Meta Chem Sodium Tripolyphosphate, Packaging Type : 50 Kg Bag

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 charged chelating agent, TPP⁵⁻ binds to dications tightly and prevents them from interfering with the sulfonate detergent.^[5]

Food applications

STPP is a preservative for seafood, meats, poultry, and animal feeds.^[5] 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 United States Food and Drug Administration lists STPP as "generally recognized as safe."

Other uses

Other uses (hundreds of thousands of tons/year) include ceramics (decrease the viscosity of glazes up to a certain limit), leather tanning (as masking agent and synthetic tanning agent - SYNTAN), anticaking, setting retarders, flame retardants, paper, anticorrosion pigments, textiles, rubber manufacture, fermentation, antifreeze."
STPP is used as a polyanion crosslinker in polysaccharide based drug delivery.