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Sarafloxacin comes from the fluoroquinolone class, a group known for their antibacterial properties, and plays a part in both veterinary and aquaculture practices. Over the years, its reputation has grown both because of its wide-ranging ability to stop bacterial growth and due to discussions about its safety in food-producing animals. With the chemical formula C20H18FN3O3, sarafloxacin stands out for its specific approach against bacterial DNA gyrase, which explains its effectiveness against a broad selection of Gram-negative and some Gram-positive pathogens. Physical batches usually appear as a white to pale yellow crystalline powder with a purity that reaches above 98 percent in high-grade materials, and the substance carries a Characteristic CAS number of 98105-99-8, ensuring consistency across production and supply.
At a molecular level, sarafloxacin features a fluoro-substituted quinolone scaffold, which is crucial for its role in inhibiting bacterial enzymes. Its molecular weight hovers near 367.38 g/mol, which matters for formulation work and dosage calculation. The crystalline solid form appears in flake or powder shape, each batch showing a standard melting point in the range of 211 to 213°C. Density runs close to 1.5 g/cm³, and in practical settings, its form as a fine powder or in some custom cases, as granules or pearls, lets chemists measure, suspend, and dose it without trouble. The structure involves a clear fluorine atom at position 6 and a piperazinyl group, features that create distinct chemical properties and support its action in pharmaceutical contexts.
Import and export touchpoints for sarafloxacin relate to its HS Code, often listed as 29335995 under international customs tariffs for fluoroquinolone antibiotics. Global commerce keeps an eye on this number, which signals both regulation and enforcement, especially wherever governments oversee antibiotic distribution tightly. In practice, suppliers have to match documents to this HS Code or risk shipment delays and penalties.
Sarafloxacin shows low solubility in water—less than 0.5 mg per mL—but dissolves with the help of dilute acids, ethanol, or DMSO, making those solvents the go-to for solution preparation in laboratories and manufacturing. Its powder, while easy to weigh, spreads dust if managed carelessly, so proper skin and respiratory protection stand as basic practice. As bulk chemical, it might arrive in 25-kilo drums, sometimes vacuum-sealed or inside foil-lined bags to protect from light and humidity, because the compound breaks down if exposed to strong light or wet air.
Veterinary sectors used to value sarafloxacin for its efficiency in treating infections among poultry and aquaculture stock, in both medicated feed and drinking water treatments. Yet, concerns about antimicrobial resistance and trace residues in food later led many regulators—including the US FDA—to restrict its use, removing it from routine animal care in several countries. Chemists and handlers deal with potential hazards, since sarafloxacin can trigger allergic responses or mild irritation through skin or eye contact. Chronic exposure runs a risk of environmental persistence, since fluoroquinolones break down slowly, and traces of sarafloxacin have appeared in water samples near aquaculture sites. Because this causes anxiety about resistant pathogen development, many labs adhere to strict safety and waste disposal procedures—gloves, masks, and secure chemical waste bins become critical in daily routines.
Production requires specialty chemicals: 6-fluoroquinolones as starting scaffolds and piperazine derivatives. Synthesizing batches means handling reagents such as chloroacetic acid, ethyl oxalyl chloride, and elemental fluorine, all under controlled temperatures and inert atmospheres. These raw materials must meet pharmaceutical grade standards so the final antibiotic keeps its purity and potency, and reputable suppliers test each input before manufacturing production runs. Shipping intermediates and finished powder falls under the purview of chemical transportation codes—labels mark both hazard class and HS Code, and documentation needs to follow local and global regulatory bodies like REACH (Europe) or the US EPA.
Laboratories and warehouses order sarafloxacin powder by weight and store it in cool, dry, low-light conditions. Containers stay tightly sealed, marked with batch number and manufacturing details, to keep out dust, air, and moisture that could change the crystalline structure, weaken activity, or raise safety risks. Emergency instructions sit close at hand because accidental spills or inhalation need prompt response. Any water-based solution remains stable for only short periods, so fresh dilutions are mixed before use and leftover mixtures disposed of by following hazardous waste protocols.
The matter of rising antibiotic resistance casts a long shadow over the use of fluoroquinolone antibiotics, sarafloxacin included. Evidence from environmental monitoring and food chain analysis points toward trace residues and the spread of resistance genes, especially in densely stocked aquaculture operations or regions without tight regulatory controls. In practice, this means veterinarians and farmers adjust to alternative treatments, rotating other classes of antibiotics or stepping up biosecurity. Researchers test wastewater treatment systems that break down persistent pharmaceuticals more effectively to protect local water supplies. Transparency and surveillance at every step—from raw materials to shipping finished product—cut down on misuse, and labeling keeps handlers aware of both hazards and best practices for storage, transportation, and final use. Regulations continue to push companies toward cleaner synthesis, lower contamination, and stricter stewardship, protecting both food safety and natural ecosystems.
