Trehalose

About the Company

NOUSU BIOTECH is a pioneer manufacturer high-tech company in research, development, production and sales of Trehalose (bulk powder and spray drying powder form), Transglutaminase and Prebiotic in China.

What is Trehalose?

Trehalose is a naturally occurring disaccharide composed of two glucose molecules linked by an α,α-1,1-glucoside bond. It is a non-reducing sugar widely found in plants, fungi, bacteria, and invertebrates, valued for its unique chemical stability and functional properties.

The molecule is prized for its ability to protect biological structures under stress conditions like freezing, dehydration, and oxidation, making it highly useful across various industries.

Common Varieties and Grades

Trehalose products typically come in several grades tailored to different uses:

• Food Grade: Complies with food safety standards, suitable as a sweetener, humectant, stabilizer, and texture enhancer in confectionery, baked goods, and beverages.
• Pharmaceutical Grade: Purified to meet stringent pharmaceutical standards; used in drug formulations and medical cryopreservation.
• Industrial Grade: Employed for research, biochemical applications, and other industrial uses where carbohydrate chemistry is relevant.

Technical and Nutritional Properties

Trehalose offers several distinguishing characteristics:

• Non-Reducing Sugar: Resistant to Maillard browning, extending shelf life of foods.
• Stable Structure: Exceptionally stable under heat and acidic conditions.
• Protective Effects: Helps maintain protein folding and cell membrane integrity during dehydration and freezing.
• Low Sweetness: Approximately 45% the sweetness of sucrose, enabling controlled sweetness levels.
• Caloric Value: Provides energy as a carbohydrate, about 4 kcal per gram.

Production Process

Trehalose is typically manufactured by enzymatic conversion, starting from starch or maltose substrates. The process involves:

• Extraction of raw material starch from sources such as corn or wheat.
• Conversion of starch into maltose using amylases.
• Enzymatic isomerization of maltose into trehalose by trehalose synthase enzymes.
• Purification steps including filtration, crystallization, and drying to produce high-purity trehalose powders.

Applications and Uses

Trehalose finds wide-ranging application across multiple industries:

• Food Industry: Used as a stabilizer, humectant, and preservative in bakery, confectionery, ice cream, and beverages.
• Pharmaceuticals & Healthcare: Protects proteins and lipids in formulations, cryopreservation of cells and tissues, and wound healing products.
• Cosmetics: Functions as a moisturizer and anti-aging agent in skincare formulations due to its capacity to retain moisture and protect skin cells.
• Biotechnology: Utilized in enzyme stabilization and preservation of biological samples during storage and transport.

Quality and Packaging Standards

Trehalose products adhere to rigorous quality and safety standards. Common certifications include compliance with:

• Food safety systems such as HACCP and GMP for food-grade products.
• Pharmacopoeial specifications ensuring purity and consistency for pharmaceutical grades.

Packaging formats vary depending on customer requirements and typical export standards:

• Bulk powdered trehalose in kraft paper bags with PE liners or valve bags usually in 25kg or 50kg units.
• Spray dried powder packaged in smaller bags for easier handling in pharmaceutical and food applications.