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What Is Sodium Phosphate Dibasic?

Views: 0     Author: Site Editor     Publish Time: 2026-08-06      Origin: Site

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Sodium Phosphate Dibasic (also known as Disodium Phosphate, Disodium Hydrogen Phosphate, or simply DSP) is an inorganic compound with the chemical formula Na₂HPO₄. It exists in three principal hydration states — anhydrous (Na₂HPO₄), dihydrate (Na₂HPO₄·2H₂O), and dodecahydrate (Na₂HPO₄·12H₂O) — each tailored to different industrial requirements.

As one of the three fundamental sodium phosphates — alongside Monosodium Phosphate (MSP, NaH₂PO₄) and Trisodium Phosphate (TSP, Na₃PO₄) — DSP occupies a unique position in the phosphate family. Its dibasic nature gives it exceptional buffering capacity in the pH 7–9 range, making it the go-to choice for applications requiring mildly alkaline pH control.

In the food industry, DSP is designated as E339(ii) under the European food additive numbering system and is Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) by the U.S. FDA.

Chemical & Physical Properties

Understanding DSP's physicochemical profile is essential for proper application across industries.

Property

Anhydrous (Na₂HPO₄)

Dihydrate (Na₂HPO₄·2H₂O)

Dodecahydrate (Na₂HPO₄·12H₂O)

Molecular Weight

141.96 g/mol

177.99 g/mol

358.14 g/mol

P₂O₅ Content

~49.8%

~39.8%

~19.8%

Melting Point

~250°C (decomposes)

~92.5°C (loses water)

~35°C (melts in own water of crystallization)

Density

~1.68 g/cm³

~2.07 g/cm³

~1.52 g/cm³

Water Solubility (20°C)

~77 g/L

~93 g/L

~220 g/L

pH (1% aq. solution)

8.5–9.5

8.5–9.5

8.5–9.5

Bulk Density

0.8–1.1 g/cm³

0.9–1.1 g/cm³

0.7–1.0 g/cm³

 

Key Industrial Applications

1. Food Industry — E339(ii)

DSP is one of the most widely used phosphate additives in food processing, where it serves multiple functional roles:

Function

Application Examples

Emulsifier

Processed cheese, cheese spreads, evaporated milk — prevents fat separation and ensures smooth texture

pH Buffer / Acidity Regulator

Baked goods, instant puddings, sauces — stabilizes pH during processing and shelf life

Leavening Agent

Pancake mixes, cake premixes, self-rising flour — reacts with sodium bicarbonate for controlled CO₂ release

Moisture Retention

Processed meat, poultry, seafood — improves water-holding capacity and yield

Sequestrant

Canned vegetables, fruit fillings — binds metal ions to prevent discoloration and off-flavors

Nutrient Fortification

Sports drinks, nutritional beverages — provides bioavailable phosphorus

 

2. Water Treatment

In municipal and industrial water treatment systems, DSP serves as:

Corrosion inhibitor:

● Forms a protective phosphate film on metal pipe surfaces, reducing corrosion rates in distribution networks by up to 70–90%.

Scale prevention:

● Sequesters calcium and magnesium ions, preventing scale formation in boilers, cooling towers, and heat exchangers.

pH buffer:

● Maintains stable pH in closed-loop recirculating water systems, critical for optimizing other treatment chemicals.

Typical dosage in potable water treatment ranges from 0.5–3.0 mg/L as PO₄.

3. Textile & Dyeing Industry

DSP has been used in textile processing for over a century due to its unique properties:

Mordant in dyeing:

● Acts as a fixing agent that binds dyes to natural fibers (cotton, wool, silk), improving colorfastness and wash resistance.

Silk weighting:

● Traditionally used to add weight and body to silk fabrics after degumming, giving silk its characteristic drape and sheen.

pH control in dye baths:

● Buffers dye solutions to the optimal pH for reactive and vat dyes, ensuring consistent color uptake.

Flame retardant treatment:

● Combined with other phosphates in finishing baths to impart flame-resistant properties to cotton and blended fabrics.

4. Ceramics & Glass Manufacturing

In ceramic and glass production, DSP contributes to:

Deflocculant in ceramic slips:

● Reduces water demand in clay suspensions, enabling higher solids loading and lower energy consumption during spray drying. Typical addition: 0.1–0.5% by dry weight.

Flux in glass batches:

● Lowers the melting temperature of glass formulations, reducing furnace energy consumption and improving melt homogeneity.

Enamel frits:

● Incorporated into porcelain enamel formulations to control viscosity and improve adhesion to metal substrates.

5. Agriculture & Fertilizer

DSP is a source of both phosphorus (P) and sodium (Na) in agricultural applications:

Water-soluble phosphate fertilizer:

● Suitable for fertigation and foliar spray systems where rapid nutrient availability is required. Typical P₂O₅ content: ~50% (anhydrous).

pH buffering in hydroponic solutions:

● Maintains optimal nutrient solution pH (5.8–6.5) in controlled-environment agriculture.

Animal feed additive:

● Serves as a dietary phosphorus supplement in livestock and poultry feed formulations (non-pharmaceutical nutritional use).

6. Industrial Cleaning & Detergents

Heavy-duty alkaline cleaners:

● DSP provides alkalinity and buffering in industrial degreasers, CIP (Clean-in-Place) solutions, and metal parts washers.

Sequestration builder:

● Softens water by binding calcium and magnesium ions, enhancing surfactant effectiveness in hard water conditions.

Metal surface treatment:

● Used in phosphating baths to prepare steel surfaces for painting or powder coating.

 

Sodium Phosphate Comparison: MSP vs DSP vs TSP

Understanding the differences between the three primary sodium phosphates is critical for selecting the right product for your application:

Parameter

Monosodium Phosphate (MSP)

Disodium Phosphate (DSP)

Trisodium Phosphate (TSP)

Formula

NaH₂PO₄

Na₂HPO₄

Na₃PO₄

pH (1% solution)

4.2–4.6 (acidic)

8.5–9.5 (mildly alkaline)

11.5–12.5 (strongly alkaline)

P₂O₅ Content

~59% (anhydrous)

~50% (anhydrous)

~43% (anhydrous)

Buffering Range

pH 2.0–4.5

pH 6.0–8.5

pH 11.0–12.5

Primary Use

Acidulant, metal treatment, cheese emulsifier

Food buffer, water treatment, textile mordant

Heavy-duty cleaner, degreaser, paint stripper

Food Additive Code

E339(i)

E339(ii)

E339(iii)

Solubility

Very high

High

Moderate

 

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