Chemicals are the primary aspect of the manufacturing of various products, e.g., pharmaceutical products. They are also used for testing pharmaceutical products and laboratory devices in laboratories. Chemicals also play a vital role when researchers are carrying out diverse researches.
Chemicals must be a specific grade for them to be considered as fit for the targeted purposes. Laboratory grade chemicals are among the high-quality and pure chemicals.
Below is a quick primer of different types of chemicals grades:
Table of Contents
ACS GRADE
American Chemical society’s grade purity is ninety-five percent. It, therefore, conforms to the American Chemical society standards. It is pretty clean compared to some other chemicals out there. Most food production companies use chemicals with the American Chemical Society grade since its fit for human consumption.
The grade can also be confidently and safely used for manufacturing drugs and essential medicine purposes.
Reagent Grade
Reagent grade is the next chemical grade. Its purity significantly matches that of the American Chemical Society grade (ACS). Reagent grade purity surpasses the regulations set American Chemical society. Accuracy is a crucial factor; therefore, the reagent grade offers you reproducible results.
USP Grade
USP grade conforms to the United States Pharmacopeia requirements. Like reagent and ACS grades, its purity level is at ninety-five percent; hence it meets the USP set standards. Its purity and potency make it ideal for the production of food and drugs. United States Pharmacopeia has not been left out for medicinal purposes, e.g., USP grade alcohol used for treating cuts and minor wounds.
NF GRADE
NF grade complies with the set standards of National Formulary; its purity level is equal to the ACS grade. Multiple drug manufacturing companies use this grade for manufacturing drugs. The NF grade and USP grade makes a beautiful combination, ideal for food production.
In addition, dietary supplements are made from the named blend. It is also ideal for medicinal uses and drugs.
Laboratory Grade
Laboratory grade is ideal for educational applications. However, the level of impurities and purity is not yet apparent – according to the research. Their exemplary performance in training and teaching does not guarantee its safety in food and drug production. Laboratory grade is further not good for medicinal purposes.
Purified Grade
The name suggests that the purified grade is clean; thus, the grade is pure or practical. It doesn’t conform to any official standards and is not ideal for foods since it’s inadequately pure.
The purified grade is not also recommended for drugs and medicinal uses at any time. The purified grade is another excellent grade for educational applications.
Technical Grade
Technical grade is a chemical grade ideal for commercial and industrial applications. It contains some bits of other chemicals hence making it impure. Technical grade does not conform to any official standards. Since its impurities level is not precise – a purified grade is not suitable for food or drugs.
Medicinal purposes are not recommendable for this technical grade.
Bottom Line
Manufacturers need to be wary of the level of various chemical grades before using them on any application. Laboratory, purified, and technical grades have similar uses. The three grades are cheap and significant in educational applications. All the chemicals as mentioned above grades intended for services entirely depend on their purity level.