Dicalcium phosphate

Dicalcium phosphate (CAS 7757-93-9), commonly abbreviated as DCP and listed as E341ii in food applications, is an inorganic calcium phosphate salt used as a mineral supplement. Also known as calcium phosphate dibasic.

Where is Dicalcium phosphate used?

• Food: leavening acid in baked goods and calcium and phosphorus fortification in cereals, infant formula and nutritional supplements
• Pharmaceuticals: direct-compression excipient and diluent in tablet and capsule production
• Animal feed: bioavailable calcium and phosphorus for bone development in poultry, swine and cattle
• Fertilizer blends and soil amendments incorporate DCP as a controlled-release phosphorus source.
• Poultry feed for eggshell production requires high calcium and phosphorus levels; dicalcium phosphate is a common supplement in such feed.
• Dairy cow feed requires adequate calcium and phosphorus levels for milk production; dicalcium phosphate is often included.
• Whitening agent as a replacement for titanium dioxide.
• Fortification of nutritional drinks, vitamin premixes and triturations.

Good to know: Each grade carries distinct purity and heavy metal specifications. The dihydrate form is the more common food and pharma grade.

Formulation notes

• High stability and compressibility make it suitable for direct compression processes.
• High amounts cause more damage to tooling than Firmapress or MCC.
• Due to alkalinity, incompatible with some acidic active ingredients.

Typical specification

• Assay specification: 95.00 to 100.00.
• Mesh size: approximately 100 mesh.
• Pharmaceutical grade conforming to Ph. Eur. 12th edition.
• Water solubility at 20 °C: less than 1 g/l.

Regulatory status

• API documentation (ASMF / DMF) is available for certain product grades.
• EC grade conforming to EU food and dietary supplement market requirements is available on the market.
• Pharmacopoeia grades such as EP (Ph. Eur.), USP, JP, and BP are available on the market.

Storage, packaging and handling

• Store tightly closed, dry and at room temperature.

Frequently asked questions about Dicalcium phosphate

In which solvents is dicalcium phosphate soluble?

It is highly soluble in citric acid and ammonium citrate, while its solubility in water is limited.

What is the calcium content of the powder form?

Dicalcium phosphate powder typically has a calcium content of approximately 29.5%.

What forms and grades are available for different applications?

It is available in an FCC grade and in a grade conforming to USP-NF 2025.

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