The natural-synthetic food additive with the E-514 index has the chemical name sodium sulfate. Its natural origin is easily explained by the ubiquitous distribution of sulfuric acid compounds with sodium, because lakes of the chloride-sulfate type with an increased concentration of brine are quite common. But the synthetic production of this substance is quite likely, which is why sodium sulfate belongs to the class of natural-synthetic compounds by specialists.
Dietary Supplement Properties
According to its physical properties, sodium sulfate food additive is granules of a white powder with a grayish or yellowish tint, odorless, but bitter-salty in taste. Additive E-514 is not soluble in alcohols, in particular ethanol, but is perfectly soluble in water, releasing a sufficient amount of thermal energy in the process. It is also important to note that sodium sulfate is not prone to caking and has a low hygroscopicity. The melting point of this substance is 884 degrees.
The chemical formula for sodium sulfate is Na2SO4. This is the sodium salt of sulfuric acid, which in industrial production is obtained by synthesizing the thenardite or mirabilite mineral, when sodium chloride, caustic soda and sulfuric acid begin to interact under certain conditions.
Impact on human health
Sodium sulfate or food preservative E-514 is harmful and dangerous to human health if consumed constantly and in very large volumes. As a result of this use of E-514, diarrhea, polyuria, a sharp decrease in blood pressure and intestinal colic may occur. With moderate consumption of the substance, no cases of negative effects on the body and human health have been identified by specialists.
In general, for digestion, this preservative does not act as a useful additive. However, its benefits are generally recognized in medical circles, since the food supplement E-514 acts as an antidote for severe poisoning with salts of heavy metals. Also, the substance can be effective in the manifestation of hypertension, chronic constipation, as a component of solutions for deep washing of the nasal passages.
Additive E-514 is used for cosmetic purposes. It can be used to give many bath and shower detergents an anti-cellulite effect.
Main Applications
As an inexpensive acidity regulator, filler or carrier in the food industry, the additive E-514 is used for the production of canned fish and cheap sausages.
Sodium sulfate is more common in the chemical industry, since it is widely used to obtain detergents, in the manufacture of glasses, in the textile and leather industries, in the non-ferrous metallurgy industry, and also for the production of sulfate pulp.
For the food sector, the E-514 preservative is extremely undesirable, therefore its use is strictly limited in the EU countries, Ukraine and Russia.