Ammonium carbonate

Ammonium carbonate (CAS 506-87-6), also known historically as salt of hartshorn and sal volatile, is an inorganic salt used industrially as a leavening agent, pH buffer, and catalyst precursor. As E503(i), it is recognized across food, pharmaceutical, and personal care supply chains under established regulatory frameworks. In food manufacturing, bakers' salt serves as a chemical leavening agent.

It is used for flat baked goods such as crackers, cookies, and traditional European confections, where it releases gas cleanly without leaving a sodium residue. Pharmaceutical formulators use it as a pH-adjusting agent. It acts as a buffering component in tablet and topical preparations. In personal care, it functions as an alkalinity regulator in hair care and skin formulations where precise pH control affects product stability.

It also acts as a catalyst precursor in select industrial synthesis processes, where its thermal decomposition releases ammonia under controlled conditions. Ammonium carbonate is supplied as a white powder or granules. Food-grade material conforming to E503(i) specifications is the most commonly sourced form, with FCC and BP grades available for pharmaceutical and regulated food applications.

Technical grade is available for industrial and catalytic process use. This material ensures high purity and consistent performance across diverse manufacturing sectors and specialized chemical applications.