
DL-Alanine is a white crystalline powder with the molecular formula C₃H₇NO₂. As one of the basic building blocks of protein and a component of human proteins, it is easily soluble in water, slightly soluble in ethanol, and insoluble in ether or acetone. DL-Alanine has broad applications, primarily in the following areas:
I. Food Industry
·Nutritional Supplement: As a food-grade amino acid supplement, dl-alanine can enhance the protein content and nutritional value of foods. It is widely used in beverages, health products, infant formula, and sports nutrition products, typically added at a concentration of 0.1%-0.5%.
·Flavor Enhancer: DL-Alanine has a savory taste that can enhance the flavor of chemical seasonings, improve the taste of artificial sweeteners to make sweetness more natural, and reduce the sourness of organic acids, improving vinegar’s flavor. When used in pickling preserved vegetables, dl-alanine helps seasonings penetrate ingredients faster, shortening pickling time and enhancing overall taste.
II. Pharmaceutical Industry
·Raw Material for Vitamin B6: DL-Alanine is an important raw material for the production of Vitamin B6, a water-soluble vitamin essential for growth, development, and functions of the nervous and immune systems, as well as metabolic processes.
·Pharmaceutical Ingredient: DL-Alanine can also serve as a raw material for producing antibiotics, heparin, and other medicines. It plays a vital role in amino acid metabolism in medical microbiology and biochemistry.
III. Other Industrial Fields
·Intermediate for Organic Synthesis: DL-Alanine can be used as an intermediate in organic synthesis to produce amino acid derivatives, further expanding its applications in the chemical industry.
·Feed Additive: In the feed industry, dl-alanine is used as a feed additive to improve nutritional value and support animal growth and development.
IV. Biochemical Research
DL-Alanine is also used as a biochemical reagent in basic biochemical research, providing essential materials and tools for scientific studies.
DL-Alanine has extensive applications and significant value across the food industry, pharmaceutical industry, other industrial sectors, and biochemical research.