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Povidone K90 BP EP USP Pharma Grade: Overview and Characteristics

What Is Povidone K90 BP EP USP Pharma Grade?

Povidone K90 BP EP USP Pharma Grade carries a longstanding reputation across the pharmaceutical world, appreciated for its stability and versatility. This synthetic, water-soluble polymer stems from the monomer N-vinylpyrrolidone. Laboratories and manufacturers lean on Povidone K90 thanks to its dependable behavior, whether in a traditional tablet, capsule, topical solution, or even in modern injectables. Over the years, experience handling this material shows a consistent result: it delivers without fuss, thanks to a robust balance of chemical and physical traits. Used as a binding, disintegrating, and solubilizing agent, the material adapts neatly to numerous processes. The product takes its name from its molecular weight, which runs in the ballpark of 1,000,000–1,500,000 g/mol—this impacts everything from viscosity to solubility profile.

Physical Properties and Appearance

Unprocessed, Povidone K90 stacks up as a fine, off-white to light yellow powder with little or no scent. It sometimes shows up as flakes, crystals, solid blocks, pellets, or pearls, but most workers spot it as a free-flowing powder. It mixes readily with water, forming clear solutions at higher concentrations, and the result comes back with a noticeable viscosity increase—crucial for formulators balancing active ingredient release rates. The material sometimes turns up as an aqueous solution instead of a dry substance, especially when handling bulk manufacturing where speed and consistency matter. Bulk density usually lands between 0.3 and 0.4 g/cm3, depending on how it's packed, with moisture content ideally below 5% to prevent lumps or flow interruptions.

Chemical Structure, Formula, and HS Code

Experience in the lab demonstrates why so many teams prefer a clear chemical roadmap. Povidone K90 rests on the polyvinylpyrrolidone backbone, which means a repeating structure of C6H9NO. Its idealized formula can be written as (C6H9NO)n, with "n" indicating a large number of repeating units, driving its high molecular weight. This setup delivers excellent binding performance and a neutral to slightly acidic pH (3.0–7.0 in a 10% solution). Regulatory filings pull up HS Code 39059990 for international trade, grouping it under polymers in primary forms. The surface chemistry of the amide group opens the door for a variety of interactions, both in pharmaceutical and non-medical applications, making it a useful raw material across several industries.

Specifications and Quality Standards

A specification sheet for Povidone K90 BP EP USP Pharma Grade proves essential in quality-driven environments: viscosity (measured at 5% solution, 25°C) lists between 85 and 110 mPa.s; nitrogen content ranges from 11.5% to 12.8%; residual monomer typically drops well below 10 ppm, assuaging regulatory concerns. Heavy metals don’t surpass 10 ppm. Pharmaceutical producers and quality control partners always check for microbiological purity, with low total aerobic microbial and yeast/mold counts, supporting safety for internal or topical use. The powder pours smoothly from drums and bags, thanks to controlled particle size and dryness—practical bonuses that speed up production and avoid costly downtime.

Forms: Solid, Flakes, Powder, Pearls, and Liquid

Over the years, handling different forms of Povidone K90 highlights certain preferences and challenges. The powder form remains a favorite for ease of mixing and dosing, but the industry sometimes prefers larger flakes or solid pearls when dust or static creates headaches on the warehouse floor. Pearls resist caking, ease exposure control, and offer a safer alternative in closed system manufacturing. As a solution, Povidone in liquid form delivers quick deployment in process lines, ideal for fast-paced operations that need batch-to-batch uniformity. Each form finds its audience depending on application, environmental constraints, and safety protocols.

Solutions, Density, and Crystal Behavior

Some applications depend on Povidone K90’s capability to dissolve in both hot and cold water, yielding viscous, colorless solutions at concentrations up to 10%–15%. The density of these solutions varies—users typically encounter values higher than water, depending on the polymer concentration. In rare dry storage mishaps, the powder can pick up moisture and partially crystallize, forming agglomerates that complicate subsequent dissolving processes. Experienced handlers recommend airtight storage and swift usage after opening to keep this from happening, a lesson repeated across pharmaceutical, food, and adhesive manufacturing spaces.

Safety, Handling, and Hazards

Decades of direct interaction with Povidone K90 in both research and production settings underscore its track record as a relatively benign substance. Most workers never report irritation or allergy unless extensive contact with powdered dust lingers. Proper dust management—masks, goggles, and local exhaust ventilation—remains standard best practice. Safety data sheets classify it as non-hazardous under normal working conditions. Its chemical stability means no unexpected reactions during storage or processing. Contamination with strong oxidizers or exposure to high temperatures can degrade the powder, at which point some safety concerns may arise, like the formation of minor irritant breakdown products.

Raw Material Sourcing and Quality Assurance

As with many synthetic polymers, the end quality of Povidone K90 depends on raw material integrity. Industrial buyers pay close attention to supply chain transparency, often working with established producers who furnish full traceability on N-vinylpyrrolidone sources and batch processing steps. Reliable partners help maintain a continuous record of compliance with global pharmacopeial standards—BP, EP, USP—so end users trust that product batches meet strict quality requirements. Third-party audits and repeated quality checks define the daily routine for experienced procurement and QA teams, minimizing the risk of adulteration or out-of-spec lots. Real-world experience shows that proactive engagement in batch certification avoids issues far better than post-hoc explanations ever could.