Amino acid solubility and photo sensitivity?

csb123 · Oct 31, 2019

I’m making a DIY amino acid blend. The powder 80% dissolves in r/o water. What can I do to increase solubility?

Secondly, do I have to store it away from light?

Gareth elliott · Oct 31, 2019

Some amino acids are not water soluble. You may need to add lipids and create a suspension. Some amino acid powders are also sold in forms that are hydrophilic.
Not a chemist but s-adenosylmethionine is soluble in water and methionine much less so.

csb123 · Oct 31, 2019

I’ll try mixing some selcon in.

Thanks!

Dan_P · Nov 1, 2019

csb123 said:
I’m making a DIY amino acid blend. The powder 80% dissolves in r/o water. What can I do to increase solubility?

Secondly, do I have to store it away from light?

Check the pH of the solution. Shifting it slightly up or down might help. The amino acids tyrosine, phenylalanine and tryptophan might be the ones not completely dissolving.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Nov 3, 2019

The choice of chemical forms of the amino acids will impact the solubility and a big concern is bacterial degradation of the solution.

csb123 · Nov 3, 2019

Randy Holmes-Farley said:
The choice of chemical forms of the amino acids will impact the solubility and a big concern is bacterial degradation of the solution.

I’ve noticed a lot of KZ products smell strongly of vinegar. I’ll try making a solution in pure vinegar to inhibit “spoilage.”

Randy Holmes-Farley · Nov 3, 2019

The vinegar will enhance the solubility if some amino acids and reduce the solubility of others, but it’s a fine thing to try.

pigmo · Dec 13, 2019

csb123 said:
I’m making a DIY amino acid blend. The powder 80% dissolves in r/o water. What can I do to increase solubility?

Secondly, do I have to store it away from light?

hi csb, what were your results, any improvement?

;Cat

csb123 · Dec 13, 2019

I settled on 5 grams of powdered amino acids mixed in 125 ml vinegar and 375 ml RO water. The powder dissolves well in this (especially if you heat it up.) Over the course of 3 weeks, no bacteria or mold grew in it. My corals are coloring up nicely with its use. I’m currently dosing 15 ml per day in my 300 gal reef.