Hexasodium Hexametaphosphate

Hexasodium Hexametaphosphate (CAS 10124-56-8) is a condensed phosphate salt used in food, industrial, and water treatment applications.

Where is Hexasodium Hexametaphosphate used?

• Food processing: controls mineral interference in dairy, seafood, and processed meat
• Used as an emulsifying salt in process cheese, usually not as the sole emulsifying salt.
• Used in processed meats to improve water-binding properties of proteins.
• Water treatment: inhibits scale and corrosion in boiler systems, cooling towers, and municipal pipelines
• Mining and mineral processing: dispersant in ore slurries, improving separation efficiency and reducing reagent consumption
• Textile and paper manufacturing: sequesters hardness ions in process water, preventing interference with dyes, bleaches, and sizing agents
• In the ceramic industry, improves pigment dispersion and grinding of raw materials.
• In detergent manufacturing, acts as a sequestrant and dispersant and optimizes efficiency in hard water.
• It functions as a sequestrant and dispersant by binding calcium, magnesium, and heavy metal ions.

Good to know: Food-grade material meets FCC specifications; technical-grade product is offered for industrial applications. Purity levels and P₂O₅ content are the primary quality parameters buyers should confirm against their process requirements.

Formulation notes

• In processed cheese, concentration ranges from 0.25% to 2.75% and holding time from 0 to 20 minutes.
• Hydrolyzes in aqueous solution, especially under acidic conditions, to sodium trimetaphosphate and sodium orthophosphate.
• Polyphosphates have a greater casein dispersion ability compared to orthophosphates or trisodium citrate.
• When the amount of sodium hexametaphosphate chemical is 2%, the paint has finer and better fluidity.

Typical specification

• Commercial sodium hexametaphosphate is typically a mixture of metaphosphates, more accurately called sodium polymetaphosphate.
• Phosphate content as P2O5 is minimum 62.00% by weight.
• Matter insoluble in water is maximum 0.5% by weight.
• Soluble iron compounds as Fe are maximum 0.035% by weight.
• Loss on ignition is maximum 5.00% by weight.

Regulatory status

• Labeled as E452i when used in food products.
• Assigned INS number 452i.
• Registered under the EU REACH regulation according to ECHA.
• Concentrations not exceeding 10,000 mg/l or mg/kg are considered safe levels by EFSA and USFDA.

Storage, packaging and handling

• Should be stored in a dry, well-ventilated area to prevent moisture absorption.

Frequently asked questions about Hexasodium Hexametaphosphate

How does sodium hexametaphosphate act in modified food starch production?

It is used as a cross-linking agent to react with starch to produce modified food starch by increasing starch molecular weight and stabilizing starch structure.

What laboratory reagent grade of hexasodium hexametaphosphate is available?

Hexasodium hexametaphosphate is available as a laboratory reagent grade with a minimum of 67% P2O5 basis.

Technical content is compiled and updated by the SoleChem product team from public technical sources; the certificate of analysis (COA) governs product-specific specifications.