E319 · CAS 1948-33-0 · HS 2907.29

TBHQ

TBHQ is the trade abbreviation for tert-butyl hydroquinone, a synthetic phenolic antioxidant used industrially to protect edible oils, fats, and oil-rich foods against oxidative rancidity under the food additive number E319.

The molecule (CAS 1948-33-0, C₁₀H₁₄O₂, molecular weight 166.22 g/mol) is a white to pale tan crystalline powder, sparingly soluble in water but freely soluble in edible oils and ethanol. The single tert-butyl substituent on the hydroquinone ring is what gives the molecule its lipid solubility and its high antioxidant efficiency in fried and high-fat foods.

We source bulk TBHQ from top China manufacturers for our partners, working with several of them. The manufacturers are in Guangdong and Jiangxi. For this ingredient the minimum order is 500 kg and a 20-foot container takes 16 MT, and 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

Minimum order: 500 kg
Qty in 20' FCL: 16 MT
Packaging: 25 kg kraft paper bag with PE inner liner

ISO 9001
HACCP
Halal
Kosher

Specifications

Grades / Types Available: Industrial Grade, Food Grade, Feed Grade

Item	Specification
Appearance	White to pale tan crystalline powder
Assay (TBHQ)	≥ 99.0%
Melting Range	126.5–128.5°C
Hydroquinone	≤ 0.1%
tert-Butyl-p-benzoquinone	≤ 0.2%
2,5-di-tert-Butylhydroquinone	≤ 0.2%
Sulfated Ash	≤ 0.05%
Water Content	≤ 0.5%
Heavy Metals (as Pb)	≤ 10 mg/kg
Lead (as Pb)	≤ 2 mg/kg
Arsenic (as As)	≤ 3 mg/kg
Residue on Ignition	≤0.3%
Loss on Drying	≤0.5%
Melting Point	≥212℃

Common Markets Grades

TBHQ is a fine crystalline powder with a standard commercial assay of not less than 99 percent.

FCC food-grade material meeting JECFA specifications is the standard supply for food and beverage applications.

The substance is typically pre-dissolved in carrier oils (often soybean, sunflower, or palm oil) at concentrations of 10 to 20 percent for ease of dosing in industrial frying operations and bulk oil refining.

Blends with other approved antioxidants such as BHT, BHA, and citric acid are widely sold under proprietary trade names for specific industrial frying, snack, and feed applications.

The two principal global producers are Eastman Chemical (U.S.) and several Chinese manufacturers in Shandong and Jiangsu.

Applications

Refined vegetable oils and frying fats to protect against oxidative rancidity
Snack foods including potato chips, corn chips, and extruded snacks
Instant noodles, where the frying oil must remain stable through a long shelf life
Ready-meal fats and shortenings
Bakery shortenings and pastry fats
Animal fats including tallow and lard for industrial use
Fish oil and omega-3 supplement softgels
Cosmetic and personal-care formulations to protect the lipid phase
Lipsticks, colour cosmetics, and emulsions to protect pigments and active ingredients
Pet food and animal feed fat-phase stabilisation
Industrial coatings, varnishes, and biodiesel as a non-food antioxidant

Brands Using TBHQ

Widely-distributed consumer products that list TBHQ on the ingredient label.

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 TBHQ

Top TBHQ 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 TBHQ

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 TBHQ 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 TBHQ together with other ingredients such as Ascorbyl Palmitate, Disodium EDTA and Erythorbic Acid into one 20' FCL. If your quantity is small, we can also ship LCL.

Regulatory Status

TBHQ is approved as a synthetic antioxidant food additive in most regulated markets.

In the European Union it carries the E number E319, permitted under Regulation (EC) 1333/2008 in defined fat-containing food categories.

The U.S. FDA permits TBHQ under 21 CFR 172.185 as a chemical preservative.

JECFA has reviewed the substance multiple times and assigned an ADI.

The substance is not approved for food use in Japan and is subject to specific labelling requirements in Australia and New Zealand. Codex Alimentarius lists TBHQ as INS 319 in the General Standard for Food Additives. Kosher and Halal certifications are routinely available.

Manufacturing Process

TBHQ Manufacturing Process

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TBHQ is produced industrially by the acid-catalysed alkylation of hydroquinone with isobutylene or tert-butyl alcohol.

The dominant route uses isobutylene in the presence of a strong acid catalyst (sulphuric acid or an ion-exchange resin) at controlled temperature to favor monoalkylation at the 2-position and avoid dialkylation.

The crude reaction mass is washed, neutralised, and the unreacted hydroquinone is recovered for recycle.

The crude TBHQ is recrystallised from a polar organic solvent such as toluene or a toluene-heptane mixture to remove di-tert-butyl hydroquinone and other side products.

The purified crystals are dried under vacuum and milled to the target particle size.

Each lot is verified by HPLC assay, melting point (126.5 to 128.5 degrees Celsius for the pure substance), heavy metals, and residual solvents.