For this reason, experienced craftsmen add ammonium carbonate to the finished dough just before baking. The faster the component is introduced into the semi-finished product, the better the final result will be.

• BASF (Germany);
• Foodchem International Corporation (China);
• MOLOBELA ML TRADING (South Africa);
• ZIMA THAI TRADERS (Thailand);
• Ruban Impex (India).

Independent experts of the Kedr group recognized the substance as dangerous. What is the harm of the substance, the researchers did not indicate. The evidence base has not been published either.

A more detailed study was conducted by specialists from the University of Southampton (UK) commissioned by the Agency for Food Additives.

It was found that the additive E 503 at 60ºC decomposes into its components: two gaseous substances (ammonia and carbon dioxide) and water. Ammonia, as an unstable substance, evaporates almost immediately. Carbon dioxide is not dangerous. There is much more of it in the atmosphere than in cookies. It also disappears, but slowly. There is only one ingredient left - water.

The conclusion is obvious: it is impossible to get poisoned with bagels with ammonium carbonates.

Ammonium carbonates (bicarbonates) are food additives with the E503 index, belonging to the group of emulsifiers. The substance has the form of white, pinkish or gray crystals with a slight ammonia odor. Additive E503 is highly soluble in water and insoluble in alcohols and organic liquids.

Production and use of ammonium carbonate

Ammonium carbonate is a synthetic substance. It is obtained by heating ammonium chloride, or by a chemical reaction of the combination of ammonia and carbon dioxide in the presence of water vapor. The resulting substance is cooled and dried.

The main application of ammonium bicarbonate is the food industry:

• In the production of bread and confectionery, it is used as a substitute for yeast or soda. Due to the property of instantaneous splitting in air with the release of gas, E503 is used as a leavening agent for dough (products rise well and do not stale for a long time).
• In the manufacture of wines, this food additive makes the color of the drink more saturated, accelerates the fermentation of the must.

Ammonium carbonate is also included in the composition of medicinal syrups and homeopathic solutions, is part of medicines that help against poisoning. The product of the interaction of ammonium carbonate with alkali is ammonia. Additive E503 is a harmless color fixative for cosmetic products, a pH level stabilizer.

The benefits or harms of ammonium bicarbonate

Food additive E503 is considered harmless and approved for use in all countries of the world. The substance can cause harm only in its original state, and not as part of food.

A potential threat to humans is associated with the property of ammonium carbonate to release ammonia. Inhalation of this gas can cause sore throat and inflammation of the mucous membranes. If ammonium carbonate comes into contact with the skin, allergic reactions and skin irritations may occur.

The substance is recognized as harmless because during the preparation of products or as a result of heat treatment of food, the formed ammonia completely evaporates. The permissible rate of use of the additive E503 is not limited.

According to its properties, the food emulsifier E503 Ammonium carbonate can also act as an acidity regulator, baking powder and stabilizer, due to which its use in various areas of human life is quite wide.

By the way, in addition to the main and most common name of the additive - ammonium carbonate - others are also known. In particular, ammonium carbonate, ammonium carbonate, ammonium bicarbonate, ammonium hydrogen carbonate and ammonium carbonate.

As a rule, food emulsifier E503 Ammonium carbonate is a colorless crystal, but often there is a type of white, gray or pink granules with a pronounced smell of ammonia. The physical properties of the food emulsifier E503 Ammonium carbonate are due to the synthetic, that is, the artificial nature of its origin. The chemical formula of ammonium carbonate is (NH4)2CO3.

The additive is quite soluble in water, but it is unstable in air and in solution. When the temperature rises to 18-24C, the food emulsifier E503 Ammonium carbonate begins to release ammonia, turning into ammonium bicarbonate. Moreover, at 60C, the substance decomposes into carbon dioxide, water and ammonia.

Previously, ammonium carbonate was obtained on the basis of organic nitrogenous raw materials (horns, hooves and animal hair) by distillation under high temperature conditions. To date, on an industrial scale, E503 is formed by heating a mixture of ammonium chloride or as a result of the interaction of carbon dioxide with ammonia and water, subject to very rapid cooling.

The food industry uses the E503 ammonium carbonate emulsifier as an ersatz for yeast and soda in the confectionery and bakery industries. The additive is included in products such as cookies, chocolate and bakery products, cakes, bagels. Quite often, winemakers also use the additive as a fermentation accelerator in the industrial production of wines.

In addition, the main properties of the food emulsifier E503 Ammonium carbonate are also important for pharmaceuticals - it is used in the production of ammonia and cough syrups. Many cosmetic companies in the composition of decorative products also indicate ammonium carbonate, which plays the role of a color brightness stabilizer.

Harm of food emulsifier E503 Ammonium carbonate

The harm of food emulsifier E503 Ammonium carbonate for human health is due to the fact that the substance is capable of releasing ammonia. However, there is an opinion that in the process of heat treatment of products, carbon dioxide and ammonia evaporate, while only water remains in the finished product from a complex substance.

That is why it can be said that the food emulsifier E503 Ammonium carbonate can carry real danger and harm only in its original state. But, be that as it may, the additive is recognized as dangerous, although it is not prohibited for use in many countries of the world.

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Most modern food products have strange codings with the symbol "E" on the packaging. Some components should be feared, but, according to scientists, ammonium carbonate is completely harmless to the human body. What properties does this substance have, how is it obtained and where is it used? This will be discussed in this article.

Reagent description, physical properties

A compound with the formula (NH 4) 2 CO 3 is nothing more than a salt of carbonic acid. Everyone knows its extremely unstable properties, already in the course of many reactions it decomposes into CO 2 and H 2 O. Apparently, they were inherited by a reagent called ammonium carbonate. Food additive E503 is a crystalline substance with a cubic lattice. Colorless grains have a characteristic odor due to the presence of the NH 4 + cation. It gives the crystals the aroma of ammonia.

The density of the substance is 1.5 g/cm 3 . The molar mass of salt is 96.09 grams/mol. The melting point of the reagent is 58 ⁰C. The compound is highly soluble in water, but is extremely unstable. Salt begins to decompose at a temperature of 18-25 ⁰C. During the reaction, gaseous ammonia and ammonium bicarbonate are released. This property of the reagent allows the use of E503 in the food industry. For the same reason, it is not worth storing it in open containers, because in just a few days the compound will completely disappear.

Synthesis of ammonium carbonate

The initial raw materials for the synthesis of the ammonium salt of carbonic acid were natural products containing nitrogen. For these purposes, hair, bone outgrowths of bovids, and nail plates were taken. Under the influence of high temperatures, the components were subjected to distillation. Today it is difficult to imagine the mass production of a reagent from such ingredients. Modern synthesis assumes the simplicity of the process and its cheapness. For this, the reverse decomposition reaction is used, mixing NH 3 gas, carbon dioxide and water vapor. A prerequisite for this method is rapid cooling. There is also an alternative method of industrial synthesis of a substance called ammonium carbonate. Obtaining a food additive is carried out by passing carbon dioxide through aqueous solutions of ammonia.

Chemical properties

As already described above, ammonium carbonate is inherently unstable. This compound is able to decompose when exposed to temperatures with the formation of various reagents. So, the products of complete thermal decomposition will be ammonia, carbon dioxide and water, this happens when the salt is heated to 58 ⁰C. At room temperature, the formation of NH 2 COONH 4 carbamate or ammonium bicarbonate NH 4 HCO 3 is possible. With salts, E503 enters into exchange reactions or forms complex compounds.

The products of interaction with alkalis will be carbonic salts and an aqueous solution of ammonia, which has a characteristic pungent odor. In everyday life, it is called ammonia. This reaction is qualitative for the determination of the NH 4 + ion in a compound called ammonium carbonate. The interaction with acid proceeds violently. In this case, an exchange reaction occurs, and a new salt and H 2 CO 3 are obtained, which immediately decomposes into carbon dioxide and water. The release of CO 2 is accompanied by boiling of the solution.

Flask Chemical Fountain

There are many beautiful experiments that can impress young chemists. This is what teachers most often use to make such a “boring” science as attractive as possible for the younger generation. For the experiment, the following components are used: ammonium carbonate, ammonia, concentrated hydrochloric acid.

A flat-bottomed conical flask is taken as a vessel. A small amount of (NH 4) 2 CO 3 is placed on its bottom. To dry salt add 5-10 ml of an aqueous solution of ammonia. The next reagent is hydrochloric acid, it should be in excess. Two violent reactions take place simultaneously in a chemical vessel. A dense white smoke of ammonium chloride is released, and the CO 2 formed as a result of the neutralization of the acid with the salt actively pushes it out of the flask. There is a real chemical fountain on the laboratory table.

Essential baking powder

Due to the easy decomposition into gaseous components, ammonium carbonate has found application in the manufacture of confectionery. It is used as a baking powder for dough and as a substitute for live yeast. Unlike baking soda, which in large quantities leaves an unpleasant aftertaste and “crunch” on the teeth, this component does not require a strict dosage.

The gaseous decomposition products of ammonium carbonate give porosity to the dough during the baking process. Products using food additive E503 in the recipe retain their freshness and volume for a long time. The substance is found in cakes, cookies, buns and can be used in children's nutrition. It is introduced into the dough right before baking to avoid escaping the gases that are needed to rise.

The effect of ammonium carbonate on the human body

Like other “Eshki”, ammonium carbonate is overgrown with implausible stories about harm to the human body. It is strongly associated with the toxicity of gaseous ammonia released during the thermal degradation of the food additive. In fact, this compound is so volatile that it leaves the baked goods almost immediately. Carbon dioxide is not dangerous, as is water, which is the end product of the decomposition reaction of E503.

The hypothesis of the accumulation of ammonia was refuted by scientists from the British Certification Authority (FSA), who enjoy well-deserved respect around the world. Working with a powdered reagent called ammonium carbonate can harm a person. When interacting with the skin, E503 causes irritation, itching, local reactions in the form of urticaria and rash. Inhalation of ammonia vapor, which is already released at room temperature, can lead to poisoning, bronchospasm, lacrimation and damage to the mucous membranes. For work, it is recommended to protect the skin and respiratory organs, use special glasses.

Applications in other industries

In addition to the preparation of baking, ammonium carbonate is used for the synthesis of ammonia and other nitrogen-containing salts. It is used in industrial purification of gases from hydrogen sulfide. This compound also helps speed up the fermentation of wine. Pharmacists prepare medicines based on the reagent for coughs, poisoning and heart failure. In cosmetology, ammonium carbonate is used as a dye and pH stabilizer.

Ammonium carbonates, substances that appear in the classification table of food additives under the marking code E 503.

Basically it's ammonium carbonate. As an additive, it has an artificial nature of origin.

And in food production it is used as a dough baking powder and emulsifier.

Origin: 2-synthetic;

Danger:the lowest level;

Synonymous names:E 503, ammonia, ammonium carbonate salt, ammonium salts, ammonium bicarbonate, ammonium carbonate, E-503, Ammonium hydrogen carbonate, ammonium bicarbonate, ammonium carbonate, ammonium carbonate salt, ammonium carbonate salts, ammonium carbonate, ammonium carbonate.

general information

Ammonia (the common name of the substance) or ammonium carbonate is a salt of carbonic acid and in physical terms is a crystalline, colorless powder that dissolves very well in an aqueous medium.

In the form of a molecular formula, it can be represented like this: (NH 4) 2 CO 3. This connection has a high level of stability. Oxidizes upon contact with air, and already at room temperature.

This also releases toxic ammonia gas, and the substance itself is converted into ammonium bicarbonate with the molecular formula of the following form: NH 4 HCO 3 .

When the air temperature reaches 60°C, the additive begins to decompose into three components - water, ammonia and carbon dioxide.

In food production, this additive is used precisely because of its ability to release gases during decomposition.

For the first production of ammonium carbonate, horns, nails and hair were used as raw materials, and the method was distillation at high temperatures.

Today, modern industry uses the method of heating a mixture of ammonium chloride to obtain an additive, or a reverse decomposition reaction, that is, the interaction of carbon dioxide and ammonia with water during its rapid cooling.

Effect on the body

Harm

There are a number of opinions of pundits who talk about the dangers of this type of supplement. But these opinions are very controversial at this stage of research on the substance. And such opinions are connected, most likely, with a high level of toxicity of ammonia, which is part of ammonium carbonate.

But, after all, ammonia together with carbon dioxide evaporate during the reaction in the process of obtaining an additive, therefore, the result of the reaction can no longer harm the human body.

Benefit

Additive E 503 does not bring special benefit to human health. But, for its use in food, it is enough that it is hypoallergenic, that is, it does not cause inadequate reactions from the immune and other body systems.

Usage

In food production, E 503 easily replaces soda and yeast, and is used in these roles in the manufacture of confectionery (cookies, cakes), bakery products (bagels, loaves, etc.). For example, one cannot but say that in other countries this additive is used exclusively for the preparation of branded pastries. These pastries include Icelandic puff pastries.

In the case of replacing the E 503 additive with soda or yeast, the biscuit loses its brand value, and with it the taste and appearance, that is, it ceases to be branded.

Other areas of application of the additive are pharmacology (ammonia, antitussive syrups, etc.), chemical industry (fire extinguishing agents), cosmetology (as a dye).

Legislation

In almost all countries of the world, E 503 is approved for use in human food. And according to studies conducted by the UK Food Standards Agency, this supplement is still safe, and its normal dosages have not been established.