From metabolism to sleep rhythm and mental fitness: Vitamins are important for our welfare and health. They are of great importance for many processes in our body and can trigger health problems if they are lacking. In short, they strengthen the immune system and help us to stay vital. Since the human body is generally not able to produce vitamins itself, they have to be absorbed as part of our daily food. In specific circumstances such as illness or advanced age, an additional intake of vitamins via dietary supplements may become necessary to support the physical performance of the body.
Let's take a closer look at vitamin E, also known under its scientific name tocopherol. As the most important fat-soluble antioxidant, vitamin E protects the cell membranes against free radicals and supports the protective barrier of the skin. That's why vitamin E is not only a component of many nutrient combinations but also used by cosmetics manufacturers in the production of anti-aging skin care products. For this purpose synthetic copies of the natural vitamin are enclosed. However, vitamin E is also favoured by the food industry as antioxidant which is added in synthetic form to oxidation-sensitive products like cooking fats, oils and margarine.
One of the possible basic building blocks to produce synthetic vitamin E is isophorone (IP)-based VESTASOL®, developed by Evonik's Crosslinkers Business Line. For the production of synthetic vitamin E there are many process steps necessary. But without VESTASOL® IP in the very beginning, trimethylhydroquinone (TMHQ), which is needed as main feedstock for the synthesis of vitamin E, cannot be produced at the end. Apropos end: By the further processing the isophorone itself is no longer present in the end product.
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Our isophorone portfolio spans the entire value chain, including specialty amines, isocyanates, and aliphatic monomers. Backed by integrated production and deep application knowledge, these solutions help customers achieve durability, chemical resistance, and weatherability in demanding applications.
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VESTASOL® IP is a basic building block for the production of synthetic vitamin E.
