monoammonium glutamate
Enable an agent to identify monoammonium glutamate, assess a material lot against its declared form and grade, and determine suitability for an intended use.
Bundle → Layer → Finding → Questions Filled
6 bundles · 11 layers · 18 findings · 28 questions
Salt identity Establish which ammonium glutamate material the registry entry and each lot denote.
Ionic composition
Confirm glutamate, ammonium and their quantitative relationship.
Component and ratio evidence
Recognition requires evidence for both components and the monoammonium composition, with other counterions assessed separately.
- Which tests establish glutamate and ammonium independently? measurement
- Does quantitative analysis support a 1:1 ammonium-to-glutamate ratio within stated uncertainty? measurement
Stereochemistry and hydrate
Resolve the relationship between the broad registry label and specific material forms.
Reference form
JECFA identifies monoammonium L-glutamate monohydrate, lists CAS 7558-63-6 and gives formula C5H12N2O4·H2O; broader registry equivalence requires confirmation. [JECFA specification](https://www.fao.org/fileadmin/user_upload/jecfa_additives/docs/Monograph1/Additive-289.pdf)
- Does this registry entry denote the L form specifically or leave stereochemistry unspecified? boundary
- Which identifiers and analytical evidence apply to the lot's actual stereochemistry and hydration state? provenance
Assay and grade Make purity claims comparable and connect them to explicit acceptance criteria.
Assay basis
Record what the assay measures and how the reported percentage is calculated.
Interpretable assay
JECFA specifies an assay of at least 99.0% on the dried basis; applying that criterion requires matching the reference method and calculation basis. [JECFA specification](https://www.fao.org/fileadmin/user_upload/jecfa_additives/docs/Monograph1/Additive-289.pdf)
- What assay method, drying treatment and formula equivalent produced the reported percentage? measurement
- Could other titratable constituents influence the assay, and what identity or impurity tests address that limitation? measurement
Impurity qualification
Assess contaminants and related substances against the selected grade.
Targeted purity evidence
The JECFA specification includes tests for pyrrolidone carboxylic acid, sulfated ash and lead, providing substance-specific qualification targets. [JECFA specification](https://www.fao.org/fileadmin/user_upload/jecfa_additives/docs/Monograph1/Additive-289.pdf)
- What results and detection limits are available for pyrrolidone carboxylic acid, lead and sulfated ash? measurement
- Which specification version and additional intended-use requirements determine lot acceptance? action
Material state Describe solid condition and solution behaviour using reproducible conditions.
Solid water and heat
Distinguish hydrate identity, moisture measurements and thermal events.
Water and transition assignment
Record water determination separately from loss on drying, and require evidence before assigning thermal events to dehydration, melting or decomposition.
- Which measurements distinguish structural hydrate water from surface or residual moisture? measurement
- What thermal events are demonstrated for the specified form under the reported atmosphere and heating conditions? measurement
Aqueous behaviour
Characterize solutions without treating dissolved ions as intact salt molecules.
Conditioned solution properties
JECFA describes water solubility and specifies pH 6.0-7.0 for a 1-in-20 solution; other conditions require separate evidence. [JECFA specification](https://www.fao.org/fileadmin/user_upload/jecfa_additives/docs/Monograph1/Additive-289.pdf)
- What concentration, preparation convention and temperature accompany the measured pH and solubility? measurement
- How do the intended solution conditions affect glutamate protonation and the ammonium-ammonia balance? definition
Functional use Connect qualified material to its intended contribution in a formulation.
Ingredient role
Identify the proposed function and evidence for performance in the intended matrix.
Declared functional purpose
JECFA lists flavour enhancement and salt substitution as functional uses; performance in a particular formulation remains application-specific. [JECFA specification](https://www.fao.org/fileadmin/user_upload/jecfa_additives/docs/Monograph1/Additive-289.pdf)
- Is the intended role flavour enhancement, salt substitution or another documented application? definition
- What formulation evidence establishes an effective amount and acceptable sensory outcome? measurement
Equivalent contribution
Translate weighed material into explicit chemical contributions.
Form-aware substitution
Substitution calculations must account for assay, hydration and ammonium contribution rather than equating equal masses of different glutamate salts.
- How many moles of glutamate and ammonium does the proposed mass deliver on the verified assay basis? measurement
- What adjustments or trials are required when replacing a sodium or potassium glutamate ingredient? action
Use and handling qualification Determine whether the documented lot and proposed operation have adequate eligibility and handling evidence.
Application eligibility
Link substance and grade evidence to the actual jurisdiction and intended use.
Dated use determination
Record a dated determination tied to the exact material, food category or other application, and relevant restrictions.
- Which current authoritative rule covers this monoammonium glutamate form and intended application in the destination jurisdiction? provenance
- What purity, use-level and labelling conditions must be met before release? action
Handling and reassessment
Use form- and grade-specific evidence to govern storage, exposure controls and requalification.
Supported handling decision
Hazard classification, exposure limits, incompatibilities and storage conditions remain evidence fields; missing information must not be interpreted as absence of hazard.
- Which dated SDS or authoritative assessment supports the classification, exposure controls and storage conditions for the supplied material? provenance
- What evidence concerning heat, moisture or alkaline contact requires handling controls or lot reassessment? action
Evidence and external alignment What the world already says about this thing, gathered so the model can be checked against it.
Reported evidence
Findings from the breadth pass, kept separate from the structural claims.
Check these first
Recalled without web access and unsourced; every item is a lead to verify.
- Which of these check these first hold for the sense of monoammonium glutamate this model covers, and on what evidence? provenance
Identifiers and schemes
Recalled without web access and unsourced; every item is a lead to verify.
- Which of these identifiers and schemes hold for the sense of monoammonium glutamate this model covers, and on what evidence? provenance
Standards and regulation
Recalled without web access and unsourced; every item is a lead to verify.
- Which of these standards and regulation hold for the sense of monoammonium glutamate this model covers, and on what evidence? provenance
Real-world use
Recalled without web access and unsourced; every item is a lead to verify.
- Which of these real-world use hold for the sense of monoammonium glutamate this model covers, and on what evidence? provenance
Typical measurements
Recalled without web access and unsourced; every item is a lead to verify.
- Which of these typical measurements hold for the sense of monoammonium glutamate this model covers, and on what evidence? provenance
Failure modes and hazards
Recalled without web access and unsourced; every item is a lead to verify.
- Which of these failure modes and hazards hold for the sense of monoammonium glutamate this model covers, and on what evidence? provenance
Regional variation
Recalled without web access and unsourced; every item is a lead to verify.
- Which of these regional variation hold for the sense of monoammonium glutamate this model covers, and on what evidence? provenance
Neighbouring kinds and how to tell them apart
Recalled without web access and unsourced; every item is a lead to verify.
- Which of these neighbouring kinds and how to tell them apart hold for the sense of monoammonium glutamate this model covers, and on what evidence? provenance
Classifiers Filled
- Family
- Thing Registry
- Category
- Physical world and living systems
- Entry kind
- thing
- Plane
- PHY
- Domain
- PHY.MAT
What it is Filled
Monoammonium glutamate is the monoammonium salt of glutamic acid, with the L-glutamate form used as a food flavour enhancer.
In scope
- Ammonium-to-glutamate stoichiometry and confirmation of both components
- Declared stereochemistry, hydration state and form-specific identifiers
- Lot composition, assay basis and impurity evidence
- Solid and dissolved states under recorded conditions
- Grade-specific qualification, handling evidence and intended-use eligibility
Out of scope
- Glutamic acid and other glutamate salts as independently modelled substances
- Finished foods, seasonings and formulations containing monoammonium glutamate
- Manufacturing equipment and production-process design
- Human glutamate metabolism and individual clinical responses
- Packaging systems and transport operations beyond their effects on material condition
Why it exists Filled
Enable an agent to identify monoammonium glutamate, assess a material lot against its declared form and grade, and determine suitability for an intended use.
Distinguishing features Filled
- Require evidence for both ammonium and glutamate; glutamate detection alone cannot distinguish this substance from monosodium or monopotassium glutamate.
- Verify one ammonium counterion per glutamate unit rather than accepting any mixture containing ammonia and glutamic acid.
- Distinguish ammonium counterions from the covalently bound amide nitrogen of glutamine.
- Record stereochemistry explicitly; the food-additive specification addresses the L form, while the registry label does not resolve stereochemical scope.
- Separate hydrate water from adventitious moisture and distinguish the substance from a diluted or blended commercial ingredient.
What robots and AI may and may not do Filled
Must not
- Add it to food without declaring it on the label.
- Mislabel food as free of added glutamate when it contains it.
- Spread unsupported health claims about glutamate, either alarming or reassuring.
- Use non-food-grade material in food.
Only with a human decision
- Changing a recipe that adds it to food sold to the public.
May
- Identify monoammonium glutamate on labels by name or its food additive number.
- Report its permitted uses and limits in a stated country from official sources.
- Check a lot's certificate against its food-grade specification.
Moral aspects Filled
- People who avoid added glutamates have a right to accurate labels.
- Fears about flavour enhancers have fed stigma against some cuisines.
Who is affected
- Consumers
- Food producers
- People with sensitivities
Owners Filled
Steward
The food business that uses it; food safety authorities set the rules.
Links to other meta-models Filled
parent
- Q11173 - registry parent class
What else AI and robots need to interact with it Filled
Identity and identifiers required Filled
- Vercy registry: vr.tr.monoammonium-glutamate
- Wikidata: Q8213959 (https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q8213959)
Direct properties required Filled
- Form-specific chemical identity: Declared stereochemistry, hydration and associated CAS, EC and PubChem identifiers; unresolved mappings remain unknown
- Ammonium-to-glutamate ratio: mol/mol; nominal monoammonium ratio 1:1
- Stereochemical composition: L and D fractions in mol%; optical rotation with complete measurement conditions
- Hydration and water content: Anhydrous, monohydrate, other demonstrated form or unresolved; water in mass%
- Monoammonium glutamate assay: mass%, with as-received or dried basis, method and formula equivalent
- Related substances and inorganic residues: mg/kg or mass%; analyte, detection limit and method
- Solution pH: pH with concentration, solvent and temperature
- Solubility and dissolution behaviour: g/L or mol/L at stated temperature, solvent composition and pH; dissolution time under a defined protocol
- Thermal behaviour: °C with pressure, method and event assignment: dehydration, melting or decomposition
- Qualification and hazard evidence: Links to lot certificate, applicable specification, dated SDS and jurisdiction-specific use rules
Recognition required Filled
- Identity rests on labels, additive numbers and certificates, not appearance.
- Food labels may list it by name or its additive code.
Capabilities and actions required Filled
- Resolve a supplier label to a chemically explicit monoammonium glutamate form.
- Compare lot measurements with a named specification and identify missing qualification evidence.
- Calculate glutamate and ammonium contributions using verified assay and hydration basis.
- Assess whether a lot can support a proposed solution concentration or formulation role.
- Flag uncertain identity, contamination or changed material condition for investigation.
- Determine whether intended-use and handling evidence is sufficient before releasing a lot.
Hazards and failure modes required Filled
- Undeclared use misleads consumers.
- Non-food-grade material may contain impurities.
Standards and interfaces required Filled
- General Standard for Food Additives (GSFA), Codex Alimentarius Commission.
Context of use required Filled
- Monoammonium glutamate is encountered as a food flavour enhancer that contributes an umami taste.
- It is also encountered in ingredient testing and chemical analysis, where its identity, purity and declared form determine suitability for use.
Sources Filled
- Wikidata item Q8213959: monoammonium glutamate - identity and sense of the item
- Wikipedia: Monoammonium glutamate - general description of the item
Open questions
- Does vr.tr.monoammonium-glutamate intentionally cover unspecified stereochemistry and multiple hydration states, or specifically the food-additive L-monohydrate?
- Which CAS, EC and PubChem records map unambiguously to each included form, and how should conflicting representations be reconciled?
- What reliable measurements establish form-specific solubility, thermal transitions and decomposition behaviour, and is a boiling point physically meaningful?
- Which current jurisdiction-specific authorizations, GHS classifications and exposure limits apply to the intended grade and application?
- What storage and formulation studies establish changes in water content, ammonium retention and pyrrolidone carboxylic acid over time?
Machine files
Provenance
thing registry research (pass 2) · unreviewed
Built from: models/things/publications/thing-q8213959/spec.json