Ammonium sulfate

• Di - ammonium sulfate
• Ammonium sulphate
• Sulphate of ammonium
• Sulphate of ammonia
• E 517

Odorless and colorless crystalline solid

Fixed

1.77 g · cm -3

Decomposition: 235-280 ° C

Slightly soluble in water: 754 g · l-1 (20 ° C)

2840 mg · kg -1 ( LD50, rat, oral)

-1180 KJ · mol -1

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Ammonium sulfate ( 517 I ) is a salt of ammonia and sulfuric acid. A related salt is ammonium hydrogen sulfate.

Properties

Ammonium sulfate is slightly hygroscopic, aqueous solutions react weakly acidic. Number of ammonium salts, there can with sodium nitrite or potassium nitrite at room temperature under flame formation or even react explosively.

Production and representation

Ammonium sulfate is by introducing ammonia in 80 - % sulfuric acid prepared by reaction of ammonia or, carbon dioxide and water with gypsum.

Use

Ammonium sulfate is an important fertilizer additive. In biological wastewater treatment there is used as a component of nutrient mixtures for the microorganism cultures. In the chemical industry, it also serves as a precipitant for protein, as flotation agents and for the production of fire extinguishing and flame retardants. The leather industry uses it for pickling, the paper industry for flame retardant papers.

In biochemistry, ammonium sulfate is used for salting out of proteins ( ammonium sulfate precipitation ).

In molecular biology, the cells and tissues to protect RNA from degradation in preserved a saturated ammonium sulfate solution.

Ammonium sulfate is also added to foods as a carrier for other additives. In the EU it is approved as a food additive under the E number 517 solely as a carrier or carrier solvent.

In the wine making ammonium sulphate is used as a component of Nährsalzmischungen for yeasts to favor above all to their cell proliferation during fermentation.