Tricalcium phosphate (CAS 7758-87-4) — Citrus N/A Note Fragrance Ingredient
Tricalcium phosphate
CAS 7758-87-4
What Is Tricalcium phosphate?
Tricalcium phosphate is a common food additive found in cereals, baked goods, and supplements. It prevents caking and provides calcium fortification. While generally recognized as safe, its presence indicates processed foods. Consumers encounter it daily in products like toothpaste and antacids.
Safety Profile
GENERALLY SAFEWhat Does Tricalcium phosphate Smell Like?
Tricalcium phosphate is odorless, serving purely functional roles in formulations rather than olfactory ones. As an inorganic compound, it lacks the volatile organic molecules that produce scent. Its sensory impact comes through texture modification rather than fragrance contribution.
2D Molecular Structure
SMILES: [Ca++].[Ca++].[Ca++].[O-]P([O-])([O-])=O.[O-]P([O-])([O-])=O
Chemistry, Properties & Perfumer Guide
The Chemistry
Tricalcium phosphate (Ca3(PO4)2) is an inorganic salt composed of calcium cations and phosphate anions. Industrially produced through neutralization of phosphoric acid with calcium hydroxide. Exists in both α and β crystalline forms, with phase transitions occurring around 1180°C. Its stability and insolubility make it ideal for controlled-release applications.
Physical & Chemical Properties
| Melting Point | 1670 °C |
|---|---|
| Density | 3.14 g/cm³ |
| Solubility | 0.002 g/100 mL (water) |
Perfumer Guide
| Application | Typical % | Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Food Additive | 0.5-2% | Up to 3% | Anti-caking agent |
| Dental Products | 5-15% | Up to 30% | Abrasive component |
Classic Accords
Tip: Use as a free-flow agent in powdered fragrance blends.
Alternatives & Comparisons
Similar functionality with slightly higher solubility. Preferred in tablets requiring disintegration.
Safety, Regulatory & Sustainability
⚠ Regulatory Disclaimer
General reference only. Consult current IFRA Standards Library before formulating.
IFRA Status
No IFRA restrictions. Not classified as fragrance material.
RIFM Assessment
Not evaluated by RIFM as it’s not a fragrance ingredient.
Sustainability
Produced from mined phosphate rock with significant energy input. Synthetic production avoids heavy metal contaminants found in natural phosphate sources. Considered low environmental impact due to low solubility and toxicity.
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References
- FDA (2022). Code of Federal Regulations Title 21. 21CFR182.1217
- PubChem Compound Summary CID 24456
Data: PubChem (NIH), PubMed, RIFM, IFRA. Last reviewed: Apr 2026.
Report a data errorPerfumers Notes
Regulatory Status
FEMA GRAS #3081
Standard Dilution
10% in DPG (standard dilution for most fragrance materials)
Typical Usage Levels
FEMA GRAS (#3081) — typical use 0.01-5% in fragrance.
Ingredient Data Sheet
CAS 7758-87-4Physical Properties
| Molecular Weight | 310.18 g/mol🔬 PubChem |
| SMILES | [O-]P(=O)([O-])[O-].[O-]P(=O)([O-])[O-].[Ca+2].[Ca+2].[Ca+2]🔬 PubChem |
Odor & Flavor
| “The title material is compatible with almost all known flavor materials and causes no great problem in that respect, but it may occasionally enhance the "musty" odor of Glycerin or Glycols, materials which are used in dentifrice preparations.”📖 Arctander | |
| Tricalcium phosphate is an odorless and tasteless powder that is stable in air. Tribasic calcium phosphate consists of a variable mixture of calcium phosphates having the approximate composition of 10CaO·3P2O5·H2O.📖 Fenaroli |
Flavor Notes (Arctander)
| “Odorless and tasteless. The title material is compatible with almost all known flavor materials and causes no great problem in that respect, but it may occasionally enhance the "musty" odor of Glycerin or Glycols, materials which are used in dentifrice preparations.”📖 Arctander |
Regulatory Status
| FEMA Number | FEMA 3081⚖️ FEMA GRAS |
| GRAS Status | Generally Recognized as Safe⚖️ FEMA GRAS |
| IOFI Classification | Nature Identical📖 Fenaroli |
Physical data: PubChem (NIH/NLM), U.S. EPA CompTox Dashboard, EPA OPERA models, RDKit. Odor & flavor: Arctander (Perfume & Flavor Chemicals), Fenaroli's Handbook of Flavor Ingredients, Leffingwell. Thresholds: van Gemert (Compilations of Odour Threshold Values). Regulatory: IFRA Standards 51st, FEMA GRAS. Trade names: Surburg (Common Fragrance & Flavor Materials). All data compiled and cross-referenced for perfumertools.com.
Physicochemical Properties
DTXSID: DTXSID1049803
Physical Properties
| Molecular Weight | 310.174 g/mol🔬 EPA CompTox |
| Density | 3.205 g/cm^3🔬 EPA CTX |
| Melting Point | 1670 °C🔬 EPA CTX |
Partition & Solubility
| LogP (Octanol-Water) | -6.792 dimensionless💻 Computed |
| Water Solubility | 0.016 mol/L🔬 EPA CTX |
Molecular Descriptors
| Topological Polar Surface Area | 172.5 Ų💻 Computed |
| H-Bond Donors | 0 count💻 Computed |
| H-Bond Acceptors | 8 count💻 Computed |
| Rotatable Bonds | 0 count💻 Computed |
| Aromatic Rings | 0 count💻 Computed |
| Molar Refractivity | 32.47 cm^3/mol💻 Computed |
Data Sources:
🔬 EPA Experimental data from U.S. EPA CompTox Chemicals Dashboard & CTX APIs. 📊 OPERA Predicted using EPA's OPERA QSAR models. 💻 Computed Calculated from SMILES using RDKit.
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