The clean-label antioxidant for fats and oils. Worldbestve supplies mixed tocopherol concentrate as liquid from 25% to 95% total tocopherols and as 30% / 50% powder, with d-(β+γ+δ) usually ≥ 80% — the fraction that actually does the antioxidant work.
CAS: 1406-66-2 (mixed tocopherols concentrate) | EU: E306 | INS: 307 | Light yellow to reddish-brown clear oily liquid, or powder
| Property | Worldbestve Specification |
|---|---|
| Additive numbers | E306 (EU) / INS 307 |
| Liquid grades | 25%, 50%, 70%, 90%, 95% total tocopherols |
| Powder grades | 30%, 50% total tocopherols |
| d-(β+γ+δ) content | Usually ≥ 80.0% of total tocopherols |
| Appearance | Light yellow to reddish-brown clear oily liquid; free-flowing powder |
| Typical dosage | 0.01% – 0.05% of fat phase (100 – 500 ppm) |
| PAH4 / Benzo[a]pyrene | ≤ 10 ppb / ≤ 2.0 ppb (EU compliant) |
| Standards | GB 1886.233-2016, FCC, USP, E306 |
| Certifications | FSSC 22000, ISO 22000, Non-GMO IP, Kosher, Halal |
| Shelf life | 24 months (nitrogen-blanketed, cool & dry) |
| MOQ | 10 kg (samples & trial orders supported) |
Chain-breaking antioxidation, and why 200 ppm is enough.
Rancidity in a fat is not a single event but a chain reaction. Once initiation has produced a first lipid radical, oxygen adds to it to form a peroxyl radical; that peroxyl radical abstracts a hydrogen atom from a neighbouring unsaturated fatty acid, creating a new lipid radical and a hydroperoxide. One radical therefore begets many, and the oxidation accelerates on its own.
Mixed tocopherols interrupt that loop. The chromanol hydroxyl group of a tocopherol molecule donates a hydrogen atom to the peroxyl radical, converting it into a comparatively harmless hydroperoxide and terminating that branch of the chain. What remains is a tocopheroxyl radical — but it is resonance-stabilised across the aromatic ring and therefore too unreactive to abstract hydrogen from a fatty acid and restart the chain.
Because each molecule quenches a propagating radical rather than being consumed stoichiometrically by the bulk fat, a very small addition — 0.01% to 0.05% — protects an entire fat phase. That is the whole economics of the ingredient.
Two synergists matter. Ascorbyl palmitate reduces the tocopheroxyl radical back to active tocopherol, effectively recycling it and extending protection. Citric acid chelates trace iron and copper, which would otherwise catalyse initiation. A tocopherol / ascorbyl palmitate / citric acid system routinely outperforms the same tocopherol dose used alone.
Antioxidant strength runs opposite to vitamin E activity.
| Isomer | Vitamin E Activity | Antioxidant Performance in Fats | Role in an Antioxidant Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| d-α-tocopherol | High | Low of the four | Minor; kept low by design |
| d-β-tocopherol | Moderate | Moderate | Contributes to the β+γ+δ fraction |
| d-γ-tocopherol | Lower | High | Major working component |
| d-δ-tocopherol | Low | High | Strong protector per unit |
Alpha-tocopherol donates hydrogen most readily, which makes it a highly effective nutrient — but at higher concentrations in a fat matrix it can also enter side reactions that promote oxidation. Delta- and gamma-tocopherol are more stable in the matrix and hold protective activity longer. This is precisely why an antioxidant-purpose grade is specified on its d-(β+γ+δ) content, and why buying a high-alpha material for shelf-life protection is a specification error rather than an upgrade.
| Grade | Total Tocopherols | d-(β+γ+δ) | Form | Packaging |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MT-25 | ≥ 25% | Usually ≥ 80.0% | Liquid | 10 / 20 / 200 kg; 900 / 950 kg IBC |
| MT-50 | ≥ 50% | Usually ≥ 80.0% | Liquid | 20 / 200 kg; 900 / 950 kg IBC |
| MT-70 | ≥ 70% | Usually ≥ 80.0% | Liquid | 20 / 200 kg; 900 / 950 kg IBC |
| MT-90 | ≥ 90% | Usually ≥ 80.0% | Liquid | 20 / 200 kg; 900 / 950 kg IBC |
| MT-95 | ≥ 95% | Usually ≥ 80.0% | Liquid | 20 / 200 kg; 900 / 950 kg IBC |
| MT-Powder 30% | ≥ 30% | Powder form | Powder | 25 kg fiber drum (foil bag) |
| MT-Powder 50% | ≥ 50% | Powder form | Powder | 25 kg fiber drum (foil bag) |
Starting points for a dose-response trial on your own matrix.
| Application | Typical Dosage (of fat phase) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Bulk vegetable oils | 100 – 300 ppm | Add after deodorisation, below 60 °C |
| Fried snacks & bakery fats | 200 – 500 ppm | Pair with citric acid to control trace metals |
| Meat products & rendered fats | 200 – 500 ppm | Disperse thoroughly in the fat phase |
| Fish oil & omega-3 systems | 500 – 1000 ppm | High unsaturation demands a higher load |
| Pet food & feed fats | 200 – 500 ppm | Feed-grade material available separately |
| Dry blends, seasonings, premixes | Powder grade, dosed to fat content | Use MT-Powder 30% / 50% |
| Encapsulated & emulsified systems | Powder or liquid per process | Add before emulsification for even distribution |
Protection does not scale indefinitely with dose. Above the optimum for a given matrix, additional tocopherol delivers little further benefit and can become counter-productive. Run a short dose-response trial — typically three levels across the range above, assessed by peroxide value and OSI / Rancimat induction time — before fixing the formulation.
Reformulating away from synthetic antioxidants such as TBHQ, BHA and BHT is the main reason buyers move to mixed tocopherols. On the label the ingredient is declared as a natural antioxidant, mixed tocopherols, or E306 — which satisfies clean-label and natural-claim requirements in most markets.
Two practical cautions. First, the mechanisms differ, so a one-to-one dose substitution is not reliable; expect to re-optimise. Second, tocopherols are ideally added after high-temperature processing and below roughly 60 °C, since they are consumed by the very oxidation they prevent.
Where a straight swap falls short, the fix is almost always the synergist system rather than a higher tocopherol dose: add ascorbyl palmitate to regenerate the tocopherol, and citric acid to chelate pro-oxidant trace metals.
They are chain-breaking antioxidants. The chromanol hydroxyl group donates a hydrogen atom to a propagating peroxyl radical, converting it into a stable hydroperoxide and terminating the chain. The resulting tocopheroxyl radical is resonance-stabilised and too unreactive to restart the reaction — which is why 0.01%–0.05% protects an entire fat phase.
Antioxidant performance in fats runs δ > γ > β > α — the opposite of vitamin E biological activity. Alpha donates hydrogen most readily but can enter oxidation-promoting side reactions at higher concentrations, while delta and gamma stay stable in the matrix longer. That is why an antioxidant grade is specified on d-(β+γ+δ) content.
0.01%–0.05% of the fat phase (100–500 ppm). Bulk oils 100–300 ppm; fried snacks and bakery fats 200–500 ppm; meat and pet-food fats 200–500 ppm; fish oil and omega-3 systems 500–1000 ppm. Confirm with a dose-response trial on the actual matrix.
In most fat and oil systems, yes — and the ingredient is declared as a natural antioxidant or E306. Because the mechanisms differ, a one-to-one dose swap is not always sufficient; pairing with ascorbyl palmitate (regenerates the tocopherol) and citric acid (chelates trace metals) usually closes the gap.
Use a liquid grade where a fat phase already exists — lower grades (25%, 50%) meter easily into large oil batches, while 70%–95% grades cut freight and storage per unit of active. Use MT-Powder 30% or 50% for dry blends, seasonings, premixes and encapsulated systems. MOQ is 10 kg with samples supported.
Tell us your matrix, target shelf life, and whether you need liquid or powder — we reply with a recommended grade and dosage, specification, COA sample, and lead time. MOQ from 10 kg.
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