Product   Name:   Sodium Tripolyphosphate Tech Grade  
FORMULA:   NA ₅ P ₃ O ₁₀
FORMULA WEIGHT:   367.86
CAS:   7758-29-4
NO. OF STANDARD :   GB/T 9983-2004

1.In detergents

The majority of STPP is consumed as a component of commercial detergents. It serves as a "builder," industrial jargon for a water softener. In hard water  (water that contains high concentrations of Mg2+ and Ca2+), detergents are  deactivated. Being a highly chargedchelating agent, TPP5- binds to dications  tightly and prevents them from interfering with the sulfonate detergent.

2.Food Applications

STPP is a preservative for seafood, meats, poultry, and animal feeds.It is common  in food production as E number E451. In foods, STPP is used as an emulsifier and  to retain moisture. Many governments regulate the quantities allowed in foods,  as it can substantially increase the sale weight of seafood in particular. The UnitedStates Food and Drug Administration lists STPP as "generally recognized as safe.".

3.Other Uses

Other uses (hundreds of thousands of tons/year) include "ceramics, leather  tanning(as masking agent and synthetic tanning agent - SYNTAN), anticaking,  setting retarders, flame retardants, paper, anticorrosion pigments, textiles,  rubber manufacture, fermentation, antifreeze.