Application and Compliance of Food-Grade Silicon Dioxide in the Food Industry
1. Isishwankathelo Sezincwadi
Ihlozi eliphephile lokudla le-silicon dioxide linemikhakha eminingi yokusebenza embonini yokudla, nokuthuthukiswa kwayo kugxile ekwenzeni kube nezinhloso, ukuphepha, kanye nezidingo ezivela. Imisebenzi yayo ejwayelekile ifaka phakathi ukusebenza njengomkhiqizo ophikisana nokuhlangana, umswakama, kanye nomkhiqizo wokomisa, kanye nomkhiqizo ophakamisayo nokuzinzisa (okusetshenziswa kumafutha ommbila, izithako, izithako zokudla, njll.), kanti izidingo ezivela zifaka phakathi ukukhululwa okuqondile (isb., ukukhululwa okuqondile kwe-probiotics emathunjini), ukulawula ukunambitheka (isb., ukugcina iphunga kumakha), izicelo ze-nano-scale (ubukhulu be-particle < 100nm, kuthuthukisa ukuzinza kweziphuzo ezicacile), kanye nezakhiwo eziningi ezine-porous (indawo ethile > 500m²/g, kuthuthukisa amandla okuthola uwoyela ukuze kuthuthukiswe ukudla okuphansi kwefutha). Ihluke kakhulu ku-silicon dioxide ejwayelekile ye-industrial-grade uma kuziwa kubunjalo bamakhemikhali, ubuqotho (ukudla-grade ≥ 99%, izinsimbi ezinzima < 10ppm), ubukhulu be-particle (ukudla-grade 5-15μm), ingozi yokubulala (ukudla-grade ayithathwa emzimbeni womuntu), inqubo yokukhiqiza (ukudla-grade idinga i-quartz sand ephezulu kanye nezindawo ze-GMP), kanye nezitifiketi zokuphepha (kufanele kuhambisane nezindinganiso ze-FDA, EFSA, kanye ne-GB 25576). Ukuze uthole imikhiqizo ehambisana, hlola amalebula okupakisha (aphawulwe nge "food additive", "E551", kanye nenombolo yokukhiqiza), bukeza imibhalo yokwazisa (COA ukuqinisekisa ukuthi i-lead < 3ppm kanye ne-arsenic < 1ppm), futhi ubheke izakhiwo zomzimba (ukudla-grade kubonakala njengompheki omhlophe opholile). I-silicon dioxide yokudla-grade iphephile futhi ayinabungozi uma isetshenziswa ngesisindo esihambisanayo ≤ 2%, kanti i-silicon dioxide ye-industrial-grade iqinisekisiwe ukuthi ayivunyelwe ukusetshenziswa kokudla. Ngonyaka ka-2030, imakethe ye-silicon dioxide yokudla-grade ilindeleke ukuthi ikhule ngesilinganiso sonyaka esingu-6.2%, lapho inhloso enkulu ikhuluma ngokulinganisa izidingo ezimbili ze "functionality" kanye "safety".
2. Uhlaka Lemicabango
Application and Development of Food-Grade Silicon Dioxide in the Food Industry
I. Izinkambu Zokufaka
1. Tradisionele Funksies
- Anti-caking agent: Prevents caking of powdered foods such as milk powder and powdered sugar, maintaining loose texture and good fluidity
- Moisture absorption and moisture-proofing: Absorbs moisture to extend the shelf life of seasonings, solid beverages, etc.
- Thickening and stabilizing: Improves the texture of salad dressings, soups, etc., and fixes spice components
2. Iimfuno Eziqhamukayo
- Targeted release: Mesoporous silicon dioxide loads nutrients (vitamins, probiotics) to achieve pH/temperature-responsive release (e.g., intestinal-targeted release of probiotics)
- Flavor regulation: Encapsulates flavor substances to prevent aroma loss during processing (e.g., aroma retention in roasted coffee beans)
- Nano-scale application: Particle size < 100nm enhances the stability of transparent beverages (e.g., beverages with suspended fruit particles); inhalation risk assessment is required
- Multi-level porous structure: Specific surface area > 500m²/g improves oil adsorption capacity (e.g., fried breading with 30% increased oil absorption rate)
II. Safety-Related Aspects
1. Core Differences Between Food-Grade and Industrial-Grade
- Chemical form: Food-grade (amorphous) vs. Industrial-grade (may contain crystalline form)
- Purity: Food-grade (≥ 99%, heavy metals < 10ppm) vs. Industrial-grade (90-95% purity, containing impurities)
- Particle size: Food-grade (fine particles, 5-15μm) vs. Industrial-grade (uneven particle size, containing submicron dust)
- Toxicity risk: Food-grade (not absorbed, excreted through the intestines) vs. Industrial-grade (inhalation of crystalline silica causes silicosis)
- Application scenarios: Food-grade (food, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics) vs. Industrial-grade (rubber, glass, construction, etc.)
2. Imehluko kwiMisebenzi yokukhiqiza
- Food-grade: High-purity quartz sand → hydrochloric acid hydrolysis → filtration → ultra-pure water washing → high-temperature crystallization water removal; produced in GMP workshops
- Industrial-grade: Crushed natural quartz sand; simple production process, cost is 1/5 to 1/3 of food-grade
3. Izidingo Zokuqinisekiswa Kokuphepha
- Food-grade: Must comply with FDA (U.S.), EFSA (EU), and GB 25576 (China); toxicological reports are required
- Industrial-grade: Only meets industrial product standards (e.g., HG/T 3061); no biosafety requirements
III. Izindlela Zokuhlonza Imikhiqizo Ehambisana Nezidingo
- Hlola amamaki epakethe: Abhalwe nge "ukwengeza kokudla", "E551/INS551", kanye nenombolo yokukhiqiza (isb., SC113XXXXXXXX)
- Review certification documents: Request COA to confirm lead < 3ppm and arsenic < 1ppm
- Obserwe physikalische Eegenschaften: Food-grade (weiss flauschig Puder) vs. Industrial-grade (oft grau-gelbe Verunreinigungen enthaltend)
- Dosage requirements: Food-grade is safe at ≤ 2% dosage; industrial-grade is prohibited for food/pharmaceutical use
IV. Isikhumbuzo Semakethe
- Expected annual growth rate by 2030: 6.2%
- Core of development: Balancing the dual demands of "functionality" and "safety"
3. Imininingwane Ehlanganisiwe
I. Application Fields of Food-Grade Silicon Dioxide (Traditional Functions + Emerging Demands)
1. Tradisionele Funksies (Basiese Voedselverwerkingsbehoeftes)
- **Anti-caking agent**: Mainly used in powdered foods such as milk powder, powdered sugar, and cocoa powder. Its function is to prevent powder caking, maintain the loose state and good fluidity of food, and ensure convenience in consumption and processing.
- **Ukuphuma kokunisela nokuvikela emanzini**: Kusetshenziswa ezitshalweni ezifana nezithako neziphuzo eziqinile. Kunciphisa umswakama wokudla ngokumunca umswakama emvelweni, kwandisa isikhathi sokugcina sokudla, futhi kugwema ukonakala okubangelwa umswakama.
- **Thickening and stabilizing**: It can improve the texture of foods such as salad dressings and soups, making their taste more uniform. At the same time, it can act as a carrier to fix spice components, preventing the loss of spices during processing or storage and maintaining the stability of food flavor.
2. Iimfuno ezikhulayo (Ukwandiswa Kwezisebenzi kanye Nezimo Ezingxenyeni)
- **Targeted release**: Ngaphandle kosizo lwestructure ekhethekileyo ye-mesoporous silicon dioxide yokulayisha iimpawu (ezifana neevithamini kunye neprobiotics), ingafikelela kumkhankaso ophendulayo ngokusekelwe kumphakamo we-pH okanye ubushushu. Umzekelo, ingakhulula iiprobiotics ezijolise kumphakamo wombindi, iphucula ukufumaneka kwe-bio kweempawu.
- **Flavor regulation**: It encapsulates flavor substances in food through embedding technology to solve the problem of easy aroma loss during food processing (such as high-temperature treatment). A typical application is aroma retention in roasted coffee beans to preserve the original flavor of coffee beans.
- **Nano-scale application**: Nano-silicon dioxide with a particle size < 100nm can enhance the stability of transparent beverages (such as beverages with suspended fruit particles) and prevent fruit particle sedimentation. However, strict assessment of its inhalation risk is required to ensure safe use.
- **Multi-level porous structure**: Silikon dioksida en multi-level porous structure na en spesifieke oppervlaktesarea > 500m²/g kan aansienlik die olie adsorpsie kapasiteit verbeter, wat gebruik kan word om lae-vet voedsel te ontwikkel. Byvoorbeeld, gebraaide broodbedekking met 'n 30% verhoogde olie absorpsie koers verminder die olie inhoud in voedsel.
II. Core Differences Between Food-Grade and Ordinary Industrial-Grade Silicon Dioxide
| Comparison Item | Isonkhethi yeMveliso yeSilicon Dioxide | Isonkhethi yeMveliso yeSikhumbuzo seSilicon Dioxide |
|-------------------------|-------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------|
| Chemical Form | Amorphous structure | May contain crystalline form (e.g., quartz sand) |
| Purity Requirement | ≥ 99%, heavy metal (lead, arsenic, etc.) content < 10ppm | Low purity (usually 90-95%), containing impurities |
| Particle Size Control | Fina micron-grootte partikel, 5-15μm | Ongelyke partikelgrootte, mag submikron stof bevat |
| Toxicity Risk | Ayikho imiphumela yokungena emzimbeni womuntu, ikhipha ngqo ngezinso, akukho miphumela yokungcoliswa | Ingase ibe ne-crystalline silica; ukuhlinzwa kungabangela i-silicosis |
| Application Scenarios | Ukutya, imithi, ama-cosmetics | Ujazi, ingilazi, ukwakha, ama-coatings |
III. Uhlelo Lokukhiqiza Nezidingo Zokuqinisekiswa Kokuphepha
1. Imehluko kwiMveliso yeMveliso
- **Uketshe oluhlaza lokudla**: I-quartz sand ephezulu kakhulu isetshenziswa njengempahla eluhlaza. Inqubo yokukhiqiza iyinhlangano "ukuhlanza i-hydrochloric acid → ukuhluza → ukugeza ngamanzi aphezulu kakhulu → ukususa amanzi okwenziwa ngoshukela ophakeme", futhi inqubo yonke yenziwa emishinini ye-GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice) ukuze kugwenywe ngokuqinile ukungcoliswa yizinto ezingcolile ezifana nezinsimbi ezinzima.
- **Industrial-grade silicon dioxide**: Isetshenziswa ngokuph直接 crushing natural quartz sand. Inqubo yokukhiqiza ilula, ngaphandle kwezinyathelo eziyinkimbinkimbi zokuhlanzeka, futhi izindleko zayo ziyi-1/5 kuya ku-1/3 yaleyo ye-silicon dioxide ye-food-grade.
2. Izimfuneko Zokuqinisekiswa Kokuphepha
- **Food-grade silicon dioxide**: Must pass certifications from international and domestic authoritative institutions, including the U.S. FDA (Food and Drug Administration), EU EFSA (European Food Safety Authority), and China’s GB 25576 (National Standard for Food Additive Silicon Dioxide). At the same time, toxicological reports are required, covering safety assessment data such as acute toxicity and mutagenicity.
- **Industriële graad silikondioxied**: Net nodig om te voldoen aan relevante industriële productnormen (bijv. China's HG/T 3061 *Industriële Neergeslagen Silikondioxied*) en heeft geen vereisten voor biosafety (bijv. toxiciteit voor het menselijk lichaam).
IV. Identification Methods for Compliant Food-Grade Silicon Dioxide
1. Kontroleer Verpakkingsetikette
- Iphakheji kumele ibhalwe ngokucacile nge "food additive", "E551" (ikhodi ye-EU) noma "INS551" (ikhodi yomhlaba yokwengeza ukudla);
- I-licence yokukhiqiza inombolo kumele ibhalwe, ngendlela ye "SC113XXXXXXXX" (indlela ye-licence yokukhiqiza yokudla yaseShayina).
2. Bheka Izitifiketi Zokuqinisekisa
- Request a Certificate of Analysis (COA) from the supplier, and confirm that the lead content in the certificate is < 3ppm and the arsenic content is < 1ppm, which meets the purity requirements of food-grade products.
3. Bheka Izakhiwo Zomzimba
- Isonkhethi se-silicon dioxide esingadliwayo siyipowder emhlophe, ethambile engekho mikhawulo ebonakalayo;
- Ijusi-grade silicon dioxide kan dikwels onreinhede bevat soos grys-geel kleur en het 'n ongelyke kleur.
4. Dosage and Taboos
- I-silicon dioxide esigcwele ukudla iphephile futhi ayinabungozi emzimbeni womuntu uma isetshenziswa ngedosi ehambisana ne-≤ 2%;
- Industrial-grade silicon dioxide is strictly prohibited for use in food or pharmaceutical fields to avoid health risks caused by impurities or crystalline silica.
V. Imibono Yezimakethe
- Ngonyaka ka-2030, imakethe ye-silicon dioxide yokudla ilindeleke ukuba ikhule ngesilinganiso somnyaka esingu-6.2%;
- Iphuzu eliyinhloko kanye nesixazululo sokuthuthukiswa kwemakethe: Indlela yokulinganisa izidingo ezimbili ze "ukuthuthukiswa kwemisebenzi" (njengokukhishwa okuqondile nezinhlelo eziphansi ezidingweni ezivela) kanye "nokuqinisekiswa kokuphepha" (njengokulawulwa kokuhlanzeka nokuhlolwa kwezingozi).
4. Izi Zimfuno
Question 1: Iqhathaniswa nemisebenzi yendabuko, yiziphi izinguquko zobuchwepheshe ezenziwe ezidingweni ezivela emkhakheni we-silicon dioxide wekhwalithi yokudla, futhi lezi zinguquko ziboniswa kanjani ezimweni zokusebenza ezithile?
**Answer**: Izi zinto ezisemqoka zobuchwepheshe ezithinta izidingo ezikhulayo ze-silicon dioxide ye-food-grade zikhona ekwenzeni kahle okusekelwe kumklamo wesakhiwo, okwehlukile kumphumela "ojwayelekile" (njengokulwa nokuhlanganiswa nokumunca umswakama) wemisebenzi yendabuko: ① Ku-"ukukhululwa okuqondile", izakhiwo ezine-mesoporous zisetshenziselwa ukufezekisa ukulayisha nokukhululwa okuphendulayo kwezithako (okuphakanyiswa yi-pH/ukushisa), kuphula izinkinga zokulahleka kalula nokusebenza kahle kokumunca kwezithako zendabuko. Lokhu kusebenzelwa ekukhululweni okuqondile kwe-probiotics emathunjini. ② Ku-"izakhiwo ezineziqongo eziningi", ukwakhiwa kwezakhiwo ezineziqongo ezine-surface area ethile > 500m²/g kuthuthukisa kakhulu amandla okumunca uwoyela, kudlula umkhawulo wokumunca uwoyela ophansi we-silicon dioxide yendabuko. Lokhu kusebenzelwa ekuphekeni okwenziwe ngoshukela okwandisa umthamo wokumunca uwoyela ngo-30% ukuze kube lula ukuthuthukiswa kokudla okune-fat ephansi. ③ Ku-"izicelo ze-nano-scale", ngokulawula usayizi wezingcezu ukuze ube < 100nm, inkinga yokuhlala kalula kwezingcezu zendabuko eziphakanyisiwe eziphuzwayo (ezithinta ukubukeka) ixazululwa. Lokhu kusebenzelwa ukuthuthukisa ukuzinza kweziphuzo ezinezingcezu ze-fruit eziphakanyisiwe (ukuhlolwa kwezingozi zokuphefumula kumele kwenziwe ngesikhathi esifanayo).
Question 2: Yini umehluko obalulekile emsebenzini wokukhiqiza nokuphepha phakathi kwe-silicon dioxide ye-food-grade kanye ne-silicon dioxide ye-industrial-grade, futhi kungani le mihluko ibalulekile ekutheni i-silicon dioxide ye-industrial-grade ivinjelwe ngokuqinile ekusetshenzisweni emkhakheni wokudla?
**Answer**: Die wesentlichen Unterschiede zwischen den beiden führen direkt dazu, dass Industriesilikondioxid die Anforderungen an die Lebensmittelsicherheit nicht erfüllt: ① Unterschiede in den Produktionsprozessen: Lebensmittelsilikondioxid erfordert hochreinen Quarzsand und durchläuft "Salzsäure-Hydrolyse → ultrareine Wasserwäsche → Produktion in GMP-Werkstätten", um Verunreinigungen während des gesamten Prozesses zu entfernen; Industriesilikondioxid wird einfach durch Zerkleinern von natürlichem Quarzsand hergestellt, wobei Verunreinigungen (wie Schwermetalle) ohne Reinigungsschritte erhalten bleiben, und die Kosten betragen nur 1/5 bis 1/3 der Kosten von Lebensmittelsilikondioxid. ② Unterschiede in der Sicherheit: Lebensmittelsilikondioxid hat eine amorphe Struktur, mit einer Reinheit von ≥ 99% und einem Schwermetallgehalt von < 10ppm. Es wird nicht vom menschlichen Körper aufgenommen und muss den FDA/EFSA/GB 25576-Zertifizierungen entsprechen; Industriesilikondioxid kann kristallines Siliziumdioxid enthalten, mit einer Reinheit von nur 90-95%. Das Einatmen von kristallinem Siliziumdioxid kann Silikose verursachen, und es gibt keine Biosicherheitsanforderungen. Nur weil Industriesilikondioxid "Verunreinigungsrückstände" und "Risiken der Toxizität von kristallinem Siliziumdioxid" aufweist, die die menschliche Gesundheit nicht garantieren können, ist es strengstens verboten, im Lebensmittelbereich verwendet zu werden.
Question 3: Yiziphi izinyathelo ezibalulekile okufanele zithathwe yizinkampani noma abathengi ukuze kuqinisekiswe ukuhambisana kwe-silicon dioxide yekhwalithi yokudla lapho kuthengwa, futhi yiziphi izinkomba eziyisisekelo zokwahlulela?
**Answer**: Ukuze kuqinisekiswe ukuhambisana, "ukuhlonza izinyathelo ezintathu + ukulawulwa kokusebenzisa" kuyadingeka, nezinkomba eziyisisekelo zigxile ku-"amalebula, ubuqotho, nezakhiwo zomzimba": ① Isinyathelo sokuqala siwukuthi "uhlola amalebula okupakisha". Izinkomba eziyisisekelo ziwukuthi "ukudla okungeziwe/E551/INS551" kanye nenombolo yokukhiqiza ehambisanayo (isb. SC113XXXXXXXX) zibhaliwe, ukuze kuhlukaniswe imikhiqizo engafanele ukudla. ② Isinyathelo sesibili siwukuthi "buka imibhalo yokwaziswa". Inkomba eyinhloko ukuqinisekisa "ukuhola < 3ppm kanye ne-arsenic < 1ppm" ku-COA ukuze kuhlangatshezwane nezidingo zokuhlanzeka kwezinsimbi ezinzima zemikhiqizo yokudla. ③ Isinyathelo sesithathu siwukuthi "buka izakhiwo zomzimba". Inkomba eyinhloko iwukuthi umkhiqizo ungum "pulver fluffy emhlophe" ukuze kuhlukaniswe imikhiqizo yezezimboni equkethe ukungcola okuphuzi-ompunga. ④ Ukulawulwa kokusebenzisa: Inani lokusetshenziswa kumele libe ≤ 2%, okuyinani eliphezulu lokuphepha lokusebenzisa i-silicon dioxide yokudla. Ngalezi zinyathelo ezingenhla, izingozi zokuhambisana ezifana nezinsiza ezingaziwa kanye nokuphindaphinda kwemikhiqizo yezezimboni zingagwenywa ngempumelelo.