Title: Monosodium Glutamate
CAS Registry Number: 142-47-2
CAS Name: L-Glutamic acid monosodium salt
Synonyms: sodium glutamate; Chinese seasoning; MSG
Manufacturers' Codes: RL-50
Trademarks: Accent (Underwood); Aji-no-moto (Suzuki)
Molecular Formula: C5H8NNaO4
Molecular Weight: 169.11
Percent Composition: C 35.51%, H 4.77%, N 8.28%, Na 13.59%, O 37.84%
Literature References: Prepn: K. Ikeda, S. Suzuki,
GB 9440 (1910),
C.A. 5, 836 (1910). Commercial prepn: P. R. Shildneck,
US 2306646 (1942 to Staley Manuf.). Determn in food by HPLC: A. T. Rhys Williams, S. A. Winfield,
Analyst 107, 1092 (1982); by LC: O.W. Lau, C. S. Mok,
Anal. Chim. Acta 302, 45 (1995). Review of use and biological effects:
Food. Technol. 41, 143-154 (1987).
Review: T. Kawakita, "L-Monosodium Glutamate (MSG)" in
Kirk-Othmer Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology Vol. 2 (John Wiley & Sons, New York, 4th ed., 1992) pp 571-579. Review of toxicology: O. U. Eka
et al., Biokemistri 4, 57-73 (1994). Book:
Glutamic Acid: Advances in Biochemistry and Physiology L. J. Filer
et al., Eds. (Raven Press, New York, 1979) 416 pp.
Properties: White, practically odorless, free flowing crystals often as the monohydrate, dec 225°. Below -0.8°, crystallizes as a pentahydrate which upon filtration and exposure to air becomes the monohydrate. [a]20 -3.5° (10% soln in 5° Bé HCl). [a]D20 +25.16° (10g MSG/100ml 2
N HCl). d20 (saturated water soln): 1.620. pH of 5% water soln: 6.8; of 3% soln (25°): 7.0. Soly at 20° (g/100g): 41.7 water. LD50 i.g. in mice: 19.9 g/kg (Eka).
Optical Rotation: [a]20 -3.5° (10% soln in 5° Bé HCl); [a]D20 +25.16° (10g MSG/100ml 2
N HCl)
Density: d20 (saturated water soln): 1.620
Toxicity data: LD50 i.g. in mice: 19.9 g/kg (Eka)
Use: Flavor enhancer.