Quick Answer: What Should Buyers Check First?
The first purchasing requirement should be a clear identity specification for Pyrroloquinoline Quinone Disodium Salt. The purchase order, specification sheet, SDS and COA should use consistent product naming and identify the intended CAS number. Buyers should then confirm whether the assay is reported by HPLC, whether it is calculated on an as-is or dry basis, and whether the material is supplied as a carrier-free powder or as a blend.
| Purchasing question | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Is the product PQQ disodium salt or another PQQ form? | Different forms may have different identity, solubility and documentation requirements. |
| Is the assay tested by HPLC or another method? | The analytical method affects how purity and active content are interpreted. |
| Is the result reported as-is or on a dry basis? | Moisture can affect the comparison of assay results and formula calculations. |
| Is the product carrier-free? | Carriers can affect active percentage, label declaration, allergens and formulation behavior. |
| Are the documents batch-specific? | A generic specification does not prove that a particular lot meets the agreed requirements. |
| Is the material suitable for the destination market? | Food, supplement, cosmetic and research requirements may differ by country. |
What Is PQQ Disodium Salt?
PQQ is commonly used as an abbreviation for pyrroloquinoline quinone. PQQ disodium salt is the disodium salt form of this compound and is supplied as a specialty bio-ingredient or research material by different suppliers.
The product may also be described as Pyrroloquinoline Quinone Disodium Salt, PQQ Na2 or methoxatin disodium salt. However, naming practices can vary between suppliers. For this reason, buyers should not rely on the abbreviation alone. The exact product name, CAS number, molecular formula, assay method and physical form should be written into the technical specification.
| Product attribute | Information to confirm |
|---|---|
| Common name | PQQ Disodium Salt or Pyrroloquinoline Quinone Disodium Salt |
| CAS number | 122628-50-6 should be confirmed against the current supplier documents |
| Typical molecular formula | C14H4N2Na2O8; verify the formula and molecular weight on the supplier’s specification |
| Physical form | Powder, crystalline powder or another declared format |
| Color | Typically reddish-brown, red-brown or a similar characteristic color, subject to the approved specification |
| Solubility | Confirm the test method, concentration, temperature and result rather than relying only on the words “water soluble” |
| Assay | Confirm the HPLC method, specification range and reporting basis |
PQQ Disodium Salt vs. Other PQQ Forms
A common sourcing mistake is to compare all PQQ materials as though they were the same ingredient. PQQ disodium salt, PQQ acid and branded PQQ materials may differ in salt form, assay basis, moisture, solubility, manufacturing process, regulatory file and commercial conditions.
| Comparison point | PQQ disodium salt | Other PQQ forms or unspecified PQQ |
|---|---|---|
| Identity | Should be specified as the disodium salt form | May refer to PQQ acid, a different salt or an unclear material |
| CAS reference | Commonly listed as CAS 122628-50-6, subject to document verification | May use a different CAS number depending on the form |
| Formulation review | Often evaluated for water-compatible supplement formats | Solubility and processing behavior must be confirmed separately |
| Assay interpretation | May be reported on an as-is or dry basis | Basis and molecular form may vary between suppliers |
| Documentation | Should include identity, assay, moisture, contaminants and microbiology | Requires additional clarification before direct comparison |
The term “PQQ 99%” is not a complete purchase specification. The buyer should state the chemical form, test method, calculation basis, physical form and required documentation.
Key PQQ Product Specifications for Formulators
Identity and Nomenclature
The identity section should include the complete product name and any accepted synonyms. The identity on the COA should be consistent with the label, outer packaging, SDS, TDS and purchase order.
If the supplier uses a branded name, the buyer should still request the underlying chemical identity and confirm whether the branded material contains only PQQ disodium salt or includes a carrier, stabilizer or processing aid.
Assay and Purity
Assay is one of the most important quality parameters, but the number should not be reviewed in isolation. A PQQ specification should identify the analytical method, reference standard, calculation basis and actual batch result.
Some suppliers may report purity by HPLC while also reporting moisture or loss on drying. These results should be interpreted together. A dry-basis assay and an as-is assay are not directly interchangeable without calculation.
Moisture and Loss on Drying
PQQ disodium salt may contain a measurable amount of water or volatile material depending on the manufacturing and drying process. The specification should state whether the parameter is water content, loss on drying or another validated measurement.
Moisture can influence assay comparison, powder flow, caking, packaging and storage. Buyers should make sure that the moisture limit is appropriate for the selected packaging and intended shelf life.
Solubility and pH
When a product is described as water soluble, the buyer should request the actual test conditions. Useful details may include water temperature, concentration, mixing time, appearance after dissolution and pH of the solution.
These details are especially important for drink powders, liquid supplements, sachets and premixes. A powder that dissolves under laboratory conditions may not behave identically in a finished formula containing minerals, acids, sweeteners, proteins or botanical extracts.
Color and Appearance
PQQ materials are often supplied in a reddish-brown or red-brown color. This may influence the appearance of capsules, tablets, gummies, powders and beverages. The buyer should evaluate the raw material together with the finished formula rather than assuming that the color will remain unchanged after processing.
The appearance specification should also address foreign matter, visible particles, caking and packaging damage where relevant.
PQQ COA Checklist for Quality Teams
A batch-specific COA should show the lot number and the actual test results for the supplied material. The following checklist can be used during supplier qualification and incoming quality control.
| COA parameter | What to request | Purchasing purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Product identity | Complete product name, CAS number, lot number and physical form | Confirms that the COA belongs to the ordered material |
| Appearance | Color, form, odor and visible foreign matter requirements | Supports incoming inspection and batch consistency review |
| Identification | HPLC retention time, UV spectrum, IR or another validated identity test | Helps distinguish the requested PQQ form from other materials |
| Assay | Method, specification, actual result and calculation basis | Supports formulation calculations and label review |
| Related substances | Individual and total impurities where included in the specification | Provides additional information about process consistency |
| Water or loss on drying | Method, limit and batch result | Supports storage, assay comparison and powder handling |
| Residual solvents | Solvent list, analytical method and actual results | Important for food, supplement and destination-market qualification |
| Heavy metals | Lead, arsenic, cadmium, mercury and other required elements | Supports contaminant risk assessment |
| Microbiology | Total plate count, yeast and mold, E. coli, Salmonella and other required organisms | Required for many food, supplement and cosmetic applications |
| Packaging | Container type, inner bag, net weight and tamper protection | Helps protect the material during shipment and storage |
| Storage | Temperature, humidity, light and moisture instructions | Supports warehouse and finished-product stability planning |
Recommended PQQ Procurement Specification Structure
Buyers can reduce confusion by writing a complete raw material specification before requesting quotations. A practical specification may include the following sections:
- Ingredient name: Pyrroloquinoline Quinone Disodium Salt
- CAS number: confirm the applicable CAS number with the current technical documents
- Required physical form: powder or another agreed format
- Assay method: HPLC or another approved method
- Assay basis: as-is, dry basis or other defined basis
- Appearance and color range
- Moisture or loss-on-drying limit
- Residual solvent requirements
- Heavy-metal requirements
- Microbiological requirements
- Packaging and storage requirements
- Required technical and regulatory documents
- Change-control and notification requirements
If the product is intended for a finished supplement, the specification should also state whether the material must be carrier-free, non-GMO, vegan, allergen-free or suitable for a particular market. These statements should be supported by supplier documentation rather than assumed from the product name.
Calculating PQQ Raw Material for a Formula
Formula calculations should use the actual assay of the approved batch or the assay value defined in the product specification. If the raw material is supplied at 99% assay and the formula requires 10 mg of active PQQ disodium salt, the theoretical quantity is:
Required raw material = Target active quantity ÷ Assay fraction
10 mg ÷ 0.99 = approximately 10.10 mg of raw material
This is a theoretical calculation only. Manufacturing teams may need to consider approved overage, assay variation, mixing loss, powder retention, dosage uniformity and the finished-product stability program.
For a carrier-based or diluted product, the calculation must use the declared active PQQ content rather than the total powder weight. For example, a 10% PQQ premix is not equivalent to 99% PQQ disodium salt on a gram-for-gram basis.
Applications and Formulation Considerations
PQQ disodium salt may be evaluated for capsules, tablets, sachets, powder blends, liquid supplements, functional beverages and research formulations. The correct grade depends on the final dosage form and the destination-market requirements.
| Application | Technical points to evaluate |
|---|---|
| Hard capsules | Powder flow, bulk density, blend uniformity, color and capsule-fill accuracy |
| Tablets | Compressibility, particle size, moisture, color and compatibility with excipients |
| Powder sachets | Solubility, taste impact, moisture protection, flow and dose uniformity |
| Functional beverages | Dissolution, pH compatibility, sedimentation, color, flavor and finished-product stability |
| Liquid supplements | Solution stability, pH range, light exposure, microbial control and packaging compatibility |
| Research use | Purity, identity, analytical data, batch traceability and intended-use documentation |
Before approving a bulk order, formulators should conduct a laboratory trial using the intended excipients and processing conditions. Solubility in water alone does not guarantee compatibility with acids, minerals, proteins, botanical extracts or other active ingredients.
Documents to Request from a PQQ Supplier
The required document package depends on the application, destination market and customer quality system. Buyers may request the following documents during qualification:
- Product specification sheet
- Batch-specific Certificate of Analysis
- Safety Data Sheet
- Technical Data Sheet
- Manufacturing process or flow chart
- Residual solvent statement or test report
- Heavy-metal test report
- Microbiological test report
- Stability and storage information
- Country-of-origin statement
- Allergen statement where applicable
- Non-GMO statement where applicable
- Vegan or vegetarian statement where applicable
- Food-contact or market-specific compliance documents where applicable
- Change-control policy
Regulatory documents should be reviewed for the exact manufacturer, product identity, manufacturing site, approved use, validity period and destination market. A regulatory document for one supplier or branded ingredient should not automatically be treated as approval for another supplier’s material.
Packaging, Storage and Transport
PQQ disodium salt should be packed according to its moisture, light and storage requirements. Buyers should confirm whether the supplier uses sealed inner bags, light-protective packaging, moisture barriers or another suitable container system.
The storage instructions on the COA, TDS, SDS and product label should be consistent. The purchasing agreement should also define how the material is protected during international transport, particularly when shipments may be exposed to heat, humidity or extended transit time.
The following information should be stated clearly in a quotation or purchase order:
- Product name and chemical form
- Assay and analytical method
- Packaging format and net weight
- Sample quantity
- MOQ
- Estimated lead time
- Available lot documents
- Storage and transport conditions
- Incoterm and destination port
- Change-control requirements
Common PQQ Purchasing Mistakes
Using “PQQ” Without Defining the Salt Form
“PQQ” may be used as a general marketing term. A purchase order should identify whether the requested material is PQQ disodium salt, PQQ acid or another form.
Comparing 98% and 99% Without Checking the Assay Basis
Assay values reported on different bases may not be directly comparable. The buyer should review moisture, calculation basis and analytical method before comparing supplier quotations.
Assuming Water Solubility Without Reviewing the Test Method
Solubility depends on concentration, temperature, pH and mixing conditions. Ask for the test conditions and conduct a formulation trial before approving the material for a beverage or liquid product.
Accepting a Generic COA
A generic COA may describe a typical product but does not necessarily represent the lot being shipped. Request a batch-specific COA showing the actual lot number and test results.
Assuming One Regulatory File Covers Every Supplier
Regulatory status may be connected to a specific manufacturer, process, specification and intended use. Buyers should verify that the available file applies to the actual material and destination market.
Ignoring Color in the Finished Formula
PQQ powders may have a characteristic red-brown color. This can influence capsules, tablets, gummies, sachets and beverages. Color compatibility should be checked during formulation development.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is PQQ disodium salt?
PQQ disodium salt is the disodium salt form of pyrroloquinoline quinone. It is commonly supplied as a specialty powder ingredient and should be identified by its complete chemical name, applicable CAS number, assay method and physical form.
What is the CAS number of PQQ disodium salt?
PQQ disodium salt is commonly listed under CAS 122628-50-6. Buyers should still confirm the CAS number against the current supplier specification, SDS and batch COA before placing an order.
What assay method should be used for PQQ disodium salt?
HPLC is commonly used for identity and purity assessment, but the buyer should confirm the validated method, reference standard, specification range and calculation basis. The method should be stated on the supplier’s technical documents and COA.
Is PQQ disodium salt water soluble?
PQQ disodium salt is commonly evaluated as a water-compatible form, but the actual solubility depends on concentration, temperature, pH, mixing time and formula composition. Buyers should request the supplier’s test conditions and conduct a finished-formula trial.
What should appear on a PQQ disodium salt COA?
A COA should normally identify the product, CAS number, lot number, appearance, identification test, assay, assay basis, moisture or loss on drying, residual solvents, heavy metals, microbiology, packaging and storage requirements according to the agreed specification.
Can PQQ disodium salt be used in beverages?
It may be evaluated for beverage and liquid applications when the material and intended use are suitable for the destination market. Formulators should test dissolution, pH compatibility, color, flavor, sedimentation and shelf-life stability in the finished beverage.
What documents should I request before buying bulk PQQ?
Request the product specification, batch-specific COA, SDS, TDS, manufacturing flow chart, residual solvent information, heavy-metal and microbiological data, storage requirements, packaging details and destination-market documents required for your product.
Request PQQ Disodium Salt Technical Information
Blueeyes Bio supports supplement brands, procurement managers, formulators and QA/QC teams reviewing PQQ disodium salt raw material. Contact the technical team to discuss the required assay, formulation format, sample evaluation, documentation package, packaging and current bulk-sourcing conditions.
To receive a more relevant response, include the intended application, target market, required assay, estimated order quantity, preferred packaging, annual demand and documents required for supplier qualification.
Email: [email protected]
