L-Valine

L-Valine, CAS 72-18-4, molecular formula C5H11NO2, molecular weight 117.15, is the smallest of the three branched-chain amino acids and, like leucine and isoleucine, is essential in human and animal nutrition and serves as a substrate for protein synthesis. It is the most water-soluble of the three, dissolving to roughly 59-88 g/L at 25 °C depending on the reference method, which makes it the easiest of the branched-chain set to carry in ready-to-drink and instant formats. Thovek supplies material produced by submerged fermentation of plant-derived carbohydrate and crystallised to compendial purity, so it is of non-animal origin. Grades are offered against USP, Ph. Eur./BP, JP and FCC. The USP specification is an assay of 98.5-101.5% on the dried basis, specific rotation +26.6° to +28.8° measured at 80 mg/mL in hydrochloric acid, pH 5.5 to 7.0 in a 5% solution, loss on drying not more than 0.30%, residue on ignition not more than 0.10%, chloride not more than 0.05%, sulphate not more than 0.03% and iron not more than 30 ppm; European and Japanese texts set the assay at 98.5-101.0% on the dried substance and manufacturers commonly return a narrower rotation window of +27.6° to +28.7°. Release testing covers identity by infrared absorption, assay, rotation, state of solution, related substances with the leucine and isoleucine isomers controlled individually, ammonium, heavy metals as Pb at not more than 10 ppm, arsenic at not more than 1 ppm, elemental impurities to ICH Q3D, and microbiological limits. Demand splits across two channels. In human nutrition it goes into BCAA and EAA blends at the single-part level of the 2:1:1 convention, sports and recovery drinks, clinical and parenteral nutrition, and cell-culture media. In animal nutrition it is one of the industrial feed amino acids used to balance the amino acid profile of low-crude-protein swine and poultry diets, allowing dietary protein to be reduced without changing the supply of limiting amino acids. Feed-grade and food-grade lots are packed and documented separately. Export packing is in 25 kg net bags with a food-grade inner liner, palletised and shrink-wrapped, and every consignment ships with a certificate of analysis, safety data sheet and non-GMO, allergen, BSE/TSE-free, halal and kosher declarations.