E133 brilliant blue FCF is a synthetic organic compound used primarily as a blue colorant for processed foods, medications, dietary supplements, and cosmetics.
E133 brilliant blue FCF is classified as a triarylmethane dye and is known under various names, such as FD&C Blue No. 1 or acid blue 9.
E133 brilliant blue FCF is denoted by E number E133 and has a color index of 42090.
CAS Number: 3844-45-9
Molecular Formula: C37H37N2NaO9S3
Molecular Weight: 772.88
EINECS Number: 223-339-8
Synonyms: BRILLIANT BLUE FCF, 3844-45-9, Acid Blue 9, FD&C Blue No. 1, Blue No. 1, E133, Food Blue 2, Food Blue No. 1, C.I. Food Blue 2, CI 42090, Erioglaucine disodium salt, Brilliant Blue, Brilliant Blue FCF supra, Brilliant Blue FCF (Technical Grade), Blue 1206, Japan Blue 1, Japan Blue No. 1, Merantine Blue EG, Fenazo Blue XI, Hexacol Brilliant Blue A, Intracid Pure Blue L, Usacert Blue No. 1, FDC Blue No. 1, Food Blue Dye No. 1, Modr Kysela 9, Modr Brilantni FCF, Modr Potravinarska 2, Canacert Brilliant Blue FCF, Dolkwal Brilliant Blue, VIBRACOLOR BLUE ABL9, COVACAP BLEU W 6102, CI 42051 (related label confusion), CI Food Blue 2, Cosmetic Blue Lake, Aizen Food Blue No. 2, Erioglaucin A, Acid Sky Blue A, Blue FCF, Brilliant Blue E 133, INS 133, INS NO.133, CAS 3844-45-9, CAS-3844-45-9, UNII-H3R47K3TBD, UNII-PPQ093M8HR, DTXSID2020189, DTXCID40189, CHEBI:82411, MFCD00012141, HSDB 7972, EINECS 223-339-8, SGHZXLIDFTYFHQ-UHFFFAOYSA-L, PPQ093M8HR, H3R47K3TBD, Tox21_300516, AKOS037643360, NCGC00254363-01, SCHEMBL124486, SCHEMBL124487, SCHEMBL29350843, SCHEMBL29536371, Acid Patenet Blue VS;Acid Patenet Blue H'conc;Erioglaucine disodium salt, pure;FD&CBLUE1;BRILLIANTBLUEFCF,DISODIUMSALT;Benzenemethanaminium, N-ethyl-N-[4-[[4-[ethyl[( 3-sulfophenyl)methyl]amino]phenyl](2-sulfophenyl)methylene ]-2,5-cyclohexadien-1-ylidene]-3-sulfo-, hydroxide, inner salt, disodium salt;Benzenemethanaminium, N-ethyl-N-4-4-ethyl(3-sulfophenyl)methylaminophenyl(2-sulfophenyl)methylene-2,5-cyclohexadien-1-ylidene-3-sulfo-, inner salt, disodium salt;1206blue
E133 brilliant blue FCF has the appearance of a blue powder and is soluble in water and glycerol, with a maximum absorption at about 628 nanometers.
E133 brilliant blue FCF is one of the oldest FDA-approved color additives, having been permanently listed for use in food and ingested drugs in 1969.
E133 brilliant blue FCF is generally considered nontoxic and safe for consumption.
E133 brilliant blue FCF is a synthetic dye produced by the condensation of 2-formylbenzenesulfonic acid and the appropriate aniline followed by oxidation.
It can be combined with tartrazine (E102) to produce various shades of green.
It is usually a disodium salt. The diammonium salt has CAS number 2650-18-2.
E133 brilliant blue FCF and potassium salts are also permitted.
E133 brilliant blue FCF can also appear as an aluminium lake.
The chemical formula is C37H34N2Na2O9S3.
E133 brilliant blue FCF is a synthetic blue food colorant belonging to the triarylmethane dye class.
It is widely used in food, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics.
E133 brilliant blue FCF provides a bright, vivid blue coloration.
E133 brilliant blue FCF is a water-soluble sulfonated aromatic compound with a triarylmethane core structure.
The sulfonate groups increase solubility in water.
This makes it suitable for aqueous systems.
Physically, E133 brilliant blue FCF appears as a bright blue to reddish-blue powder or granules.
It is highly soluble in water but insoluble in oils.
E133 brilliant blue FCF has little to no odor.
E133 brilliant blue FCF provides a strong, stable blue color, often used alone or mixed with yellow dyes to produce green shades.
It has high tinting strength even at low concentrations.
This makes it efficient in formulation.
E133 brilliant blue FCF is highly water-soluble, allowing uniform distribution in beverages, gels, and syrups.
This ensures consistent coloration.
It is mainly used in water-based systems.
E133 brilliant blue FCF shows good stability in acidic and neutral conditions, making it suitable for soft drinks and processed foods.
However, it may degrade in strongly alkaline environments.
This affects formulation limits.
The dye has moderate heat stability, allowing it to withstand common food processing such as pasteurization.
Prolonged high heat can reduce color intensity.
This limits extreme applications.
E133 brilliant blue FCF has no nutritional value, serving only as a coloring agent.
Its function is purely visual.
E133 brilliant blue FCF is best described as a water-soluble synthetic blue dye with strong color intensity, widely used in food, beverage, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical applications for stable blue and green coloration.
E133 brilliant blue FCF also performs well in transparent beverage systems, where it gives a vivid blue color without affecting clarity.
This is important for clear soft drinks and flavored waters.
E133 brilliant blue FCF improves product appearance.
E133 brilliant blue FCF shows pH-dependent stability, remaining most stable in acidic to neutral conditions while becoming less stable in strong alkaline environments.
This influences formulation design.
It ensures predictable color behavior.
The dye has excellent synergy with other colorants, especially yellow dyes, to create green shades used in drinks and confectionery.
This allows a wide color range.
E133 brilliant blue FCF increases formulation flexibility.
E133 brilliant blue FCF is commonly used in instant drink powders and concentrates, where it dissolves quickly in water.
It ensures immediate and uniform coloration.
This improves consumer experience.
E133 brilliant blue FCF is widely used in surface applications, such as candy coatings and decorative glazes.
It provides strong and even coverage.
This enhances visual impact.
E133 brilliant blue FCF shows moderate resistance to oxidation, but strong oxidizing agents can degrade its structure over time.
Proper formulation control is needed.
This ensures stability.
E133 brilliant blue FCF is also used in laboratory and biomedical applications, where its strong visibility makes it useful as a tracer or marker dye.
It helps visualize processes and movement.
This extends technical use.
Melting point: 283 °C (dec.) (lit.)
Density: 0.65
storage temp.: 2–8°C
solubility: water: soluble 1 mg/mL
Colour Index: 42090
form: Fine Crystalline Powder
color: Dark purple
Water Solubility: SOLUBLE
λmax: 406 nm, 625 nm
ε (extinction coefficient): ≥10000 at 306–310 nm in H2O; ≥80000 at 627–631 nm in H2O; ≥9500 at 627–631 nm in H2O
Merck: 14,1373
Stability: Stable. Incompatible with strong oxidizing agents
Major Application: cleaning products; cosmetics; food and beverages; personal care
Biological Applications: Treating coughing, sneezing, rhinorrhea, nasal obstruction, rhinitis; medical devices
Cosmetics Ingredients Functions: HAIR DYEING; COLORANT
InChIKey: SGHZXLIDFTYFHQ-UHFFFAOYSA-L
SMILES: [Na+].[Na+].CCN(Cc1cccc(c1)S([O-])(=O)=O)c2ccc(cc2)C(=C3C=C/C(C=C3)=N+Cc4cccc(c4)S([O-])(=O)=O)c5ccccc5S([O-])(=O)=O
LogP: -0.320
E133 brilliant blue FCF also shows very high color strength, meaning only small quantities are needed to achieve an intense blue shade.
This makes it cost-efficient in industrial use.
E133 brilliant blue FCF reduces required dosage in formulations.
E133 brilliant blue FCF is widely used in color blending systems, especially with yellow dyes (like tartrazine) to produce stable green colors.
This allows flexible color creation.
It improves formulation versatility.
E133 brilliant blue FCF performs well in clear liquid systems, producing vivid blue coloration without cloudiness.
It maintains optical clarity in beverages.
This improves visual quality.
E133 brilliant blue FCF shows good compatibility with hydrocolloids, making it suitable for gels, jellies, and thickened desserts.
It disperses evenly in gel matrices.
This ensures uniform appearance.
The dye has moderate light stability, but prolonged exposure to sunlight can cause gradual fading.
Protective packaging helps maintain color.
This improves shelf life.
E133 brilliant blue FCF has good stability in acidic environments, which is why it is commonly used in soft drinks and fruit-flavored products.
Alkaline conditions can reduce stability.
This affects formulation design.
E133 brilliant blue FCF is also used in pharmaceutical applications, including tablet coatings and diagnostic preparations.
It provides clear identification and tracing.
This improves usability.
E133 brilliant blue FCF is applied in cosmetic and personal care products, such as shampoos, soaps, and bath products.
It provides stable blue coloration in aqueous systems.
This enhances product appearance.
E133 brilliant blue FCF is not suitable for fat-based systems unless emulsified, due to its strong water solubility.
This defines its application range.
This guides formulation strategy.
E133 brilliant blue FCF is a high-strength, water-soluble synthetic blue dye with excellent performance in aqueous systems and broad use in food, pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and technical applications.
E133 brilliant blue FCF has low volatility, meaning it remains stable during storage without evaporation losses.
This ensures consistent concentration over time.
In some regions, its use is subject to strict labeling and regulatory limits, especially in food products.
E133 brilliant blue FCF affects permitted usage levels.
E133 brilliant blue FCF is a highly stable, water-soluble synthetic blue dye with strong coloring efficiency and broad applications in food, beverage, pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and technical systems.
Uses Of E133 brilliant blue FCF:
E133 brilliant blue FCF is a colorant for foods and other substances to induce a color change.
E133 brilliant blue FCF is denoted by E number E133 and has a color index of 42090.
E133 brilliant blue FCF has the appearance of a reddish-blue powder.
E133 brilliant blue FCF is soluble i n water, and the solution has a maximum adsorption at about 628 nanometer.
E133 brilliant blue FCF has the capacity for inducing an allergic reaction in individuals with pre-existing moderate asthma.
E133 brilliant blue FCF has good ph stability with only slight fading after 1 week at ph 3, 7, and 8 but is unstable in alkalis such as 10% sodium carbonate and 10% ammonium hydroxide.
It has good stability in 10% sugar systems.
It has fair stability to light, fair to poor stability to oxidation, and good stability to heat.
E133 brilliant blue FCF has a greenish-blue hue with excellent tinctorial strength.
E133 brilliant blue FCF is used with other primary colors to produce a variety of shades, for example, in combination with fd&c yellow #5, it gives green.
E133 brilliant blue FCF has good compatibility with food components.
E133 brilliant blue FCF is used in candies, baked goods, soft drinks, and desserts.
E133 brilliant blue FCF is widely used in the food industry as a synthetic blue colorant.
It provides bright and stable blue shades in many products.
In beverages such as soft drinks, energy drinks, and flavored waters, it is commonly used due to its high water solubility.
E133 brilliant blue FCF dissolves evenly in liquids.
This ensures consistent coloration.
E133 brilliant blue FCF is applied in confectionery products, including candies, gummies, jellies, and chewing gum.
It provides strong and uniform blue coloring.
This enhances product attractiveness.
E133 brilliant blue FCF is used in desserts such as ice creams, puddings, and jelly products.
It disperses well in aqueous and gel systems.
This improves appearance consistency.
In bakery decorations and icings, it provides blue or mixed green shades when combined with yellow dyes.
E133 brilliant blue FCF maintains color stability in sugar-based systems.
This improves decorative quality.
E133 brilliant blue FCF is used in processed dairy and dairy-like products, such as flavored yogurts and desserts.
It enhances visual appeal in colored varieties.
This improves product presentation.
E133 brilliant blue FCF is widely used in pharmaceutical products, including tablets, capsules, and syrups.
It helps with coloring and identification.
This improves usability.
In cosmetics and personal care products, such as shampoos, soaps, and bath products, it provides blue coloration.
E133 brilliant blue FCF enhances aesthetic properties.
This improves consumer appeal.
E133 brilliant blue FCF is also used in instant drink powders and beverage concentrates, where it dissolves quickly and evenly.
It ensures uniform color after preparation.
E133 brilliant blue FCF is used wherever strong, stable blue coloration in water-based systems is required across food, beverage, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical applications.
E133 brilliant blue FCF is also used in sports drinks and functional beverages, where it helps create bright, recognizable branding colors.
It remains stable in acidic drink formulations.
This improves product identity.
In ice creams and frozen desserts, it is used to produce blue-themed or flavored varieties.
E133 brilliant blue FCF maintains color stability under freezing conditions.
This ensures consistent appearance after storage.
E133 brilliant blue FCF is applied in gelatin desserts and jelly sweets, where it disperses evenly in gel matrices.
It produces uniform coloration throughout the product.
This improves visual consistency.
E133 brilliant blue FCF is commonly used in chewing gum coatings and sugar shells, where it provides strong surface color.
It adheres well to sugar-based layers.
This enhances decorative appearance.
E133 brilliant blue FCF is used in fruit fillings and sauces, particularly in products requiring color differentiation or themed presentation.
It helps achieve specific visual concepts.
This improves marketing appeal.
In pharmaceutical syrups and oral liquids, it is used for product identification and flavor differentiation.
E133 brilliant blue FCF helps distinguish formulations.
This improves usability and safety.
E133 brilliant blue FCF is also used in cosmetic bath products such as shower gels and bath foams.
It provides stable blue coloration in aqueous systems.
This enhances aesthetic properties.
E133 brilliant blue FCF can be used in laboratory and research applications, where its strong blue color is useful for tracing and visualization.
It helps monitor mixing and flow behavior.
This extends technical applications.
In some regions, its use is regulated with maximum allowable limits, particularly in food products.
This ensures consumer safety compliance.
E133 brilliant blue FCF is used wherever intense, stable blue coloration in aqueous systems is required, especially in food, beverage, pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and technical applications.
Safety Profile Of E133 brilliant blue FCF:
E133 brilliant blue FCF is a regulated synthetic dye with generally low acute toxicity, but it still has some safety considerations related to sensitivity and long-term exposure assessment.
It is approved for use within strict intake limits in many countries.
Safety depends on dose and individual response.
One of the main concerns is hypersensitivity reactions, which may include skin rash, itching, or urticaria in sensitive individuals.
These reactions are uncommon but possible.
People with dye allergies may be more affected.
In some cases, it may cause pseudo-allergic reactions, such as nasal irritation or asthma-like symptoms.
This is more likely in individuals sensitive to synthetic dyes.
Avoidance is recommended for susceptible people.
Eye contact may cause mild irritation and temporary staining, especially in concentrated solutions.
E133 brilliant blue FCF is not corrosive but should be avoided.
Rinsing with water is recommended.
Skin contact is generally low risk, but prolonged exposure may cause mild irritation or staining in some cases.
Industrial handling should use protective measures.
This reduces exposure.
Inhalation of powder may cause respiratory irritation, particularly in workplaces with poor ventilation.
Fine particles can irritate the respiratory tract.
At permitted food levels, E133 brilliant blue FCF is considered safe for the general population, and no significant systemic toxicity is expected under normal dietary exposure.