Ingredient Information

Function

Sodium aluminosilicate is an acid salt composed of silicon, sodium, oxygen and aluminum and is a widely used food additive. The main role of sodium aluminosilicate is as an anticaking agent; anticaking agents are used as a pouter or a salt. Sodium aluminosilicate is added to prevent lumps, ease packaging and consumption and is added to table salt, powdered milk, egg mixes and flour.

Other Use and Industries

Sodium aluminosilicate is also used in road salt.

Synthetic laundry detergents and cosmetics also may contain sodium aluminosilicate as an anticaking agent.

Sodium aluminosilicate is also added to paints. Because of its brightness and coarse particle size it can replace titanium oxide as a flattening agent.

When added to dry laundry detergents and carpet deodorizers, sodium aluminosilicate acts as a flow agent, helping the mixture stay even.

Health Effects

While some sources have claimed that sodium aluminosilicate is responsible for some placental problems and Alzheimer’s disease, the Food and Drug Administration and the European Union regards this food additive as safe. In 1960, a study showed that sodium aluminosilicate could produce renal failure in rats.

People with a known sensitivity to aluminum and aluminum compounds should avoid ingesting this food additive. Pregnant woman and people with Alzheimer’s should consult their doctors about this substance.

Further studies are pending about sodium aluminosilicate, but it is considered as a safe additive.

Origins

Sodium aluminosilicate is a name also given to some natural occurring minerals like albite and jadeite. Synthetic sodium aluminosilicate, called synthetic zeolites or amorphous sodium aluminosilicate, is produced by three main chemical processes: molecular preparation into high crystalline powders, the conversion of clay material and processes based on the use of other raw occurring minerals or materials. These are very complex chemical synthesis processes. Most aluminosilicates are synthetically prepared by mixing together different types of aluminum and silicon with metal cations, organic molecules and water. This mixture is then heated with a hydrothermal mechanism and converted into crystalline microporous aluminosilicate powder.