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Particle Size Distribution of Silicon Dioxide Food Additives

Authors:
Poster Author(s)
Kalan, Matthew S., FDA/CFSAN/ORS/DAC/SMSB (Student); Croley, Timothy R., FDA/CFSAN/ORS/DAC/SMSB; Khan, Sadia Afrin, FDA/CFSAN/ORS/DAC/SMSB (Mentor)
Center:
Contributing Office
Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition

Abstract

Poster Abstract

Amorphous silicon dioxide, a US FDA approved food additive, has been widely used as a stabilizer, carrier, and anticaking agent for many years. Despite the ubiquity of amorphous silicon dioxide, there are limited data available on the particle size distribution of the commercially available food additives. Here we show that several food grade silicon dioxide samples, obtained from commercial distributors, contained particles on the nanoscale (between 1 and 100 nm). Dispersions in purified water were prepared by two different methods: shaking and sonicating. While nanoparticles were found in all six samples, the particle size distribution was affected by the preparation method. Sonicated samples showed smaller average particle size and a lower polydispersity index than their shaken counterparts. Analysis of the samples was conducted with Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM).

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