STPP = SODIUM TRIPOLYPHOSPATE.
Sodium triphosphate (STP), also sodium tripolyphosphate (STPP), or tripolyphosphate (TPP), [1]) is an inorganic compound with the formula Na5P3O10. It is the sodium salt of the polyphosphate penta-anion, which is the conjugate base of triphosphoric acid. It is produced on a large scale as a component of many domestic and industrial products, especially detergents. The environmental problems associated with eutrophication are attributed to its wide use. [2]
Uses
In detergent
The majority of STPP is consumed as a component of commercial detergents. It serves as a "builder", the industry jargon for water softeners. In hard water (water containing high concentrations of Mg2 + and Ca2 +), the detergent is deactivated. Being a highly charged chelating agent, TPP5- binds tightly and prevents it from disrupting sulfonate detergents. [3]
Food applications
STPP is a preservative for seafood, meat, poultry and animal feed. [3] It is common in food production as an E number E451. In food, STPP is used as an emulsifier and to retain moisture. Many governments regulate the amount allowed in food, as doing so could substantially increase the sales weight of seafood in particular. The United States Food and Drug Administration lists STPP as "generally considered safe." [Reference?]
Other uses
Other uses (hundreds of thousands of tonnes / year) include ceramics (lowers glaze viscosity to some extent), leather tanning (as a tanning agent and synthetic tanning agent - SYNTAN), anticaking agents, setting inhibitors, flame retardants, paper, anticorrosion pigments, textiles, rubber making, fermentation, antifreeze. "[3] TPP is used as a polyanion crosslinker in polysaccharide-based drug delivery.
special chemicals