How to Create Monosodium Glutamate

Chinese food is often associated with containing high amounts of MSG.

Monosodium glutamate (MSG) is the amino acid known as glutamic acid; it has one atom of sodium. Amino acids are among the basic building blocks of life; however, the structure of MSG has been somewhat controversial due its health effects. MSG is most often used as a food additive, especially in canned foods and some commercial Chinese food. Although in the early 1900s Japanese food scientists first extracted MSG from seaweed, MSG is mostly produced through industrial means, specifically fermentation.

Things You'll Need

• Fermentation device
• Micrococcus glutamicus
• Sodium
• Sugar materials
• Gathering beaker

Instructions

1. Gather large quantities of bacteria. Bacteria help produce certain amino acids based upon the foods they eat. The specific bacterium that industrial scientists prefer is Micrococcus glutamicus.

2. Mix the microorganisms in a fermentation device. The fermentation device must have a filter in the middle where bacterial waste can accumulate. There must also be a stirring mechanism in the device so the bacteria can be mixed effectively with food products.

3. Load the fermentation device with various organic products. Industrial scientists usually put sugars and syrups made from sugar canes, corn and various minerals into the fermentation device. Generally, carbon- and nitrogen-based organic products work the best to produce glutamate and glutamic acid.

4. Close the device, allowing only a small amount of air into it. The bacteria must be able to produce the waste aerobically or they will die from a lack of oxygen.

5. Lightly heat the fermentation device. Similar to baking bread, industrial scientists warm the fermentation to temperatures that do not kill the bacteria but help them thrive.

6. Stir the fermented matter consistently while it is being heated. This allows for greater bacterial incorporation.

7. Place a gathering beaker underneath the filter. The filter will allow waste products, mainly glutamate and glutamic acid, to issue from the fermentation device.

8. Switch out the beaker any time it fills up with liquid glutamate/glutamic acid waste.

9. Add concentrated sodium to the glutamate/glutamic acid mixture.

10. Intensely heat the mixture, causing rapid crystallization. The saltlike crystals that come out from this process are crystallized MSG.

References

• Mayo Clinic: Monosodium glutamate (MSG): Is it harmful?
• Truth In Labelling: How are monosodium glutamate and the other ingredients that contain MSG manufactured?
• Encyclopedia of Amino Acids: Production Process
• EUFIC: The Facts on Monosodium Glutamate