Choline
Description
Choline (CAS 62-49-7) is a water-soluble nutrient compound classified within the B-vitamin family, supplied commercially in its stabilized salt form, choline chloride. It functions as a methyl donor and lipid transport agent across food, feed, pharmaceutical, and personal care manufacturing.
In animal feed production, choline chloride is incorporated into poultry, swine, and aquaculture premixes to support liver function and prevent fatty liver syndrome. This directly impacts livestock yield and feed efficiency across global agricultural supply chains.
Food and beverage manufacturers use it as a nutritional fortifier in infant formula, sports nutrition products, and functional beverages targeting cognitive health positioning. These applications require high purity levels to ensure consumer safety and product stability.
Pharmaceutical formulators incorporate it into dietary supplements and nutraceutical capsules where label claims around brain health and prenatal nutrition drive product differentiation. It is a critical component in modern wellness and medical nutrition portfolios.
In personal care, it appears in scalp treatments and conditioning formulations where its role in membrane integrity supports moisturization claims. Its versatile chemical properties allow for seamless integration into various cosmetic delivery systems.
Choline chloride is the dominant commercial form, available as a 70–75% aqueous solution or as a dry powder adsorbed onto silica or corn cob carriers at 50–60% active content. This variety allows for flexibility in different manufacturing environments.
Feed-grade material is the highest-volume specification, while food-grade and USP-grade variants serve nutritional supplement and pharmaceutical applications. These standards ensure the material meets rigorous global regulatory requirements.
Packaging ranges from drums and IBCs for liquid grades to bulk bags for dry carrier-based forms. Proper storage and handling are essential to maintain the integrity of the compound during transport and long-term storage.
Physical Properties
| Melting Point | 302 °C |
| Boiling Point | 364.56 °C @ Press: 760 Torr |
| Density | 1.09 g/mL at 20 °C |
| Appearance | Viscous, alkaline liquid. Soluble in water and alcohol. Amounts are expressed in milligrams of choline. |
| Refractive Index | n 20/D 1.418 |
Safety & Handling (Learn More)
Trade & Regulatory
| UN Number | 3286 |
| ADR Class | 3 |
| Packing Group | II |
| WGK (Germany) | 1 |
Documentation
Other Names
2-hydroxyethyl(trimethyl)azanium|Choline chloride
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