Databook of Antioxidants, 2nd Ed

In general terms, antioxidants are expected to protect the status quo by preventing oxidation. Oxidation is a chain reaction involving free radicals and hydroperoxide intermediates. Antioxidants act by reacting and decomposing free radicals and hydroperoxide intermediate species.

In polymeric materials, the oxidative changes may lead to several undesirable effects, including discoloration, changes in melt viscosity, and deterioration of mechanical properties, impacting the useful life of a polymer or a final article. Plastics are susceptible to oxidative degradation during high-temperature melt processing operations, their end-use, and during long-term storage. Also, the oxidation processes are accelerated by exposure to UV radiation of sunlight.

Antioxidants are likely to form the most crucial protective barrier for cells of living organisms against the effects of free radicals. If these processes are not adequately controlled, they lead to outcomes dangerous to well-being because the cancerous cells multiply at accelerating rates.

Radical formation on ultraviolet light exposure leads to changes in human skin such as the formation of dark spots, lesions, and frequent skin cancer if preventive measures, such as UV radiation filtration and the use of antioxidants do not stop radical processes.

In similar reactions to oxidation, food and pharmaceutical products deteriorate faster, which can be prevented by small additions of antioxidants. Food products lose their nutritional value and may drastically change color and flavor. Pharmaceutical products become inactive and potentially toxic.

In summary, antioxidants form the most important group of compounds aiming at retardation of deterioration of organic materials and keeping living cells in their original conditions, which is the most common means to a healthy life.

Antioxidants are typically divided into primary and secondary antioxidants. Primary antioxidants, such as hindered phenols, function mainly by scavenging the peroxy radical intermediates formed in the oxidation processes. They are effective over a wide temperature range, improving materials' processing and long-term thermal stability.  Secondary antioxidants, such as phosphites and thioethers, function by the decomposition of hydroperoxides. Phosphites are most effective at the high temperatures of melt processing operations, while thioethers operate best in the solid phase at long-term use temperatures.

In modern applications, synthetic antioxidants are slowly being replaced by products obtained from renewable resources, mostly of plant origin. This conversion in cosmetics, medicine, pharmacy, food additives, and food protection is very advanced. In polymer processing, applying of natural antioxidants is still in the development stage.

Considering the importance of antioxidants in medicine, cosmetics, pharmacy, and food processing, this book provides a selection of both important synthetic and natural products, stressing the commercially viable additives and most recent interest in the application and use of natural products.

The antioxidants included in this book belong to many groups of chemical products including acids and their esters, amines, anthocyanidines, ascorbates, benzofuranones, benzoimidazoles, benzoquinones, biopolyphenols, carotenoids, coumarines, enzymes, flavonoids, hydrazide metal deactivators, hydroquinidines, hydroquinones, hydroxylamines, isoflavones, lignanamides, liposomes, peptides, phenolics, phosphites, phospholipides, polyphenols, polysaccharides, sterically hindered phenolics, sulfur-containing compounds, tannin derivatives, terpenoids, thioethers, tocopherols, and quinolines. This shows a wide variety of options and applications, which are emphasized in this book.

The data for each antioxidant are presented in a separate table. The information in the table is divided into five sections: General, Physical properties, Health & safety, Ecological, and Use. The contents of these five sections are given below.

General section contains the following fields: product name, CAS #, EC number, acronym, chemical name, chemical synonym, chemical formula, molecular weight, chemical class, moisture contents, bio-origin, mixture, product contents, other properties, concentration of arsenic, heavy metals, molybdenum, nitrogen, phosphorus, sulfur, and zinc, and RTECS #.

Physical section contains the following fields: acid #, ash, acid dissociation constant, base dissociation constant, boiling point, bulk density, color (description, Hazen scale), density, freezing/melting point, kinematic viscosity, maximum UV absorbance, odor, particle size, pH, refractive index, solubility in solvents, specific gravity, state, specific optical rotation, thermogravimetric analysis, total plate count, transmittance, vapor density, vapor pressure, viscosity, volatility, and yeast & molds.

Health & safety section contains the following fields: ADR/RID class, autoignition temperature, HMIS (fire, health, reactivity), carcinogenicity, chronic effects, DOT class, explosive LEL & UEL, eye irritation, flash point and method, first aid (eye, skin, inhalation), ICAO/IATA class, IMDG class, ingestion, inhalation (rat LC50), LD50 (dermal rat and rabbit, and oral rat), mutagenicity, NFPA (flammability, health, reactivity), proper shipping name, reproduction/developmental toxicity, route of entry, skin irritation, target organs, teratogenicity, TLV (ACGIH, NIOSH, OSHA), UN packaging group, UN risk and safety phrases, and UN/NA class.

Ecological section contains the following fields: aquatic toxicity algae, LC50 (Bluegill sunfish, Daphnia magna, Fathead minnow, Rainbow trout, Zebra fish), bioaccumulative and toxic assessment, bioconcentration factor, biodegradation probability, biological oxygen demand, chemical oxygen demand, hydroxyl rate constant, and partition coefficient.

Use section contains the following fields: manufacturer, outstanding properties, potential substitute, recommended for products, recommended for resins, processing methods, concentrations used, guidelines for use, E-number, food approval, and costabilizers enhancing light stability.

We use the same set of units to achieve the compatibility of data. At the same time, data can only be made available if the manufacturing companies provide them.