L-Methionine
Amino Acids
Nutritional Enhancers
Flavoring Agents
63-68-3
C₅H₁₁NO₂S
$4.81 ~ $7.21
Food
Free sample from 100g(NF)
One unit of:Unknown
One unit of:Unknown
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Product Info
What is L-Methionine?
L-Methionine is an essential, sulfur-containing amino acid utilized broadly in food and animal feed formulations as a nutritional supplement to ensure adequate protein synthesis and support growth.
How is L-Methionine made?
| Step No. | Production Stage | Key Action | Control Point & Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fermentation | Cultivate a specific, high-yield microbial strain (e.g., Corynebacterium glutamicum) in a sterilized nutrient medium within a controlled fermenter to produce L-Methionine. | Control Points: Sterility of medium and equipment, precise temperature (e.g., 30-37°C), pH level (e.g., 6.5-7.5), and dissolved oxygen. Note: The microbial strain is often a genetically optimized organism to maximize production yield. |
| 2 | Broth Separation & Clarification | Separate the microbial cells and solid impurities from the fermentation broth containing the dissolved L-Methionine using centrifugation or microfiltration. | Control Points: Centrifuge G-force or filter pore size, processing temperature. Note: The goal is to obtain a clear, cell-free liquid (supernatant or permeate) for the subsequent purification steps. |
| 3 | Purification by Ion Exchange | Pass the clarified broth through an ion-exchange chromatography column. L-Methionine binds to the resin, while impurities are washed away. A specific solution is then used to elute (release) the purified L-Methionine. | Control Points: pH and conductivity of the broth and elution buffer, flow rate, resin capacity. Note: This is a critical purification step to achieve high purity by selectively separating L-Methionine from other amino acids and salts. |
| 4 | Crystallization | Induce the formation of solid L-Methionine crystals from the purified, concentrated solution by carefully adjusting the pH to its isoelectric point (~5.7) and controlling the temperature. | Control Points: Solution concentration, rate of cooling, and precise pH adjustment. Note: Controlled crystallization is essential for achieving the desired purity, crystal size, and density of the final product. |
| 5 | Crystal Separation & Washing | Separate the L-Methionine crystals from the remaining liquid (mother liquor) using a centrifuge. The collected crystals are then washed with cold, purified water. | Control Points: Centrifugation time and speed, volume and temperature of wash water. Note: Washing removes any residual soluble impurities clinging to the crystal surfaces. |
| 6 | Drying | Remove residual moisture from the washed crystals using a controlled drying method, such as a vacuum or fluid bed dryer, to achieve the specified moisture content. | Control Points: Drying temperature (must be low enough to prevent degradation), vacuum pressure, and drying time. The final moisture content is a critical quality parameter. |
| 7 | Sieving & Packaging | Sieve the dried L-Methionine powder to ensure a uniform particle size distribution. The final product is then tested, weighed, and packed into sealed, multi-layer bags or containers. | Control Points: Sieve mesh size, packaging integrity, accurate weight, and metal detection. Note: Proper packaging is vital to protect the product from moisture and contamination during storage and transport. Each batch is assigned a unique lot number for full traceability. |
Technical Specifications
| CAS Number | 63-68-3 |
| Chemical Formula | C₅H₁₁NO₂S |
| Solubility | Soluble in water (~48 g/L at 20 °C); soluble in dilute acid/alkali; slightly in ethanol; insoluble in ether |
| Storage Conditions | Cool, dry, protected from light/moisture |
| Shelf Life | 24 Months |
Applications & Usage
Common Applications:
Food/feed additive
protein synthesis supplement
methyl donor
antioxidant
methylation support
animal nutrition
Mechanism of action:
| Parameter | L-Methionine |
|---|---|
| Functional Category | Nutrient; Dough Conditioner; Flavor Precursor |
| Key Ingredients | L-Methionine (C₅H₁₁NO₂S) |
| Mechanism of Action | As an essential amino acid, it serves as a protein building block for nutritional fortification. In baking, it acts as a reducing agent, cleaving gluten disulfide bonds to relax dough. During thermal processing, it undergoes Strecker degradation, forming key savory flavor compounds like methional. |
| Application Effect in Product | Nutritional fortification of foods and animal feeds; reduced dough mixing time and improved extensibility in bakery products; development of characteristic savory, meaty, or potato-like flavor notes in thermally processed foods. |
Comparison:
| Product Name | Category/Type | Key Features | Strengths (vs peers) | Weaknesses (vs peers) | Best Use Cases | Why Choose |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| L-Methionine | Essential Amino Acid | Sulfur-containing amino acid; precursor to SAMe, cysteine, taurine; protein building block. | Fundamental building block for multiple pathways; cost-effective; provides essential dietary sulfur. | Requires enzymatic conversion to become active (e.g., SAMe); high doses can raise homocysteine. | General protein synthesis support; foundational sulfur source; urinary acidification. | To provide the body with the basic, essential raw material for its own production of SAMe, cysteine, and other metabolites. |
| SAMe (S-Adenosylmethionine) | Methionine Metabolite | Direct methyl group donor; biologically active form of methionine. | Bypasses conversion steps, offering more direct and rapid action for specific functions (mood, joints). | Significantly more expensive; can be unstable, often requiring special coatings for supplements. | Supporting mood and emotional health; promoting joint comfort; liver support. | For targeted, potent support for mood, liver, or joints, when the body's conversion from methionine may be impaired or insufficient. |
| NAC (N-Acetylcysteine) | Amino Acid Derivative | Stable form of L-Cysteine; potent precursor to the antioxidant glutathione; mucolytic agent. | Excellent antioxidant and detoxification support; specific benefits for respiratory health. | Not a direct protein building block like methionine; more targeted antioxidant and mucolytic action. | Boosting cellular antioxidant levels; liver protection and detoxification; respiratory support (breaking up mucus). | When the primary goal is antioxidant defense, detoxification, or respiratory health, rather than protein synthesis. |
| Taurine | Conditionally Essential Amino Acid | Sulfur-containing amino acid not used in protein synthesis; vital for cardiovascular and neurological function. | Crucial for heart, brain, and eye health; functions as a neurotransmitter and cell membrane stabilizer. | Does not serve as a protein building block; it's an end-product of the methionine-cysteine pathway. | Supporting cardiovascular function; promoting retinal and neurological health; electrolyte balance. | For specific organ system support (heart, eyes, brain), not for general protein or sulfur pool repletion. |
| DL-Methionine | Racemic Amino Acid Mixture | A 50/50 mixture of the L- and D-isomers of methionine. | Often less expensive than pure L-Methionine; effective as a urinary acidifier. | The D-isomer is not directly usable for protein synthesis in humans and must be inefficiently converted. | Primarily used in animal feed; sometimes used for urinary acidification in humans under medical supervision. | For cost-sensitive applications where urinary acidification is the primary goal, not efficient protein synthesis. |
Technical Documents
Available Documentation
COA, MSDS, certificate of analysis, technical data
Safety Data Sheet (SDS)
Provided
Certificate of Analysis (COA)
Quality assurance documentation
Technical Data Sheet
Detailed technical specifications