White powder. Two crystalline forms of
anhydrous salt and a hexahy-
drate.
Water softening; sequestering, peptizing, or
deflocculating agent; food additive and texturizer.
Sodium Tripolyphosphate is a binder, stabilizer, and sequestrant
that is mildly alkaline, with a ph of 10, and moderately soluble in
water, with a solubility of 15 g in 100 ml of water at 25°c. it is used
to improve the whipping properties of egg-containing angel food
cake mix and meringues. it reduces gelling of juices and canned
ham and tenderizes canned peas and lima beans. it is a moisture
binder in cured pork and protects against discoloration and reduces
shrinkage in sausage products. in algin desserts, it functions as a
calcium sequestrant. it is also termed pentasodium tripolyphosphate
and sodium triphosphate.
Poison by intravenous route. Moderately toxic by ingestion, subcutaneous, and intraperitoneal routes. Ingestion of large doses of sodium phosphates causes catharsis. Sodium metaand pyrophosphates can cause hemorrhages from the intestine if taken internally in large doses. When heated to decomposition it emits toxic fumes of POx and Na2O.
