Formula AlNa12SiO5 | ||
 | ||
Sodium aluminosilicate refers to compounds which contain sodium, aluminium, silicon and oxygen, and which may also contain water. These include synthetic amorphous sodium aluminosilicate, a few naturally occurring minerals and synthetic zeolites. Synthetic amorphous sodium aluminosilicate is widely used as a food additive, E-554.
Contents
Amorphous sodium aluminosilicate
This substance is produced with a wide range of compositions and has many different applications. It is encountered as an additive E-554 in food where it acts as an anticaking (free flow) agent. As it is manufactured with a range of compositions it is not strictly a chemical compound with a fixed stoichiometry. One supplier quotes a typical analysis for one of their products as 14SiO2·Al2O3·Na2O·3H2O,(Na2Al2Si14O32·3H2O).
The FDA has as of April 1, 2012 approved sodium aluminosilicate (sodium silicoaluminate) for direct contact with consumable items under 21 CFR 182.2727. Sodium aluminosilicate is used as molecular sieve in medicinal containers to keep contents dry and as food additive having E-number E-554 (anti-caking agents).
Sodium aluminosilicate may also be listed as:
Minerals sometimes called sodium aluminosilicate
Naturally occurring minerals that are sometimes given the chemical name, sodium aluminosilicate include albite (NaAlSi3O8, an end-member of the plagioclase series) and jadeite (NaAlSi2O6).
Synthetic zeolites sometimes called sodium aluminosilicate
Synthetic zeolites have complex structures and examples (with structural formulae) are: