7387. Phytic Acid

Nomenclature

CAS number: 83-86-3
myo-Inositol hexakis(dihydrogen phosphate); inositolhexaphosphoric acid; 1,2,3,4,5,6-cyclohexanehexolphosphoric acid; cyclohexanehexyl hexaphosphate; Alkalovert (Klein).
C6H18O24P6; mol wt 660.04.
C 10.92%, H 2.75%, O 58.18%, P 28.16%.
C6H6[OPO(OH)2]6.

Description and references

Major phosphorus compound in plants; particularly abundant in oil seeds, legumes and cereal grains. Forms insoluble complexes with di- and trivalent cations. Prepn: S. Posternak, US 1313014 (1919 to Ciba); idem, Helv. Chim. Acta 4, 155 (1921); M. J. Thomas, US 2718523 (1955 to Staley Mfg.); D. S. Bolley et al., US 2732395 (1956 to Natl. Lead Co.); A. R. Baldwin et al., US 2815360 (1957 to Corn Prods. Ref.). HPLC determn in plants: E. Graf, F. R. Dintzis, Anal. Biochem. 119, 413 (1982); in foods and biological samples: B.E. Knuckles et al., J. Food Sci. 47, 1257 (1982). Review of effect of dietary phytate on zinc metabolism: Nutr. Rev. 41, 64-66 (1983); on mineral bioavailability: J. L. Kelsay, Am. J. Gastroenterol. 82, 983-986 (1987).

Properties

Syrupy, straw-colored liquid. Dec on heating. Acid reaction; the pH of a 10% aq soln has been reported as 0.86. Miscible with water, 95% alc, glycerol; sol in water contg alcohol-ether mixtures; very slightly sol in abs alc, methanol. Practically insol in anhydr ether, benzene, chloroform.

Derivative

Calcium iron salt.

Properties

Obtained in the processing of corn. Grayish powder contg 20% Ca, 14% P, and 2% Fe. Sparingly sol in water, dil mineral acids.

Derivative

Calcium magnesium salt.

Nomenclature

CAS number: 3615-82-5
Phytin.

Properties

White, odorless powder. Poor soly in water. Sol in dil acids.

Derivative

Sodium salt.

Nomenclature

CAS number: 7205-52-9
Sodium phytate; Phytat D.B. (Daniel-Brunet); Rencal (BMS).
C6H9Na9O24P6; mol wt 857.87.
C 8.40%, H 1.06%, Na 24.12%, O 44.76%, P 21.66%.

Properties

Soluble in water with neutral reaction.

Use

Complexing agent for the removal of traces of heavy metal ions (also employed as the sodium salt). Starting material in manufacture of inositol. Fermentation nutrient.

Therapeutic Category

Sodium salt as hypocalcemic.