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Brominated Vegetable Oil (BVO) is a complex mixture of vegetable oils (usually soybean or corn oil) that have been reacted with elemental bromine to create brominated triglycerides.
BROMINATED VEGETABLE OIL is a clouding agent and emulsifier, commonly used in citrus-flavored soft drinks to help disperse the flavoring oils evenly and prevent separation.
CAS Number: 8016-94-2
Synonyms:
Brominated seed oils,Brominated soy oil,BVO,Brominated plant oil,Brominated corn oil, Brominated edible oil
Introduction
Brominated Vegetable Oil (BVO) is a synthetic food additive derived from the chemical bromination of vegetable oils, primarily soybean or corn oil.
It is mainly used as a weighting agent in citrus-flavored soft drinks to stabilize flavoring oils by matching their density with the aqueous phase.
This prevents the separation and floating of oils, ensuring a uniform flavor distribution and a consistent visual appearance.
BVO's unique properties arise from the incorporation of bromine atoms into the triglyceride molecules, increasing their molecular weight and density.
Despite its functional benefits in beverage formulation, the use of BVO has faced regulatory scrutiny worldwide due to concerns over bromine bioaccumulation.
This comprehensive review presents BVO’s chemistry, manufacturing, physical and chemical properties, applications, analytical methods, stability, regulatory framework, and environmental impact.
Chemical Identity
Chemical Name
Brominated Vegetable Oil refers to a mixture of triglycerides where bromine atoms have been chemically bonded to the fatty acid chains of vegetable oils.
Chemical Structure and Composition
BVO is a complex mixture resulting from the electrophilic addition of bromine to the carbon-carbon double bonds in unsaturated fatty acids of vegetable oils.
The primary fatty acids involved include oleic, linoleic, and linolenic acids.
Bromination Reaction
Bromine (Br₂) adds across double bonds of unsaturated fatty acids to form vicinal dibromides.
The triglyceride backbone remains intact.
The degree of bromination depends on the number of double bonds and the bromination conditions.
Resulting Molecular Mixture
Because vegetable oils naturally vary in fatty acid composition, BVO contains a heterogeneous mixture of triglycerides with differing bromination levels.
Typical bromine content in commercial BVO ranges from 18% to 25% by weight, providing densities between 1.33 and 1.45 g/cm³.
Physical and Chemical Properties
Property Description
Appearance Amber to reddish-brown viscous liquid
Odor Mild fatty or oily
Density 1.33 – 1.45 g/cm³ (depending on bromine content)
Viscosity High, increases with bromine content
Solubility Insoluble in water, soluble in oils and organic solvents
Stability Stable under ambient storage conditions; sensitive to strong oxidizers
BVO’s higher density relative to unbrominated oils enables its function as a weighting agent in beverages.
Manufacturing Process
Raw Material Selection and Preparation
Vegetable oils such as soybean or corn oil are refined to remove free fatty acids, phospholipids, and impurities.
Refined oils are selected based on fatty acid composition and purity.
Bromination
The oil is reacted with elemental bromine under controlled temperature (typically 10-30°C) and stirring.
The reaction proceeds via electrophilic addition to carbon-carbon double bonds.
Bromine feed and reaction time control the degree of bromination.
Post-Reaction Processing
Excess bromine is removed by washing with water or mild alkaline solutions.
Neutralization removes hydrobromic acid formed during the reaction.
Filtration removes particulates.
Quality testing ensures bromine content, density, and purity meet specifications.
Function and Mechanism of Action
BVO serves as a weighting agent to increase the density of flavor oils, especially citrus oils, enabling them to remain evenly dispersed in aqueous soft drinks.
This prevents the natural tendency of oil droplets to separate and float to the surface.
Density Matching
BVO increases flavor oil density from approximately 0.85-0.90 g/cm³ to near water’s density (~1.0 g/cm³), enabling stable suspensions.
Flavor Stability and Appearance
By preventing phase separation, BVO improves flavor consistency and visual uniformity of beverages. It also contributes to the desirable “cloudy” appearance of citrus drinks.
Applications
Beverages
Citrus-flavored soft drinks (orange, lemon, lime, grapefruit)
Certain energy drinks and sports beverages requiring stable flavor suspensions
Other Uses
Experimental uses in flavor encapsulation technologies
Specialty emulsions where density matching is critical
BVO’s use is primarily limited to beverage applications due to its physicochemical properties.
Analytical Methods of Detection
Gas Chromatography (GC)
Analyzes fatty acid methyl esters after hydrolysis and derivatization.
Detects bromination impact by comparing chromatographic profiles before and after bromination.
Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (AAS)
Measures total bromine content quantitatively.
Requires sample digestion to liberate bromine for measurement.
Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) Spectroscopy
Confirms bromine addition sites by changes in proton or carbon spectra.
Helps identify structural features of brominated triglycerides.
Mass Spectrometry (MS)
Used in combination with GC or liquid chromatography (LC) for detailed molecular analysis.
Provides brominated molecular ion patterns.
Density and Viscosity Measurements
Routine QC uses density meters and viscometers to ensure batch consistency.
Stability and Shelf Life
BVO is chemically stable under ambient storage conditions for at least 1-2 years.
Sensitive to high temperatures, strong oxidizers, and prolonged light exposure.
Does not readily hydrolyze under normal conditions.
Stability ensures consistent performance during beverage shelf life.
Physicochemical Interactions
Compatible with common beverage acids such as citric and phosphoric acid.
Exhibits good miscibility with natural and synthetic citrus flavor oils.
Stable in pH ranges typical of soft drinks (pH ~2.5-4.5).
May interact with emulsifiers to improve dispersion and mouthfeel.
SAFETY INFORMATION ABOUT BROMINATED VEGETABLE OIL
First aid measures:
Description of first aid measures:
General advice:
Consult a physician.
Show this safety data sheet to the doctor in attendance.
Move out of dangerous area:
If inhaled:
If breathed in, move person into fresh air.
If not breathing, give artificial respiration.
Consult a physician.
In case of skin contact:
Take off contaminated clothing and shoes immediately.
Wash off with soap and plenty of water.
Consult a physician.
In case of eye contact:
Rinse thoroughly with plenty of water for at least 15 minutes and consult a physician.
Continue rinsing eyes during transport to hospital.
If swallowed:
Do NOT induce vomiting.
Never give anything by mouth to an unconscious person.
Rinse mouth with water.
Consult a physician.
Firefighting measures:
Extinguishing media:
Suitable extinguishing media:
Use water spray, alcohol-resistant foam, dry chemical or carbon dioxide.
Special hazards arising from the substance or mixture
Carbon oxides, Nitrogen oxides (NOx), Hydrogen chloride gas
Advice for firefighters:
Wear self-contained breathing apparatus for firefighting if necessary.
Accidental release measures:
Personal precautions, protective equipment and emergency procedures
Use personal protective equipment.
Avoid breathing vapours, mist or gas.
Evacuate personnel to safe areas.
Environmental precautions:
Prevent further leakage or spillage if safe to do so.
Do not let product enter drains.
Discharge into the environment must be avoided.
Methods and materials for containment and cleaning up:
Soak up with inert absorbent material and dispose of as hazardous waste.
Keep in suitable, closed containers for disposal.
Handling and storage:
Precautions for safe handling:
Avoid inhalation of vapour or mist.
Conditions for safe storage, including any incompatibilities:
Keep container tightly closed in a dry and well-ventilated place.
Containers which are opened must be carefully resealed and kept upright to prevent leakage.
Storage class (TRGS 510): 8A: Combustible, corrosive hazardous materials
Exposure controls/personal protection:
Control parameters:
Components with workplace control parameters
Contains no substances with occupational exposure limit values.
Exposure controls:
Appropriate engineering controls:
Handle in accordance with good industrial hygiene and safety practice.
Wash hands before breaks and at the end of workday.
Personal protective equipment:
Eye/face protection:
Tightly fitting safety goggles.
Faceshield (8-inch minimum).
Use equipment for eye protection tested and approved under appropriate government standards such as NIOSH (US) or EN 166(EU).
Skin protection:
Handle with gloves.
Gloves must be inspected prior to use.
Use proper glove
removal technique (without touching glove's outer surface) to avoid skin contact with this product.
Dispose of contaminated gloves after use in accordance with applicable laws and good laboratory practices.
Wash and dry hands.
Full contact:
Material: Nitrile rubber
Minimum layer thickness: 0.11 mm
Break through time: 480 min
Material tested:Dermatril (KCL 740 / Aldrich Z677272, Size M)
Splash contact
Material: Nitrile rubber
Minimum layer thickness: 0.11 mm
Break through time: 480 min
Material tested:Dermatril (KCL 740 / Aldrich Z677272, Size M)
It should not be construed as offering an approval for any specific use scenario.
Body Protection:
Complete suit protecting against chemicals, The type of protective equipment must be selected according to the concentration and amount of the dangerous substance at the specific workplace.
Respiratory protection:
Where risk assessment shows air-purifying respirators are appropriate use a fullface respirator with multi-purpose combination (US) or type ABEK (EN 14387) respirator cartridges as a backup to engineering controls.
If the respirator is the sole means of protection, use a full-face supplied air respirator.
Use respirators and components tested and approved under appropriate government standards such as NIOSH (US) or CEN (EU).
Control of environmental exposure
Prevent further leakage or spillage if safe to do so.
Do not let product enter drains.
Discharge into the environment must be avoided.
Stability and reactivity:
Chemical stability:
Stable under recommended storage conditions.
Incompatible materials:
Strong oxidizing agents:
Hazardous decomposition products:
Hazardous decomposition products formed under fire conditions.
Carbon oxides, Nitrogen oxides (NOx), Hydrogen chloride gas.
Disposal considerations:
Waste treatment methods:
Product:
Offer surplus and non-recyclable solutions to a licensed disposal company.
Contact a licensed professional waste disposal service to dispose of this material.
Contaminated packaging:
Dispose of as unused product
