What is Sodium Tripolyphosphate
Sodium tripolyphosphate is also known as sodium triphosphate has the chemical formula of Na5O10P3.nH2O (n= 0 or 6). It is an inorganic compound with physical appearance of white powder and it comes in an anhydrous form as well as a haxahydrate form. It has a wide range of applications, but it is majorly used in the detergent industry because it binds strongly to metal as both a bidentate and tridentate chelating agent. Although it is used widely, there are concerns raised in the widespread use of it as a detergent, as it leads to eutrophication
Manufacturing Process
STPP is produced from wet process of phosphoric acid by heating a stoichiometric mixture of disodium phosphate and monosodium phosphate, under carefully controlled conditions (pH >6). Through this reaction, 2 million tons of STPP is produced annually. The reaction can be written as:
2 Na2HPO4 + NaH2PO4 → Na5P3O10 + 2 H2O
The Uses of Sodium Tripolyphosphate
Food Industry
The most common use of sodium tripolyphosphate (STPP) is for cleaning especially laundry as it increases the ability of many ingredients in the detergent to pass through the fibers of clothes deeper and it also helps to make foam and bubble when washing. In hard water (water that contains high concentrations of Mg2+ and Ca2+), detergents are deactivated. Being a highly charged chelating agent, TPP5- binds to di-cations tightly and prevents them from interfering with the sulphonate detergent.
The most common use of sodium tripolyphosphate (STPP) is for cleaning especially laundry as it increases the ability of many ingredients in the detergent to pass through the fibers of clothes deeper and it also helps to make foam and bubble when washing. In hard water (water that contains high concentrations of Mg2+ and Ca2+), detergents are deactivated. Being a highly charged chelating agent, TPP5- binds to di-cations tightly and prevents them from interfering with the sulphonate detergent.
Paper Industry
It is used as a coating agent for paper due to its ability to disperse in water and hence it coats the paper white in color. It also acts as an oil contamination resistance agent and a defending grease agent in paper production. It also acts as a pitch control agent in raw paper pulp in the grinding or washing stages of wood pulp production, by adsorbing the residual resins and other contaminants which impact the productivity of paper mills and the quality of the paper from the wood pulp. It is used as a de-inking process of newsprint.
It is used as a coating agent for paper due to its ability to disperse in water and hence it coats the paper white in color. It also acts as an oil contamination resistance agent and a defending grease agent in paper production. It also acts as a pitch control agent in raw paper pulp in the grinding or washing stages of wood pulp production, by adsorbing the residual resins and other contaminants which impact the productivity of paper mills and the quality of the paper from the wood pulp. It is used as a de-inking process of newsprint.
Food Industry
STPP is used for food additive as it gives a fresh appearance to meat and seafood in terms of color and texture while also delaying the spoilage. It is also common in food production as E number E451. In foods, STPP is used as an emulsifier and to retain moisture.
STPP is used for food additive as it gives a fresh appearance to meat and seafood in terms of color and texture while also delaying the spoilage. It is also common in food production as E number E451. In foods, STPP is used as an emulsifier and to retain moisture.
Other Applications
The interesting application of STPP is that it could act as a tanning agent for leather and it helps the manufacturers apply the right color and keep the unwanted color away. Besides that, STPP can also be used for petroleum refining, metallurgy, mine applications, and water treatment. STPP also has buffering ability that it can neutralize acidic water.
The interesting application of STPP is that it could act as a tanning agent for leather and it helps the manufacturers apply the right color and keep the unwanted color away. Besides that, STPP can also be used for petroleum refining, metallurgy, mine applications, and water treatment. STPP also has buffering ability that it can neutralize acidic water.
Product Identification
- Formula
- EC
- CAS
- Mol Weight
- Synonym
- Na5P3O10
- 231-838-7
- 7758-29-4
- 367.86 g/mol
- Sodium Triphosphate
Physical and Chemical Properties
- Appearance
- Assay (as Na5P3O18)
- P2O5
- pH
- Water Insoluble Matters
- Iron (as Fe)
- Whiteness
- White Granular
- 94 min
- 57 min
- 9,2 – 10,0
- 0,15 max
- 0,1 max
- 0,1 max
- 85 min
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