Sodium Hydrogen Phosphate (SHP)

Brief Overview

Sodium Hydrogen Phosphate (SHP) is one of many sodium phosphates. The anhydrous salt is hygroscopic, while the hydrates are water-soluble. Sodium phosphates are inexpensive and non-toxic. It can be directly produced by neutralizing phosphoric acid with sodium hydroxide. Industrially it is prepared in a two-step process by treating dicalcium phosphate with sodium bisulfate, which precipitates calcium sulfate. Finally, the resulting solution of monosodium phosphate is partially neutralized.

Manufacturing Process

A process for the manufacture of substantially pure disodium phosphate without utilizing organic solvents, which comprises the steps:

1. Reacting in at least two stages, at a temperature between 40° C and 100° C, monosodium sulfate with a phosphate constituent selected from the group consisting of phosphate rock, dicalcium phosphate and mixtures thereof in the presence of phosphoric acid to form a slurry containing phosphoric acid, monosodium phosphate and calcium sulfate and separating the formed calcium sulfate to obtain a filtrate containing phosphoric acid and monosodium phosphate, the amount of phosphoric acid being in the range of between 5% and 20% of the total P₂O₅, the slurry being characterized by the absence of monocalcium phosphate,

2. Neutralizing in two stages, the filtrate obtained in step 1 first with a calcium constituent selected from calcium carbonate, calcium hydroxide and mixtures thereof, at a pH in the range of between 4 and 6.5 to obtain a slurry containing dicalcium phosphate and separating the formed dicalcium phosphate, followed by further neutralizing with an alkali sodium constituent selected from sodium hydroxide, sodium carbonate and sodium bicarbonate or mixtures thereof at a pH in the range of 8.0 to 9.5.

3. Crystallizing out from the filtrate formed in step 2 substantially pure hydrated disodium phosphate.

Food Industry 

SHP is used to adjust the pH of foods. It prevents the coagulation of condensed milk. It is used in cakes and puddings to quicken cooking time and as an anti-caking additive. It is an emulsifier in foods. It is an excellent preservative and helps keep ice cream and cheese soft. Other applications are stability, thickening agent and helps regulate acidity in food.

Other Applications 

SHP has some non-food applications. It is used in water treatment, flame retardant, and builders in detergents. It helps lower calcium levels in the blood and increases phosphate levels in the blood. It is also a saline laxative to treat constipation and sometimes clear bowels before a colonoscopy.