Basic Information
Chemical Name and Structure
Creatine Monohydrate - Free, the chemical name is N - (aminoiminomethyl) - N - methylglycine, and the molecular formula is . It is a nitrogen - containing organic acid. There is a guanidine group (-NH - C(=NH) - NH2) and a methyl group (-CH3) connected to the glycine residue in its molecular structure. This structure endows creatine with special chemical properties, such as the reaction characteristics in acidic and alkaline environments and the function of participating in energy metabolism in organisms.
Appearance and Properties
Creatine anhydrous is usually white crystalline powder, odorless, and has a slight sour taste. The powder is fine - textured and has good fluidity, which makes it easy to handle during production and use (such as in the production of creatine supplements). For example, it can be conveniently mixed and filled into capsules.
Physical and Chemical Properties
Solubility
Creatine anhydrous has a certain solubility in water. At room temperature, its solubility is relatively low, approximately 13 grams can be dissolved in 100 milliliters of water. However, as the temperature rises, the solubility will increase significantly. This characteristic is important in the crystallization and recrystallization processes during its production. It has a low solubility in organic solvents such as ethanol and is almost insoluble in non - polar organic solvents such as ether and benzene.
Stability
In a dry environment, creatine anhydrous is relatively stable. However, in a humid environment, it is prone to absorb moisture and may deliquesce. In addition, in a high - temperature environment, especially above its melting point (about 295ºC), creatine may decompose and produce some by - products, thus affecting its chemical properties and physiological activities.
pH Characteristics
The aqueous solution of creatine anhydrous is acidic, and the pH value is approximately between 3 and 4. This is because the acidic groups (such as aminoiminomethyl) in its molecular structure will ionize in water and release hydrogen ions (H+), making the solution acidic. In different pH environments, the chemical stability and bioavailability of creatine will also be affected to a certain extent.
Sources and Production Methods
Natural Sources
Creatine mainly exists in the muscle tissues of animals in nature, such as fish and meat. The human body can also synthesize a part of creatine by itself. However, with the increase of exercise intensity or some special physiological needs, the self - synthesized creatine may not meet the body's needs, so it needs to be supplemented from the outside. Extracting creatine from animal tissues has a low yield and high cost and is generally not used for large - scale industrial production.
Industrial Production Methods
The chemical synthesis method is the main method for the production of creatine anhydrous at present. Usually, cyanamide and methylamine are used as raw materials to generate creatine through a series of chemical reactions. First, cyanamide reacts with methylamine to generate guanidinoacetic acid, and then guanidinoacetic acid reacts with a methylation reagent (such as dimethyl sulfate) to generate creatine. During the production process, reaction conditions such as temperature, pH value, and reaction time need to be strictly controlled to ensure the quality and purity of the product.
Quality Standards and Specifications
Purity Standard
For creatine anhydrous products, purity is a key indicator. Generally, a purity of more than 99% is required. High - purity creatine anhydrous can ensure its effectiveness in energy supplementation and muscle strength enhancement and reduce the potential risks brought by impurities, such as allergic reactions or other adverse reactions.
Impurity Limitations
Heavy Metal Content: There are strict limitations on the content of heavy metals (such as lead, mercury, arsenic, etc.). For example, the lead content is usually not more than 1mg/kg, the mercury content is usually not more than 0.1mg/kg, and the arsenic content is usually not more than 1mg/kg. Excessive heavy metals may cause serious harm to human health, so strict testing is required during production and quality control.
Other Impurity Contents: The contents of residual synthetic raw materials (such as cyanamide and methylamine) and possible by - products also need to be strictly controlled. These impurities may affect the chemical stability, bioavailability, and safety of creatine.
Uses and Application Fields
Sports Nutrition Field
Creatine anhydrous is one of the most commonly used sports nutrition supplements. It can help athletes and fitness enthusiasts increase muscle strength and explosive power. In high - intensity short - term sports (such as sprinting and weightlifting), creatine can quickly provide energy so that muscles can better exert their strength. At the same time, long - term use of creatine supplements combined with appropriate training is helpful to increase muscle mass and promote muscle recovery.
Medical Field
In medicine, creatine may have a certain auxiliary role in the treatment of some muscle diseases (such as muscular dystrophy). It can improve muscle function and relieve symptoms such as muscle fatigue and atrophy. However, in medical applications, it needs to be used reasonably according to specific diseases and individual differences of patients.
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