Copper Gluconate (Cupric Gluconate)

Copper gluconate is the copper(II) salt of D-gluconic acid, supplied as a fine light blue to blue-green free-flowing powder. Every kilogram carries roughly 140 g of elemental copper, and the salt dissolves readily in water at about 30 g per 100 mL at 25 degrees C while remaining only very slightly soluble in ethanol. Thovek supplies material released against the USP dietary supplement monograph, which sets assay at 98.0 to 102.0 per cent of C12H22CuO14, with FCC-compliant food grade and feed grade also available. Copper is an essential trace element and acts as a cofactor for cuproenzymes involved in normal energy-yielding metabolism, iron transport and the normal formation of connective tissue. Cupric gluconate is one of the copper sources listed in Annex II of Directive 2002/46/EC for the manufacture of food supplements in the EU, which is why it is routinely specified by European and Middle East buyers. Because copper is dosed at microgram to low milligram levels, inclusion is a fraction of a per cent of most blends, so consistent assay and a controlled particle size (95 per cent minimum through 80 mesh) matter far more to the formulator than bulk price. Each lot ships with a batch certificate of analysis covering assay, elemental copper, appearance, particle size distribution, loss on drying by USP <731>, heavy metals and microbiological counts, with lead not more than 5 ppm and arsenic not more than 3 ppm on standard USP-grade material. Non-GMO, allergen-free and BSE/TSE-free declarations, MSDS and third-party test reports are issued on request. Export packing is in 25 kg fibre or HDPE drums with food-grade liners; the correct classification for shipment is HS 2918 16 90, not the 2106 dietary-preparation heading often used in error.