Sodium tripolyphosphate is an inorganic compound with the chemical formula Na5P3O10. It is a white powder that is highly soluble in water.
Sodium tripolyphosphate is widely used as a food additive, detergent builder, and water softener. It functions as an effective chelating agent and sequestrant, and can improve the properties of food and other products by promoting stability, preventing spoilage, and controlling pH levels.
In the esterification of starch, sodium tripolyphosphate may act as a cross-linking agent, helping to form covalent bonds between starch molecules and creating a three-dimensional network.