Ammonium carbonate
Ammonium carbonate (additive e503) is an ammonium salt of carbonic acid, in everyday life it is called ammonia.
Characteristic
In appearance, the additive e503 is crystals of pink, gray, white colors, or generally colorless, with a characteristic smell of ammonia. Well soluble in water, unstable in solution and in air. Already at a temperature of 18-25 degrees Celsius, it begins to release ammonia and turns into ammonium bicarbonate. And at a temperature of 60 degrees, the substance decomposes into ammonia, carbon dioxide and water. Actually, it is the release of gases during the decomposition of the additive that makes it possible to use it in the food industry, mainly in bakery and confectionery instead of yeast.
Obtaining ammonium carbonate
For the first time, ammonium carbonate was obtained from organic nitrogenous products (hair, nails, horns) under the influence of high temperature by distillation. At the moment, the additive e503 is produced on an industrial scale by heating a mixture of ammonium chloride, or as a result of the interaction of water with carbon dioxide and ammonia, subject to rapid cooling.
Effects of ammonium carbonate on the human body
According to some unofficial data, the e503 additive is potentially unsafe for the human body. Perhaps the harm of the additive is associated with the high toxicity of ammonia, which is formed as a result of the decomposition of ammonium carbonate. However, it is known for sure that during the decomposition of the substance (during the preparation of the product), ammonia and carbon dioxide completely evaporate, and only water remains in the finished product. So the e503 supplement can be called harmful to the body exclusively in its original state.
Today, the use of e503 ammonium salts is allowed in almost all countries of the world.
According to research by the UK Food Standards Agency (FSA), the e503 food supplement is completely safe for human health.
Ammonium Carbonate Applications
In the food industry, the e503 additive is used mainly instead of yeast or soda in the baking and confectionery industry. Thus, ammonium carbonate can be found in the following foods: bagels, various types of cookies, baked goods, cakes.
In the countries of Scandinavia and northern Europe, the e503 additive is used for the preparation of branded types of cookies. So, when baking Icelandic airy cookies, only the e503 additive is used. If you replace it with yeast or soda, then the original cookies will not work.
In addition to the food industry, ammonium carbonate is used in cosmetics as a dye, added to medicines (ammonia, cough syrups). Also, the additive e503 is a fermentation accelerator in the production of wines and a component of fire extinguishing compositions.
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