Industrial Grade Food Grade 99% Potassium Bicarbonate CAS 298-14-6

1. What is Potassium bicarbonate?

Potassium bicarbonate, also known as potassium bicarbonate or potassium carbonate (EU food additive code E501(ii)) is an acid carbonate of carbonic acid and potassium. It is an important food additive in baking, beverage and nutritional fortification.Its chemical formula is usually written as:

KHCO3 (CAS No.: 298-14-6, EINECS No.: 206-059-0, molecular weight approximately 100.12)

It is a colorless or white crystalline powder at room temperature, odorless, with a salty and slightly bitter taste, and a density of approximately 2.17 g/cm³. It is extremely soluble in water (approximately 22.4 g/100 mL at 20℃), and its aqueous solution is weakly alkaline (pH approximately 8.2 for a 0.1 mol/L solution). It is insoluble in ethanol. Potassium bicarbonate begins to decompose when heated to 100-120℃ and completely decomposes into potassium carbonate, carbon dioxide, and water at approximately 292℃.

From a molecular structure perspective, potassium bicarbonate is composed of potassium ions (K+) and bicarbonate ions (HCO3-) linked by ionic bonds. Bicarbonate ions can accept protons to exhibit basicity, and also release carbon dioxide to exhibit acidity. This amphoteric property allows it to react with acidic ingredients in baking to release carbon dioxide and achieve leavening; it can also regulate acidity in beverages; and it can supplement potassium in food—a triple-purpose ingredient, making it a mild and highly effective "multifunctional additive" in the food industry.

Chemically, potassium bicarbonate readily decomposes upon heating to produce carbon dioxide, reacts with acids to release carbon dioxide, and its aqueous solution is weakly alkaline. It is mild, non-corrosive, and has a slightly salty, alkaline taste. Its use within national standards is safe.  It should be stored in a dry, sealed container away from humidity, clumping and high temperatures.

my country’s food-grade products also have strict requirements on indicators, mainly including:

Contents (Main Content)

Basic indicator to secure the effects of bulking, regulating and strengthening is that main content, calculated on dry basis, is generally not less than 99.0%.

Moisture

Moisture content affects product stability, flowability and shelf life and has to be strictly controlled.

Heavy metal limits (lead, arsenic, etc.)

Strict limits are set for heavy metals such as lead and arsenic, which are important indicators for ensuring food safety.

Chlorides and sulfates

Impurities such as chlorides and sulfates must be controlled within standard limits to ensure product purity and taste.

Iron content

Iron content affects the color of the product (high iron content makes the color more noticeable) and must meet the standard requirements.

II . What are the uses of food-grade Potassium bicarbonate?

Food-grade potassium bicarbonate is widely used in the food industry due to its triple functions of mild alkalinity, gas-generating and leavening properties, and potassium supplementation.

1. Leavening agent for baked goods (core application)

Potassium bicarbonate is a raising agent used in biscuits, cookies, cakes, bread, and shortbread. It reacts with acids (e.g. lactic acid, citric acid, acid phosphates) to release carbon dioxide and make the product light and crisp. It can also be used to replace sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) in baked and processed foods, producing the effect of a low sodium healthy formula without reducing leavening.

2. Acidity regulators

Potassium bicarbonate is used as an acidity regulator in soft drinks, dairy products, jams and processed foods to neutralise excess acidity, stabilise product pH and improve taste and quality . It is a food additive that is allowed to be used under GB 2760.

3. Potassium supplements

According to GB 14880 "Standard for the Use of Food Fortifiers", potassium bicarbonate can be used to fortify certain food categories such as milk powder, with the aim of supplementing potassium nutrition of specific groups of people, and maintaining electrolyte balance through daily food.

4. Electrolyte supplements and sports drinks

Potassium bicarbonate is used in sports drinks, effervescent electrolyte tablets and energy supplements to help athletes and sports enthusiasts to replenish the potassium ions quickly and maintain the fluid balance.

5. The Wine and Brewing Industry

Potassium bicarbonate is used for acidity adjustment and deacidification in wine. It helps winemakers to control the acidity of the wine and improve the taste of wine. It is also used as an auxiliary ingredient during the process of wine making .

6. Yeast nutrition and fermentation aids

Potassium bicarbonate is used as a yeast nutrient and fermentation regulator to help maintain the pH balance of the fermentation system, serving fermented dough products such as bread and steamed buns, as well as the brewing industry.

7. Other Applications

With the rise of the low-sodium healthy diet trend, the application scope of food-grade potassium bicarbonate continues to expand, including in areas such as the development of low-sodium snack foods, mineral water and bottled water mineralization, and the formulation design of special dietary foods.

Summarize

Potassium bicarbonate (KHCO3, CAS No. 298-14-6) is a white crystalline powder, highly soluble in water, and its aqueous solution is weakly alkaline. It decomposes on heating or treatment with acid to release carbon dioxide. It has three effects: leavening, acid regulation, and potassium supplementation. It can be found in common foods such as cookies, biscuits and other baked goods, drinks of all kinds, sports drinks, wine, low-sodium health foods and fortified foods. In accordance with GB 25589-2010, food-grade potassium bicarbonate is widely used as a leavening agent, acidity regulator, potassium fortifier, sports drinks, winemaking and yeast nutrition in the food industry, which makes it a multifunctional food additive with "leavening and delicious" and "healthy potassium supplement".