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curcumin extract grades-0

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95%, 98%, micronized or water-dispersible: choosing a curcumin grade

Time : 2026-10-27

The five grades

All five start from the same turmeric rhizome extract. What separates them is assay, particle size and carrier — and each of those is a manufacturing choice, not a marketing tier.

Grade comparison · current stock range
Grade Total curcuminoids Curcumin share Particle size Water
Standard 95% ≥95% 70–75% 80 mesh Insoluble
High-assay 98% ≥98% 75–80% 80 mesh Insoluble
Micronized 95% ≥95% 70–75% D90 ≤ 20 µm Insoluble, dispersible
Water-dispersible 5% 5% on carrier ~3.7% Spray-dried Disperses
Water-dispersible 10% 10% on carrier ~7.4% Spray-dried Disperses

Grades are stocked to the specifications shown; batch values are on the COA.

The trap in this table

Water-dispersible powder is not a like-for-like substitute. The 10% grade is roughly ten times more powder for the same active load, and the carrier takes up capsule space or adds to the beverage solids. Choose it because the application needs dispersion, not because the number looks smaller.

Decision guide by application

Capsules & tablets
Standard 95% or 98%

Highest active load per gram, lowest excipient burden. Choose 98% when the capsule size is fixed and you need the last few percent. Micronized if content uniformity is a problem at low dose.

Softgels & oily systems
Standard 95%, oil-dispersed

Curcumin is oil-soluble enough to suspend in carrier oils with lecithin. Particle size matters more than assay here — coarse powder settles.

Beverages & shots
Water-dispersible 5% or 10%

No sediment, acceptable haze, colour stable at acidic pH. Expect an orange tint and a carrier contribution to solids and taste.

Food colour
Standard 95% (E100)

Colour strength per gram is the spec, not assay. Ask for a colour-value range and a sample against your matrix — pH shifts the hue toward red-brown.

Cosmetics
Standard 95% or micronized

Oil-soluble colour and antioxidant positioning. Micronized for even dispersion in emulsions; check odour and heavy metals for leave-on use.

Pet & feed
Standard 95%

Palatability and dust are the usual complaints — granulated grade reduces dust in premix plants.

What "water-dispersible" means

Curcumin is practically insoluble in water — under 1 µg/mL at neutral pH. No powder makes it truly soluble; a water-dispersible grade makes it dispersed: fine particles stabilized by a carrier so they stay suspended instead of settling or floating.

  • Carrier — acacia gum or modified starch, spray-dried with the extract. The carrier is typically 85–95% of the powder at the 5–10% load.
  • Appearance in water — a translucent to slightly hazy orange, depending on load and carrier. If you need a crystal-clear drink, no curcumin powder will give it to you without additional processing.
  • pH — colour shifts from lemon-yellow at acidic pH toward red-brown as pH rises. For beverages, keep pH below 5 and test the colour after pasteurisation.
  • Dose — because the load is 5–10%, a 100 mg curcuminoid serving means 1–2 g of powder. Check the sensory impact before fixing the formula.

Why D90 matters

D90 is the particle size below which 90% of the powder falls. An 80-mesh powder (about 180 µm) and a micronized powder (D90 ≤ 20 µm) can carry the same assay and behave completely differently: suspension stability, dissolution rate, content uniformity at low dose, dust, and even colour perception.

If flow, dust or dispersion is your problem, ask for the full distribution — D10, D50 and D90 — not just the mesh size. A "passes 80 mesh" statement tells you the top end, not the shape of the curve.

Questions for any supplier

  1. Is the 95% or 98% measured on total curcuminoids or on curcumin alone?
  2. What is the full three-peak profile for the batch you are quoting?
  3. For the water-dispersible grade: what carrier, what load, and what does it look like in water at your intended dose?
  4. What is D10/D50/D90, not just the mesh pass?
  5. Can you send a 100–200 g sample of the exact grade, from the exact batch, before I commit to 25 kg?
Samples

We send 100 g of the quoted grade for evaluation, with the batch COA. Freight is quoted separately. MOQ and sample policy →

Related: Curcumin extract 95% · COA and batch testing · Stability · MOQ and ordering · Heavy metals and regulatory status

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