Inorganic Salts

Ammonium Bicarbonate

Chemical formula: NH4HCO3
Appearance: White tiny crystal
Grade: Edible grade conforming to national food safety standards
Decomposition: Releases gas on heating to puff the product

Ammonium Bicarbonate is one of the most widely used loosening agents in the food industry and the carbon dioxide generator behind puffed foods, puffs and Sakima. Edible grade is the relatively pure material that conforms to national food safety standards and contains no or very little substance harmful to human health. The lot data shown here reports total alkali at 99.56% against a 99.2% specification, with chloride, sulphate, iron, ash, arsenic, heavy metals and water all inside limit.

Why buyers specify this grade

Strong expansion effect, which is why puffed food and puffs rely on it
Total alkali specified at 99.2% with a reported result of 99.56%
Edible grade conforming to national food safety standards
Decomposes fully on heating, leaving no residual salt in the finished biscuit
Works in combination with sodium bicarbonate as a complete leavening system

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Specification

Appearance	White tiny crystal
Total alkali as NH4HCO3	99.2% (result 99.56%)
Chloride as Cl	0.003% max (result 0.002%)
Sulphate as SO4	0.007% max (result 0.005%)
Iron as Fe	0.002% max (result 0.001%)
Ash	0.006% max (result 0.005%)
Arsenic as As	0.0002% max
Heavy metals as Pb	0.0005% max
Water	0.5% max (result 0.4%)
pH value	7.5 - 8.0 (result 7.7)

Technical data

Chemical formula: NH4HCO3
Appearance: White tiny crystal
Grade: Edible grade conforming to national food safety standards
Decomposition: Releases gas on heating to puff the product

Quality control

Released against the index table above with the measured result reported beside each limit
Edible grade conforms to the national food safety standards
TDS and MSDS issued with the order, sample COA on request

Where it is used

Loosening and puffing agent in biscuits, puffed food, puffs and Sakima
Carbon dioxide generation in soft drinks
Leavening agent raw material for bread, biscuits and pancakes when combined with sodium bicarbonate
Foaming powder juice production
Blanching green vegetables and bamboo shoots
Nitrogen fertiliser as topdressing or base fertiliser
Analytical reagent, ammonium salt synthesis and fabric degreasing

Who buys it

Biscuit and puffed snack manufacturers
Bakery and leavening agent blenders
Soft drink and powder juice producers
Vegetable processors
Fertiliser distributors and analytical laboratories

Problems it solves

Dense biscuits that need lift without a residual salty note
Residual leavening salt in the finished product, avoided because it decomposes fully to gas
Uncertain purity of technical-grade material used on a food line
Clumping and low nitrogen content problems when it is used as a fertiliser

Packing and options

Edible grade for food use, technical material for fertiliser and industrial use
Packing format confirmed at quotation

How it compares

Sodium bicarbonate leaves sodium carbonate behind after baking, which can be tasted at high dosage. Ammonium bicarbonate decomposes entirely into gases, so it gives lift without residue, and the two are commonly combined so the biscuit gets both immediate and sustained expansion.

Handling and storage

Store cool and sealed, the material loses ammonia and strength in warm open storage
Combine with sodium bicarbonate where a complete biscuit or cake leavening system is required
Use edible grade for any food application and confirm the grade on the order

FAQ

Ammonium Bicarbonate questions buyers ask

What purity do you supply

Total alkali as NH4HCO3 specified at 99.2% with a reported result of 99.56% on the lot shown.

Is it food grade

Edible grade ammonium bicarbonate is supplied, conforming to national food safety standards, with no or very little substance harmful to human health.

Why is it used in biscuits

It decomposes on heating and releases gas, which puffs up the product. It is one of the most widely used loosening agents in the food industry.

Does it leave a residue in the finished product

It decomposes into gases on heating rather than leaving a residual salt, unlike sodium bicarbonate which leaves sodium carbonate.

Can it be used as a fertiliser

Yes, as a nitrogen fertiliser suitable for various soils, providing ammonium nitrogen and carbon dioxide, though it has low nitrogen content and tends to clump.

What is the pH

7.5 to 8.0, with a reported result of 7.7.

Download TDS, MSDS and sample COA