Rudy Baskette, Supercritical Fluid Technologies, Inc
Abstract
Benzophenone is a white crystalline organic substance with a slightly sweet rose geranium scent. In industry it is typically utilized as a photo-initiator, since it breaks down UV light into free radicals when exposed to light. Benzophenone’s protects a range of products from inks, perfumes, cleaning products, to pharmaceuticals, and soaps. Adding benzophenone to clear plastic packaging such as food containers prevents UV damage to the contents inside. Benzophenone has also been utilized as biochemical probe to map certain peptide interactions.