N-Acetyl-L-Cysteine
N-Acetyl-L-Cysteine is the N-acetylated derivative of the sulphur-bearing amino acid L-cysteine, sold as a white crystalline powder with a faint sulfury odour and a sharp acid taste.
The compound has the formula C₅H₉NO₃S, a molar mass of 163.20 g/mol, and CAS number 616-91-1. Widely sold under the abbreviation NAC, it serves both as a mucolytic prescription drug and as a glutathione-precursor dietary supplement.
We source bulk N-Acetyl-L-Cysteine from top China manufacturers for our partners. The manufacturer is in Hubei. A smaller requirement can ship in a combined container with other ingredients.
Please send the grade you need, the volume and your destination port, and we will come back with a solution and a price.
or call +86-21-6858 0751
- Packaging
- 25 kg kraft paper bag with PE inner liner
- ISO 9001
- HACCP
- Halal
- Kosher
Specifications
| Item | Specification |
|---|---|
| Appearance | White to almost white crystalline powder |
| Assay (dry basis) | 98.0% to 102.0% |
| Specific rotation | +21.0° to +27.0° |
| Melting point | 104 °C to 110 °C |
| Loss on drying | ≤ 1.0% |
| Heavy metals (as Pb) | ≤ 10 mg/kg |
| Iron | ≤ 30 mg/kg |
| Related substances | ≤ 0.5% |
Common Markets Grades
N-Acetyl-L-Cysteine is made to pharmaceutical and nutraceutical specifications, both at 98 percent minimum assay on the dry basis.
Pharmaceutical grade meets the USP, Ph. Eur., and JP monographs and is the standard format for inhalation solutions, oral effervescent tablets, granule sachets, and intravenous infusion concentrates. The grade carries tighter limits on heavy metals, residual solvents, related substances, and bacterial endotoxins.
Nutraceutical grade is produced for dietary supplement capsules, tablets, and powder blends. It meets the FCC monograph and supports label declarations for glutathione support, antioxidant, and liver-support claim categories.
Both grades are typically packed in 1 or 5 kg foil pouches with desiccant or in 25 kg fibre drums with low-density polyethylene liners, since the thiol group is sensitive to atmospheric oxidation.
Applications
- Inhalation solutions for cystic fibrosis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
- Oral effervescent tablets and granule sachets for productive cough
- Intravenous antidote for acetaminophen overdose in emergency medicine
- Dietary supplement capsules for glutathione precursor and antioxidant support
- Liver support supplement blends paired with milk thistle and choline
- Cycle support formulas in bodybuilding for hepatic protection
- Cosmetic skin-care formulations as a thiol antioxidant
- Hair-care products including straightening and damage-repair systems
- Fertility supplements positioning around oocyte and sperm quality
- Psychiatric adjunctive use under medical supervision for OCD and trichotillomania
- Research reagent in oxidative-stress and redox biology studies
- Veterinary use for hepatic and respiratory conditions in companion animals
Brands Using N-Acetyl-L-Cysteine
Widely-distributed consumer products that list N-Acetyl-L-Cysteine on the ingredient label.
- NOW FoodsNAC 600 mg Veg Capsules ↗Each capsule supplies 600 mg N-Acetyl Cysteine (NAC), a stable form of the amino acid cysteine and a precursor to glutathione for free-radical protection.Label verified 2026-05-24
- Pure EncapsulationsNAC (n-acetyl-l-cysteine) 600 mg ↗Each vegetable capsule provides 600 mg of n-acetyl-l-cysteine with 5 mg vitamin C for antioxidant support, glutathione production and lung health.Label verified 2026-05-24
- Jarrow FormulasN-A-C Sustain 600 mg ↗Bi-layer Sustain tablet delivers 600 mg N-Acetyl-L-Cysteine via a quick/sustained release format as a glutathione precursor supporting detoxification.Label verified 2026-05-24
- ThorneNAC - N-Acetylcysteine 500 mg ↗Each capsule contains 500 mg N-acetyl-L-cysteine.Label verified 2026-05-24
- Source NaturalsN-Acetyl Cysteine 1000 mg ↗Source Naturals N-Acetyl Cysteine tablets supply 1000 mg NAC, a stable derivative of L-cysteine that is a precursor for glutathione synthesis.Label verified 2026-05-24
Brand names, product names and logos are the property of their owners. They appear here as published evidence that the ingredient is used, taken from the brand's own label or website. Their appearance is not an endorsement, and it does not mean the brand buys from us or from any manufacturer listed on this site.
China Manufacturers of N-Acetyl-L-Cysteine
Top N-Acetyl-L-Cysteine manufacturers in China.
Company names and logos are the property of the manufacturers themselves. They are listed here because our own directory records them as producing this ingredient. A listing is not an endorsement by them, and we do not represent them or speak on their behalf.
How We Help Source N-Acetyl-L-Cysteine
Direct Factory Sourcing
We run the whole process: selecting the manufacturer from the top Chinese food ingredient producers, negotiating the price, verifying quality, and coordinating the logistics. You deal with us instead of with several factories at once.
Original Packaging and Documents from the Manufacturer
The manufacturer sends your N-Acetyl-L-Cysteine out of its own factory in the original packing, through to your destination port. The COA, COO, MSDS, TDS and any certifications reach you from the manufacturer as well.
Free Samples and Lead Time
We send 100 to 500 g free for your own laboratory to test and you cover only the courier, usually within 2 to 3 working days. ETD is usually within 7 to 15 days once the order is confirmed, and we check that date against the factory's own manufacturing schedule before we give it to you.
Combined Shipment
We can load N-Acetyl-L-Cysteine together with other ingredients such as Glycine, L-Arginine and L-Leucine into one 20' FCL. If your quantity is small, we can also ship LCL.
Regulatory Status
N-Acetyl-L-Cysteine carries dual regulatory status as both a registered drug and a dietary supplement ingredient, with the balance varying by market.
In the European Union it is registered as a mucolytic drug (ATC code R05CB01) in most member states and is also widely sold as a food supplement. JECFA has not set a numerical ADI.
In the United States it has a complex status. The FDA approved the substance as a prescription drug (Mucomyst) in 1963, and the agency has periodically taken the position that it cannot also be sold as a dietary supplement under DSHEA. In 2022 the FDA issued enforcement discretion guidance allowing continued supplement sale pending rulemaking.
Pharmacopoeial monographs appear in the United States Pharmacopeia (USP), the European Pharmacopoeia (Ph. Eur.), and the Japanese Pharmacopoeia (JP). The FCC monograph covers food-grade material where used in functional food.
Halal and Kosher certifications exist for fermentation-sourced material. Vegan claims similarly require documentation of a fermentation origin rather than keratin hydrolysate.
Manufacturing Process
Commercial N-Acetyl-L-Cysteine is produced by chemical acetylation of L-cysteine in two principal routes.
The dominant route reacts L-cysteine hydrochloride with acetic anhydride in aqueous or aqueous-organic medium under controlled pH. The crude reaction mixture is acidified, extracted into ethyl acetate, and crystallised from a water-ethanol system. Yields above 85 percent on cysteine are routine.
An alternative route uses acetyl chloride in place of acetic anhydride, which reacts faster but generates more HCl as a coproduct that must be neutralised.
The starting L-cysteine is sourced from fermentation (engineered E. coli or Pantoea ananatis) or from keratin hydrolysate. Most modern producers favor fermentation-derived cysteine for vegan-compatible and Kosher-compatible labelling. Crystals are vacuum-dried and packed under nitrogen to prevent disulfide formation.
