (Important Application Area)
As an intermediate product of sugar metabolism, DHA is used as a functional feed additive in animal nutrition. Studies have shown that it can effectively reduce body fat deposition in animals such as pigs by regulating carbohydrate and lipid metabolism, increasing lean meat percentage, thereby improving meat quality and economic value. Pharmaceuticals and Fine Chemicals.
Food Industry (Functional Applications)
As a functional food additive, DHA theoretically has the potential to regulate lipid metabolism, but its application in actual food products is still in the exploratory stage, and related product development is limited.
Other Applications
Due to its chemical properties, DHA can be used as a leather protective agent in the leather industry and also has potential as a natural preservative for fruits, vegetables, and aquatic products in the field of agricultural product preservation.
Common Synthesis Methods of Dihydroxyacetone
The synthesis of 1,3-dihydroxyacetone (DHA) mainly includes chemical synthesis and biological synthesis. Currently, the microbial-catalyzed glycerol method is mainly used in industry due to its higher selectivity and conversion efficiency.
1. Chemical Synthesis Methods
Chemical methods primarily involve the selective oxidation of glycerol or formaldehyde condensation.
Selective Oxidation of Glycerol
This method uses noble metal catalysts (such as Pt, Pt-Bi, Au-Pd/C, etc.) to catalyze glycerol, aiming to selectively oxidize the hydroxyl group on the secondary carbon of the glycerol molecule to a carbonyl group, thereby producing DHA. The challenge lies in simultaneously suppressing side reactions such as the oxidation of primary hydroxyl groups to produce glyceraldehyde, in order to improve the selectivity of the target product. Research reports show that under optimized catalyst and reaction conditions, the glycerol conversion rate can reach 100%, and the DHA yield can reach up to approximately 50%.
Formaldehyde Condensation Method
This method uses formaldehyde or paraformaldehyde as raw materials, and in a catalytic system composed of nitrogen-containing heterocyclic compound salts (such as thiazolium salts) and proton acceptors (such as amines), DHA is produced through formaldehyde self-condensation reaction. This pathway can achieve high selectivity; in some pilot studies, DHA selectivity can reach 93%-97%. However, the formaldehyde conversion rate is usually low (e.g., around 30%), and it has certain requirements for the reaction medium and separation and purification processes.
2. Biological Synthesis Method (Mainstream Industrial Method)
The biological method mainly utilizes glycerol dehydrogenase from specific microorganisms to efficiently and selectively catalyze the conversion of glycerol substrate into DHA.
Core Mechanism: Glycerol dehydrogenase in microorganisms (such as *Gluconobacter* and *Acetobacter*) specifically acts on the hydroxyl group of the secondary carbon of the glycerol molecule, causing dehydrogenation to produce DHA, with few byproducts and extremely high selectivity.
Process Advantages: Compared with chemical methods, biological methods are usually carried out at room temperature and pressure, under neutral pH conditions, resulting in lower energy consumption and avoiding the use of noble metal catalysts. Through strain selection and fermentation process optimization, high substrate conversion rates and high product yields can be achieved, making it currently the most cost-effective and environmentally friendly large-scale production process.
Although chemical methods have seen continuous improvements in catalyst design and reaction engineering, the microbial catalytic glycerol method, with its high selectivity, mild conditions, and overall advantages in terms of green economics, has become the mainstream technological route for the industrial production of 1,3-dihydroxyacetone.
References
[1] Ma Lijuan. Research on the biological production of 1,3-dihydroxyacetone [D]. Tianjin University, 2009, 3-4.
[2] Yu Jianer. Research on the indirect oxidation of glycerol to prepare 1,3-dihydroxyacetone [D]. Zhejiang University of Technology, 2009. 6-8.
[3] Pang Shenglan. Research on the synthesis of 1,3-dihydroxyacetone [D]. Shandong Normal University, 2012, 2-4.
[4] Ruan Lijuan. Biocatalytic production of 1,3-dihydroxyacetone from glycerol using resting cells [D]. Zhejiang University of Technology, 2012, 2-5.
FAQ
Q: What is the main function of Dihydroxyacetone?
A: It is widely used as tanning active ingredient in self‑tanning cosmetics, reacting with skin surface keratin to form natural tan color.
Q: How should we store this product?
A: Keep container tightly closed. Store in cool, dry and dark environment, avoid high temperature and humidity.
Q: Can you provide free sample?
A: Small test samples are available, sample cost and freight can be negotiated.
Q: Is there any restriction for formulation usage?
A: Please follow local cosmetic regulatory requirements when adding into end‑products.
Q: What is your production lead time?
A: Stock items ship within 3‑7 working days; customized order needs 15‑25 working days.
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