Nicotinic Acid Product Description CAS#59-67-6

Nicotinic acid, also known as nicotinic acid, vitamin B3, and pyridine-3-carboxylic acid, has the molecular formula C₆H₅NO₂ and a molecular weight of 123.11. At room temperature, it is a white to off-white crystalline powder, odorless or with a slight odor, and a slightly acidic taste. Its melting point is 236–239°C, and its density is 1.47 g/cm³ (20°C). Regarding solubility, nicotinic acid is soluble in water (15–17 g/L at 20°C), readily soluble in boiling water (150 g/L at 100°C) and boiling ethanol, slightly soluble in ethanol at room temperature, soluble in propylene glycol, chloroform, alkaline hydroxide, and alkaline carbonate solutions, and insoluble in ether and lipid solvents. The pH of its saturated aqueous solution is 2.7. Niacin is stable in air without deliquescent, sublimates without decomposing, and is thermally stable with almost no loss at temperatures below 120°C. Industrially, niacin is mainly produced through chemical synthesis, commonly using methods such as ammonia oxidation and nitric acid oxidation with 3-methylpyridine as raw materials. In addition, bioconversion, using 3-cyanopyridine as a raw material and catalyzed by nitrile hydrolases, has the advantages of low energy consumption and low pollution, and has been industrialized. Niacin is one of the essential B vitamins for the human body. In the body, it is converted into nicotinamide and participates in biological oxidation reactions. It is a component of the coenzymes NAD and NADP.

Niacin Product Applications CAS#59-67-6

Niacin is an important nutritional fortifier and multifunctional chemical raw material, widely used in food, pharmaceutical, feed, and industrial fields. It is available in three commercial grades: food grade, pharmaceutical grade, and feed grade.

In the food industry, niacin is used as a nutritional fortifier to fortify cereals and their products (40–50 mg/kg), infant foods (30–40 mg/kg), and beverages and milk drinks (10–40 mg/kg). Niacin is also used as a color-enhancing agent in meat products.

In the pharmaceutical field, niacin is a vitamin-like drug, collectively known as vitamin PP with nicotinamide, used to prevent and treat pellagra (niacin deficiency). High doses of niacin have a lipid-regulating effect, lowering total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and triglyceride levels, while raising HDL cholesterol. Niacin is also used as a vasodilator and as a pharmaceutical intermediate in the synthesis of drugs such as isoniazid, nicotinamide, nikethamide, and nicotinic acid inositol ester.

In the feed industry, niacin is mainly used as a feed additive to improve the utilization rate of feed protein, thereby increasing milk production in dairy cows and the yield and quality of meat from poultry such as fish, chicken, duck, beef, and mutton.

In other industrial sectors, niacin can be used as an additive in electroplating solutions, a luminescent material, a dye intermediate, and a biochemical reagent.