Effervescent chemistry is fragile
Effervescent tablets react with any moisture. Manufacturing happens at <30% RH and tubes ship with a silica-gel desiccant in the cap. Moisture excursion above 50% RH for 8+ hours mid-supply chain kills the batch — visible as caked tablets and dead fizz.
§ KEY TAKEAWAYS
- 01Manufacture in <30% RH cleanroom; not all nutra partners can deliver
- 02Aluminium tube + desiccant cap is non-negotiable
- 03Spray-dried vitamin C is more stable than ascorbic acid in effervescent
- 04Flavour masking for B-vitamins drives 8–12% of formula cost
§ GLOSSARY
Technical jargon, acronyms and scientific terms used in this file — decoded.
- Effervescent
- Tablet that fizzes in water via a controlled acid–base reaction; releases CO₂ and dissolves the actives.
- RH
- Relative Humidity — moisture in air as a percentage of saturation; critical control parameter for effervescent fill.
- Desiccant
- Moisture-absorbing material (silica gel, molecular sieve) packed with hygroscopic products.
- Spray-dried
- Manufacturing process that produces a stable, free-flowing powder; common for vitamin C and probiotic strains.
- Hygroscopic
- Tendency to absorb moisture from air; vitamin C, citric acid and effervescent tablets are all hygroscopic.
