Phytic acid (Phytic acid)
Chemical name:inositol hexaphosphate
It is an organophosphorus acid compound extracted from plant seeds.
Molecular formula:C6H18O24P6
Molecular weight:660.04.
This product is light yellow slurry liquid, soluble in water, ethanol, acetone, insoluble in anhydrous ether, benzene, hexane, chloroform.
Phytic acid, as chelating agent, antioxidant, preservative, water softener, fermentation accelerator, metal anticorrosion agent, etc., is widely used in food, medicine, paint and coating, daily chemical industry, metal processing, textile industry, plastic industry and polymer industry.

Properties of phytic acid 

1.Phytic acid widely exists in plant seeds and animal nucleated red blood cells in the form of calcium, magnesium and potassium phytate, which can promote the release of oxygen in oxyhemoglobin, improve the function of red blood cells and prolong the survival time of red blood cells.
2.Phytic acid itself is a beneficial nutrition for human body.The hydrolysates of phytic acid in human body are inositol and phospholipid.The former has anti-aging effect, while the latter is an important part of human cells.
3.Phytic acid has strong complexing ability to most metal ions, and the complexing force is similar to EDTA, but its value and range are wider than EDTA.Metal salts above divalent phytic acid can be qualitatively precipitated.
4.Each phytic acid molecule can provide six pairs of hydrogen atoms to form a stable structure for the electrons of free radicals, thus replacing the fresh-kept molecules as oxygen donors and avoiding the oxidation and deterioration of the fresh-kept molecules.
5.Phytic acid has good conductivity.
Toxicity of phytic acid
Oral LD50 of mice was 4192mg/kg body weight, and the toxicity was lower than that of salt (LD50 of salt was 4000mg/kg).
Three-cause test:phytic acid has no mutagenic effect on micronucleus test of mouse bone marrow polychromatic cells.

Application of Phytic Acid in Food

1.According to the" Hygienic Standard for Food Additives GB2760-86 Supplementary Varieties" issued by the Ministry of Health, the reference dosage of phytic acid for shrimp preservation in aquatic products is 0.05%-0.1% aqueous solution as frozen preservation solution, In Japan, 0.1-0.5% phytic acid is used in canned shellfish to prevent blackening, and 0.3% phytic acid is used in fish to prevent discoloration after being treated at 100 ℃ for two minutes.The solution mixed with 0.01-0.05% phytic acid and trace citric acid can be used as fresh-keeping agent for fruits, vegetables and flowers, and the effect is very good.
2.Application in canned food
Adding phytic acid to canned food can achieve stable color protection effect.
The struvite (glass magnesium ammonium phosphate crystals) can be prevented by adding trace phytic acid to canned fish, shrimp, squid and other aquatic products.Phytic acid is called" struvite" preventative agent abroad, which has been widely used in canned food.The addition amount is 0.5-0.5%.
3.Application in beverage production
Adding 0.01-0.05% phytic acid to beverages can remove excessive metal ions (especially heavy metals harmful to human body), which has a good protective effect on human body.In Japan, Europe and America and other countries, it is often used as a gold remover for beverages.The quick thirst quenching beverage containing phytic acid is most suitable for athletes' intense training and workers exposed to high temperature.It has the functions of quenching thirst quickly, reviving nerve function and protecting brain, liver and eyes.This beverage has been put into mass production in Japan.
4.Antioxidants
Mixing one part of 50% phytic acid with three parts of sorbitol fatty acid (hydrophilic/lipophilic value 4.3) and adding 0.2% to vegetable oil has excellent antioxidant performance.Phytic acid can prevent hydrogen peroxide (hydrogen peroxide) from decomposing, so it can be used as hydrogen peroxide storage stabilizer.
5.Drugs and fermentation promoters
Sodium phytate or bismuth salt can reduce gastric secretion and is used to treat gastritis, duodenitis and diarrhea.
Phytic acid can relieve lead poisoning and prevent heavy metal poisoning.
 Adding phytic acid to the medium containing Trichoderma monospora can promote the fermentation of gentamicin and aminosaccharide antibiotics, and increase the yield several times.Adding phytic acid to the medium of lactic acid bacteria can promote the growth of lactic acid bacteria.

Anti-corrosion application of phytic acid and salt

The huge chelating potential energy of phytate and its salts endows them with excellent corrosion resistance.Scientific experiments have proved that phytate coatings on metals and alloys have excellent corrosion resistance and excellent adhesion between metals and polymer coatings.At present, the corrosion resistance of steel parts treated with chromic acid is far less than that treated with phytic acid.Moreover, chromate has toxic effect on human body and great harm to the environment, and the waste liquid produced needs harmless treatment.
(1) The galvanized cold-rolled steel plate was treated with 0.5% phytic acid for 10s (PH=3), then a layer of maleic acid resin was deposited by electrophoresis, and then cured at 170 ℃.The corrosion test was carried out in 5% sodium chloride solution for 240h, and its surface corrosivity and viscosity of metal resin were better than those treated with chromate.
The metal cleaner prepared with phytic acid or its salt has good stability and can reduce the corrosion of metal surface.Adding 1% phytic acid to general grease can significantly inhibit the corrosion of bearings.
In addition, it can be added to wrapping paper as an anticorrosive agent, and the metal products packaged with it will not cause surface corrosion.
(2) Using phytic acid or its salt to treat tin-plated steel sheet (commonly known as tinplate) or making tinplate can can endow it with excellent oxygen resistance, corrosion resistance, scratch resistance, good welding, and prevent magnesium ammonium phosphate from forming in canned food and sulfur from reacting with canned body to produce blackness, thus improving the appearance and quality of canned food.
(3) Using the high affinity potential energy of phytic acid and multivalent cations, various detergents can be prepared for specific cleaning and decontamination.
Toilet cleaner:A toilet cleaner containing phytic acid, which can make calcium in urine easily fall off from the urinal wall and avoid excessive corrosion on the surface.
Anticorrosive coating:The product of the reaction between phytic acid or its salt and epoxy compound is coated on the surface of steel, dried at 100 ℃ for 60min, and the sample is exposed outdoors for 10 days without rust.
(4) Adding phytic acid to gypsum-based building materials can prevent the steel frame in contact with it from being corroded.
(5) Corrosion resistant primer containing phytic acid and paint additive
The hardness, elasticity, adhesion and corrosion resistance of the produced film are not improved.
(6) Adding phytic acid or phytate 50 × 10-6 to the water used in boiler and automobile water tank can make the equipment not scaling, and the total hardness of water is 32, if it is not added, it is 69; The corrosion rate was 0.34 mg/cm2 with phytic acid and 1.48 mg/cm2 without phytic acid.
(7) Adding phytic acid or phytate to the cooling water of heat exchange can prevent the corrosion of copper pipes and reduce the phosphorus content in the water (compared with phosphoric acid corrosion inhibitor).5 × 10-6 phytic acid can replace 50 × 10-6 polyphosphoric acid, which was used in the cooling water of impeller refrigerator for two years without corrosion.

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