Anhydrous Calcium Hydrogen Phosphate BP EP USP Pharma Grade

What Is Anhydrous Calcium Hydrogen Phosphate?

Anhydrous Calcium Hydrogen Phosphate, known in the industry as dicalcium phosphate anhydrous, stands out for its solid, stable nature and trusted use in pharmaceuticals. Its chemical formula, CaHPO₄, marks it as a salt containing calcium, phosphorus, and oxygen with no water molecules bound into its structure. The material reaches the market in a range of appearances, most often as a fine, white powder, but sometimes it turns up in flakes or granules. The density lands around 2.89 g/cm³, making it heavier than chalk but still easy to handle in large containers and precise weigh-outs for formulations. The HS Code for international trade purposes usually registers as 28352600, which clears it in the class for phosphates.

Chemical Properties and Structure

The crystal structure of Anhydrous Calcium Hydrogen Phosphate shapes how it works and how safe it remains under various conditions. With a monoclinic lattice, this compound resists most common solvents and rarely reacts unless exposed to strong acids. It holds solid at room temperature, and the lack of water in its formula means the substance avoids clumping or caking, a problem seen with some hydrate forms of calcium phosphates. This property leads to stability in dry storage, which makes inventory reliable for any pharmacy or food manufacturing environment. Besides calcium and phosphate, it contains a hydrogen atom, setting its chemistry apart from the fully neutral calcium phosphate tribasic.

Physical Forms, Solubility, and Handling

Products made with Anhydrous Calcium Hydrogen Phosphate range from solid blocks to finely milled powders. The industry sometimes processes it into pearls or small beads to make mixing and dosing easier. I have handled bags of this powder in lab settings, and it always keeps dry and free-flowing, resisting any sticky buildup, which speeds up weighing and transfer. Storage in sealed containers away from sources of strong acids or moisture extends the shelf life without fear of hazardous breakdown products. The specific gravity remains constant across batches, so manufacturers trust this as a key raw material wherever accurate calcium or phosphate levels matter. Its solubility in water stays low at room temperature—less than 0.03 g per 100 mL—making it unlikely to leach out in ordinary contact with moisture.

Safe Use and Potential Hazards

Safety forms a central part of handling Anhydrous Calcium Hydrogen Phosphate. As an experienced lab technician, I have seen this compound listed as non-flammable and not considered highly hazardous, but some dust precautions stay critical in enclosed spaces. Inhaling a significant amount of airborne powder may cause discomfort or irritation, so dust masks or ventilated hoods make sense where large quantities circulate. Industrial regulations often align Anhydrous Calcium Hydrogen Phosphate with “nuisance dusts,” though nobody should overlook basic PPE such as gloves and goggles. Direct ingestion at high levels can lead to elevated phosphate or calcium, so every pharma or food additive batch undergoes strict quality checks. It holds no direct acute toxicity at usual exposure levels, but it counts as a chemical and should not mix loose with acids, which trigger the release of irritating gases and degradation products. Disposal of waste follows normal protocols for phosphates—no special hazards, but not for landfill or wash-down drains that feed directly into waterways.

Role in Pharmaceutical and Manufacturing Applications

In the pharmaceutical world, Anhydrous Calcium Hydrogen Phosphate occupies an important place, especially as a tableting agent or bulking ingredient for oral medicines. Companies rely on its consistency and inertness, letting active drug ingredients stand out while ensuring each pill contains an even balance of calcium and phosphate. Because it does not absorb water from the environment, finished products keep their potency and structure longer on the shelf. Nutritional supplements and animal feed producers also leverage this material, drawn to the precise mineral content and assurance of purity built into BP, EP, and USP grades. The regulations behind these grades require rigorous processing and paperwork, subjects I have navigated in my own regulatory work with active ingredient suppliers.

Specifications and Regulatory Standards

Meeting BP, EP, and USP standards ensures the purity, particle size, heavy metal content, and microbial limits all match the requirements for medical or nutritional applications. In official monographs, Anhydrous Calcium Hydrogen Phosphate must contain between 98% and 105% of label calcium hydrogen phosphate by mass, verified through chemical titration and spectroscopic analysis. Ash residue levels, arsenic, lead, and cadmium all track under strict thresholds, keeping patient and consumer safety at the center of production. Specifications usually call for a moisture level below 0.5%, which underlines the “anhydrous” label and secures the product for long-term stability. Quality audits and batch certification have grown more rigorous every year, reflecting the critical trust health professionals and patients place in the raw materials hidden behind every tablet and fortified food.

Improving Quality and Safe Access

As industries expand applications for Anhydrous Calcium Hydrogen Phosphate, suppliers and regulators both wrestle with keeping the supply chain clean and transparent. Compliance with BP, EP, and USP monographs helps, but strengthening laboratory oversight and traceability of each batch tackles contamination or mislabeling risks head-on. On the user’s end, proper labeling, clear safety data sheets, and training for all personnel who handle the raw material help reduce accidents and misuse. I have run countless orientation sessions for junior staff on the right way to measure and store sensitive ingredients, and reviewing the specific hazards of calcium hydrogen phosphates—no matter how mild they seem—always leads to safer habits and fewer problems down the line. Every participant in the value chain, from miners and refiners up through formulators and end-users, owes careful attention at every step, not just for compliance but for confident, consistent benefits in the finished product.