Calcium Acetate: Uses & Production
What is Calcium Acetate?
Calcium is a mineral found in human and animal bodies that mostly makes bones and is essential for many cellular functions like muscle contraction, cardiac function, cell membrane permeability, and many more. Calcium Acetate is the Calcium salt of acetic acid.
Calcium Acetate is also known as lime acetate, brown acetate, or vinegar salt.
Appearance & form of Calcium Acetate
Calcium Acetate is odorless, white, hygroscopic crystalline solid powder that is soluble in water & insoluble in solvents like acetone, ethanol, and benzene. Calcium Acetate is commonly available in hydrate forms. The anhydrous form of Calcium Acetate tends to crystallize in the presence of moist air.
In the market, Calcium Acetate is available in industrial grade & pharmaceutical grade formulations. There is zero or low toxicity however there is a possibility of irritation if you put it on the skin or inhale the dust for a long time. When burned, Calcium Acetate releases highly flammable acetone gas.
Uses of Calcium Acetate in the pharma industry
Calcium Acetate is majorly used as phosphate binder (medications used to reduce the absorption of dietary phosphate) for treating hyperphosphatemia (in which a patient’s phosphate level in the blood rise higher than the normal level)
Calcium acetate controls high blood levels of phosphorus in people with kidney disease who are on dialysis. It falls under the statin group of medicines.
Calcium Acetate is also added to anti-epileptic drugs and as a laboratory reagent in the pharmaceutical industry.
Uses of Calcium Acetate in the food industry
Calcium Acetate is used as a buffering agent to control acidity in food. It is also used as preservatives to prolong the shelf life of food. Calcium Acetate can help to fortify foods with Calcium nutrition.
Calcium Acetate is used as an additive in bakery items like bread & calcium supplements. It hinders the growth of bacteria and mold in several food items. The recommended usage is 0.2 to 0.5% of flour weight.
Calcium Acetate has a high absorption rate and high water solubility and does not consume gastric acid after consumption.
Other uses of Calcium Acetate
There are many other uses of Calcium Acetate. It is used in manufacturing lubricants, resins, printing inks, soaps, carbon black in the chemical industry. In industrial plants and municipal facilities, Calcium Acetate is used in wastewater treatment. Calcium Acetate is used as a concrete accelerator in the building & construction industry. It is also used as a blowing agent by foam manufacturers.
Where is Calcium Acetate mostly found?
Calcium Acetate is largely produced and consumed in the Asia Pacific. Major consumer countries are South Korea, Indonesia, Taiwan, Thailand, Japan, China, and India.
Production of Calcium Acetate
West Bengal Chemical Industries Limited is a leading manufacturer of Calcium Acetate. The USP grade is a white, odorless, or almost odorless free-flowing powder. WBCIL can also comply with the customized specification as per customer requirements.
