Is sodium copper chlorophyllin the same as chlorophyll?

In the consumer context of "natural is best," green powders have become a key trend in the food, cosmetics, and dietary supplement industries. However, while both are "green," labels may show two seemingly similar but actually distinct names: Chlorophyll and Sodium Copper Chlorophyllin. Are these two substances the same? The answer not only concerns regulatory compliance but also directly impacts formulation costs, shelf life, and final product appearance. This article attempts to deconstruct the differences from four dimensions: chemical structure, safety, stability, and application scenarios, and extends the discussion to three hot topics, providing a "pitfall avoidance + selection" guide for procurement, R&D, and brand owners.

 

sodium copper chlorophyllin VS. chlorophyll

1. Natural Chlorophyll – The Fragile Beauty of "Magnesium Porphyrin"
Natural chlorophyll is the core of plant photosynthesis, with a Mg²⁺ ion at the center of the molecule, fixed by a porphyrin ring composed of four pyrrole nitrogen atoms. This structure gives it a strong absorption peak in the 640–660 nm range, and also determines its fragile nature: at pH < 5, Mg²⁺ is easily displaced by H⁺, generating demetallated chlorophyll, and the color changes from emerald green to brown; above 80 ℃ or after several hours of UV irradiation, the conjugated double bonds break, resulting in "yellowing" and a grassy smell.

2. Sodium Copper Chlorophyllin – The "Industrial-Grade Skin" of Metal Porphyrins
By replacing Mg²⁺ with Cu²⁺, and then saponifying the phytol side chain and salting the carboxyl group, sodium copper chlorophyllin is obtained. The coordination bond energy between copper and the porphyrin ring is far higher than that of magnesium, resulting in improved heat resistance (by approximately 40 ℃), a wider acid resistance range (pH 3–10), and a water solubility of ≥15 g/100 mL (25 ℃). The absorption peaks shift to 405 nm and 630 nm, resulting in a richer blue-green color. JECFA included it in its list of food additives as early as 1970, and China's GB 2760 also explicitly classifies it as a "natural pigment," not a "synthetic pigment."

Summary: The two are not the same substance, but rather a "parent-derivative" relationship; a single metal substitution solves the four major problems of natural chlorophyll: sensitivity to heat, light, and acid, and insolubility in water, laying the foundation for industrial application.

 

Topic 1: Safety – Does "containing copper" equal "heavy metal exceeding limits"?

Consumers are wary of "copper," but this confuses "nutritional copper" with "heavy metal copper." The JECFA's ADI of 0–15 mg/kg·bw·d is based on the premise that copper ions are firmly chelated by the porphyrin ring, resulting in an intestinal absorption rate of <5%, with the vast majority being excreted through bile. Domestic mandatory indicators for "95% content food-grade Sodium Copper Chlorophyllin" products require: free copper ≤200 mg/kg, lead ≤2 mg/kg, and arsenic ≤1 mg/kg, far below the limits set by GB 2762 for grains and edible fungi. As long as you choose factories with SC and ISO22000 certification for bulk purchases and request COA and third-party heavy metal reports, you can use it with confidence. Special reminder: For infant formula and dietary supplements for pregnant women, it is recommended to control the daily intake to no more than 5 mg/kg·bw and to label it as "containing copper."

Topic 2: Stability – How is "100 ℃ sterilization for 30 minutes without fading" achieved?

The pasteurization or UHT processes commonly used in beverages, jellies, and dairy products are disastrous for natural chlorophyll, but are "routine operations" for copper chlorophyllin sodium salt. Studies have shown that:

♦ In a pH 7.0 phosphate buffer system, under conditions of 105 ℃ and 30 min, the retention rate of chlorophyll copper sodium salt is ≥92%, while only 18% of natural chlorophyll remains;
♦ After 8 hours of irradiation with a 365 nm UV lamp (18 W, 30 cm), the absorbance of a 0.1% solution of copper sodium salt decreased by <5%, while that of chlorophyll decreased by >60%;
♦ When vitamin C ≥ 500 mg/100 mL, the copper sodium salt is slightly reduced, resulting in a yellowish color. This can be mitigated by using a combination of 0.02% sodium citrate and 0.01% EDTA-2Na as a color stabilizer, limiting the loss to within 8%.

Therefore, for ready-to-drink functional beverages requiring a long shelf life and transparent packaging, it is recommended to add 0.02%–0.05% chlorophyll copper sodium salt, along with light-blocking packaging.

Hot Topic 3: Application Scenarios

1. Food and Beverages
Candy and ice cream: 0.01%–0.03%, can be combined with curcumin to obtain a "matcha yellow" color;
Carbonated beverages: 0.005%–0.02%, requires separate addition from potassium sorbate to avoid precipitation;
Plant-based meat: 0.02%–0.04%, simulates the visual effect of "green juice," improving the acceptance of plant protein.

2. Pharmaceuticals and Oral Care
Liver protection capsules: Each capsule contains 20 mg of chlorophyll copper sodium salt, claimed to have "antioxidant + detoxification" effects;
Mouthwash: 0.03%, clinically proven to reduce sulfides by 30%, relieving bad breath;
Enteric coating: Using a 2% alcohol-soluble coating to improve tablet appearance and mask bitterness.

 

3. High-End Cosmetics
Fluoride-free toothpaste: 0.1%, balancing "natural green" and antibacterial properties;
Photodynamic skincare: Utilizing a 405 nm absorption peak, combined with LED red and blue light, for auxiliary acne treatment;
Hair dye: Blended with Basic Violet 1 to create a trendy "cool brown + teal" hair color, with a 25% improvement in color fastness.

4. Emerging Fields
Agriculture: 0.5% aqueous solution spray, which can increase spinach photosynthetic rate by 8%;
Edible film: Blended with chitosan to prepare a green preservation coating, extending the shelf life of strawberries by 2 days;
Nanofibers: Electrospinning to prepare Cu-Chl/PVA nanofilms for intelligent food packaging (pH indicator).

How to find a high-quality supplier with "95% high content sodium copper chlorophyllin"?

 

Look at the raw materials: Silkworm feces, bamboo leaves, and pine needles are all acceptable, but copper sodium chlorophyllin extracted from mulberry leaves is superior in terms of odor and solvent residue;
Look at the indicators: Content ≥95% (UV), solvent residue ≤50 mg/kg, total bacterial count ≤1000 cfu/g;
Look at the certifications: ISO22000, FSSC22000, HALAL, KOSHER, USDA Organic as needed;
Look at the production capacity: Can a single batch reach more than 500 kg to ensure consistency of large quantities;
Look at the service: Can they provide compounding solutions, application data, and regulatory documents (TDS, SDS, CFIA, EFSA)?

 

About Xi'an Sost Biotech Co., Ltd.

With 20 years of experience in plant extracts, Xi'an Sost now owns a 6000 ㎡ cGMP standard workshop and 12 sets of 3000 L continuous countercurrent extraction production lines, with an annual output of over 80 tons of 95% grade copper sodium chlorophyllin. The company has successively passed ISO9001, ISO22000, HALAL, KOSHER, USDA Organic, and SEDEX certifications, and its products are exported to more than 50 countries including North America, the European Union, Japan, and South Korea. 
If you are looking for a stable, compliant, and traceable sodium copper chlorophyllin raw material, please feel free to contact us:

Website: www.sosterb.com
Email: info@sostherbusa.com

 

References
1.Ma Zichao, Wu Weizhi, Peng Hongbin, et al. Study on the preparation of chlorophyll copper sodium salt from bamboo leaves [J]. Journal of Nanjing Forestry University (Natural Science Edition), 1991, 15(01): 64-68.
2.National Health Commission of the People's Republic of China. GB 2760-2014 National Food Safety Standard - Standards for the Use of Food Additives [S].
3.JECFA. Evaluation of certain food additives and contaminants. WHO Technical Report Series, 1970, No. 462.
4.WeChat Official Account "Plant Extract Products Encyclopedia". Liver protection, coloring, and antioxidant properties – the multifaceted charm of chlorophyll copper sodium salt, 2025-07-14.
5.Shanghai Dinghe Biotechnology Co., Ltd. Chlorophyll Copper Sodium Salt Technical White Paper, 2025.
6.Wang Li, et al. Study on the stability and color protection of chlorophyll copper sodium salt [J]. Food Industry Science and Technology, 2022, 43(15): 77-82.
7.Dalian University of Technology Science Park. Introduction to the achievements of chlorophyll copper sodium salt and its preparation process, 2025-05-08.
8.Food Business Network. Compilation of Chlorophyll Copper Sodium Salt Enterprise Standards, 2025 Edition.