2-tertiary-butyl-4-hydroxy-anisole and 3-tertiary-butyl-4-hydroxy-anisole are two isomeric chemical compounds that are combined to form BHA, a waxy solid flake. Butylated Hydroxy Anisole (BHA) is the common name for this combination. It is a superior artificial antioxidant. It becomes a waxy solid that is white or yellowish at room temperature and has a light fragrant smell.
BHA's conjugated aromatic ring has the capacity to sequester free radicals by stabilizing them. Free radical scavengers inhibit more free radical reactions by doing so.
Butylated Hydroxy Anisole (BHA) is made from isobutylene and 4-methoxyphenol.
Application
Food:
In order to preserve food and food
packaging, Butylated Hydroxy Anisole (BHA) is utilized. In order to stop or
postpone oxidation, it is an efficient antioxidant employed in lipid, edible
fats, and meals containing fat. Foods are preserved and their shelf lives are
extended. By interacting with oxygen, it stops spoiling. By delaying the
development of oxidation-related off flavors, odors, and color changes.
Because of its antioxidant characteristics, BHA is added to meals that contain
edible fats and prevents food from going rancid, which gives off unpleasant
aromas. E320 is the number that has been given to it. It frequently pairs with
butylated hydroxytoluene, a substance that is related to it (BHT). Around 85%
of the 3-BHA and less than 15% of the 2-BHA in food-grade BHA.
Due to its excellent thermal
stability and capacity to remain active in baked and fried meals, it is also
employed in foods cooked or fried with animal oils (HSDB 2009). Ice cream,
butter, lard, meats, cereals, baked goods, sweets, beer, vegetable oils, potato
chips, snack foods, nuts and nut products, dried potatoes, and flavoring agents all include BHA. It is utilized in the production of sausage, poultry,
and meat products, as well as dry mixes for drinks and sweets, glazed fruits,
chewing gum, active dry yeast, beet sugar and yeast-based defoaming agents, and
shortening emulsion stabilizers (IARC 1986). The petroleum wax coatings on food
packaging are stabilized by BHA (HSDB 2009).
Prior to combining the dough or
batter, BHA is often included with the lipid component of a baking formula for
maximum efficacy. A BHA emulsion may occasionally be applied topically after
the product has baked. BHA at a concentration of 0.02% can increase the shelf
life of crackers and pastries by up to 33 days. In a similar vein, up to 0.02%
of soda cracker biscuits contain BHA (based on lipid content). The
incompatibility of BHA with ferric salts is one of its drawbacks.
Animal Feed:
Since it slows down the oxidation
of lipids, vegetable oils, and vitamin A, BHA is one of the main antioxidants utilized in feeds. It works well as a stabilizer for polyethylene, paraffin,
and essential oils (HSDB 2009). Animals are shielded against radiation as well
as the acute toxicity of several xenobiotics and mutagens. Except for dogs with
a maximum content of 150 mg/kg (FEEDAP) complete feeding stuffs (alone or
together with BHT (E 321) and/or ethoxyquin (E 324)) and for dogs with a
maximum content of 150 mg/kg complete feeding stuffs (alone or together with
BHT (E 321)), BHA is intended to be used as an antioxidant in feeding stuffs
for all animal species and categories. The BHA (Butylated Hydroxy Anisole)
levels of antioxidant in finished feed are permitted to be 200 PPM by the U.S.
Food and Drug Administration.
Pharma:
BHA is frequently found in
medications including lovastatin, simvastatin, isotretinoin, and
cholecalciferol (Vitamin D3).
Nutrition:
It can also be used for nutrition.
BHA has the same anti-free radical properties as other antioxidants in
biological tissues. Hence, it may help lower the risk of cardiovascular disease
and other disorders. Concerns regarding BHA's possible side effects have
surfaced recently, supporting consumer demands that all synthetic antioxidants
be replaced with natural ones.
Cosmetics:
BHA is used in formulations for
applying cosmetics that contain fats and oils. 90% of the BHA used in cosmetics
is 3-BHA, while 8% is 2-BHA. According to one survey, recipes for lipstick and
eye-shadow cosmetics used BHA the most frequently.
Other:
Tert-butyl hydroquinone has
essentially taken the role of BHA in industrial applications. Moreover, rubber,
petroleum-based goods, polymers, elastomers, lubricants, and greases employ Butylated Hydroxy Anisole (BHA).
