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Betaine HCl

Betaine is a well-known product which has been used widely in a number of applications for many years. Until recently, betaine was used mainly in cosmetics, fish food and as a supplement in food for humans. Betaine, also referred to as trimethylglycine, TMG, glycine betaine, or oxyneurine, occurs naturally in many plants and animals. Betaine may be available as anhydrous betaine (no water of crystallization) or betaine monohydrate (anhydrous betaine plus one water of hydration). Betaines are fully N-methylated amino acids. Betaines are natural products that have an important function in both plant and animal metabolism. One of the most common betaines is a glycine derivative in which three methyl groups are bonded to the nitrogen atom of the glycine molecule. Together with L-glutamine, betaine forms the major component of nitrogen compounds in sugar beets that are soluble in water. Betaine occurs in the roots, seeds and stems of a great variety of plants. Its concentration in sugar beet is relatively high, 1.0% to 1.5% on a dry solids basis. When sugar beet is processed for the recovery of sucrose, betaine concentrates in the molasses. Beet molasses usually contains from 3% to 8% of betaine calculated on a dry solids basis.

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