Disodium phosphate is a general term that refers to any sodium salt of phosphoric acid. Disodium phosphate attracts and holds water strongly and is water soluble. It is also called disodium hydrogen phosphate, and its chemical formula is Na2HPO4. Disodium phosphate is commonly used as a buffer, emulsifier, foaming agent, neutralizing agent, texture-modifying agent, texturizer and whipping agent.
Food Additive
Disodium phosphate decreases cooking time in food products. Additionally, manufacturers use disodium phosphate to prevent or slow the proliferation of bacteria in foods. Further, disodium phosphate helps in the formation of pudding and other semi-soft foods. It also serves as a leavening agent and provides phosphorus fortification.
Buffer
Buffers are substances capable of regulating acidity or alkalinity of an environment. Acid salts like disodium phosphate serve as buffers. When a solution has a buffer, the pH, which refers to acidity or alkalinity, does not change significantly when you add an acid or a base to the solution.
Industrial Use
Manufacturers use disodium phosphate as a corrosion inhibitor and in cooling systems. Additionally, you can find disodium phosphate in cleaning and sanitation products. Further, steam boiler applications use disodium phosphate with trisodium phosphate.
Disodium Phosphate as a Supplement
There is a food supplement that contains disodium phosphate that purports to support your liver and gallbladder functions and help maintain proper pH balance and cholesterol metabolism in your body. Additionally, disodium phosphate purports to support the mechanisms through which your liver keeps your body in a balanced state and facilitates the cleaning processes attributable to your liver. Further, the supplement claims to support the function of the bile, a substance implicated in the metabolism of fats. However, clinical research does not support the use of disodium phosphate for these medical purposes.
Hazardous Health Effects
Disodium phosphate can cause irritation to your respiratory tract. Symptoms of this irritation include coughing and shortness of breath. Side effects include vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, heart disturbances, blood chemistry effects and central nervous system effects. Disodium phosphate also has the ability to sequester calcium in your body. Additionally, disodium phosphate can cause irritation, redness and pain to your skin and eyes.
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