Dicalcium phosphate  is best known as Calcium phosphate, a chemical compound, calcium salt of phosphoric acid.

The name defines the structure of the molecule:

• Calcium is a chemical element with the symbol Ca and the atomic number 20. It is a soft, gray alkaline metal, and is the fifth most abundant element by mass in the Earth’s crust.
• Phosphate refers to the phosphate ion (PO4 3-), a polyatomic ion with a charge of -3. Phosphates are important in biochemistry for their role in storing and transferring energy within cells.

The synthesis process takes place in several stages:

• Reactive sources of calcium and phosphate. In the first phase a reaction is expected between a source of calcium, such as calcium chloride and a source of phosphate, such as phosphoric acid or ammonium phosphate. This reaction produces calcium phosphate and a by-product, which could be ammonium chloride or water, depending on the phosphate source used.
• Precipitation. Calcium phosphate is precipitated out of the solution by adjusting the pH of the solution, often with a base such as sodium hydroxide. Calcium phosphate precipitates from the solution as a solid.
• Filtration and washing. The precipitated calcium phosphate is filtered from the solution and washed to remove any remaining impurities.
• Drying and grinding. The filtered calcium phosphate is dried and ground into a fine powder ready for use.

It appears as an odourless, tasteless, white powder that is stable in air. Insoluble in water and alcohol, it is easily soluble in dilute hydrochloric and nitric acids.

What it is used for and where

Food

It is used in food in a variety of applications and is labelled as E341 in the European food additives list as an acidity regulator.

• table salt
• seasonings
• food supplements
• bakery products

with antioxidant functions to prevent browning and is also used as a leavening agent.

As a food additive it is distinguished into:

• E341 (i) Calcium dihydrogen phosphate 
• E341 (ii) Calcium hydrogen phosphate 
• E341 (iii) Tricalcium phosphate

Chemical family: calcium salts of phosphoric acid
Principal food additive species (E341):

• MCP – Monocalcium phosphate: Ca(H₂PO₄)₂ [E341(i)] – acidic, relatively soluble

• DCP – Dicalcium phosphate: CaHPO₄ (anhydrous) / CaHPO₄·2H₂O (dihydrate, DCPD) [E341(ii)] – near-neutral, sparingly soluble

• TCP – Tricalcium phosphate: Ca₃(PO₄)₂ [E341(iii)] – neutral, low solubility
  (For context: Hydroxyapatite Ca₅(PO₄)₃OH is a calcium phosphate widely used in oral care and medical devices but is not E341.)

Functions (food/cosmetic/oral care)

• Food: acidulent/leavening acid (MCP), acidity regulator, anti-caking agent, calcium fortifier, emulsifying salt in processed cheese systems.

• Oral care: mild abrasive and opacifier (DCP/DCPD), source of Ca/P; hydroxyapatite acts as a remineralizing agent.

• Cosmetics: opacifier/filler, absorbent, mattifying base; improves slip and payoff in pressed or loose powders and can opacify emulsions.

Calories (energy value)
0 kcal per 100 g (inorganic salts; no metabolizable energy).

Physicochemical properties (indicative, 20–25 °C)

• Appearance: white, odorless powders; particle size from a few μm to tens of μm depending on grade.

• Water solubility: MCP moderate to high; DCP/DCPD low; TCP very low. Insoluble in common organic solvents.

• pH in suspension: MCP acidic; DCP/DCPD near neutral (slightly acidic/basic depending on water and dose); TCP neutral.

• Bulk density: ~0.6–1.0 g/cm³ (grade-dependent).

• Stability: chemically stable; MCP is more hygroscopic and reacts with bases; DCP/TCP are stable but may cake over long storage in humid conditions.

Reactivity and functional roles

• Chemical leavening: MCP supplies H⁺ to neutralize NaHCO₃ and release CO₂ (fast, cold-acting). DCP can moderate kinetics (more gradual CO₂ release) and help buffer final pH; TCP serves primarily as an inert filler/anti-caking aid.

• pH control: with bicarbonate/carbonates, enables a near-neutral baked-good pH (reduces alkaline off-notes).

• Abrasivity (oral care): DCP/DCPD deliver controlled, gentle abrasion, aiding stain/plaque removal with low enamel aggressiveness (formula dependent).

• Cosmetic powders: DCP/TCP improve silkiness, matt effect, and payoff; can opacify O/W systems at low levels.

Application areas

• Bakery: baking powders with MCP (immediate gas release), sometimes combined with DCP/TCP; typical leavening system addition 2–4% on flour weight in home baking (acid/base balance required).

• Beverages/plant milks/yogurts: calcium fortification (grades with good bioavailability and controlled particle size).

• Processed cheese: part of the emulsifying salt toolbox (alongside sodium phosphates) for stable emulsions and texture.

• Toothpastes: DCP/DCPD as abrasives/opacifiers; hydroxyapatite (not E341) for remineralization strategies.

• Make-up & skin care: pressed/loose powders, mattifying primers; in creams as a filler/opacifier.

Indicative use levels (to be validated in formulation)

• Leavening (MCP + NaHCO₃): stoichiometric acid-to-base neutralization; exact need depends on moisture and grade.

• Anti-caking (TCP/DCP): 0.2–1.0% in hygroscopic powders.

• Oral care (DCP/DCPD): level set by the abrasive system design and target RDA value.

• Cosmetic powders (DCP/TCP): 1–20% depending on desired matt effect and rheology.

Grades and specifications

• Available in technical, food (E341), and pharmaceutical grades; special oral-care grades control particle-size distribution and trace metals.

• Typical specs: assay, particle size/D50, very low heavy metals (Pb, As, Cd), loss on drying, apparent solubility, suspension pH.

Safety and regulatory

• Toxicity/Allergenicity: very low; GRAS at normal food-use levels.

• EU: E341(i–iii) permitted per category/limits; in cosmetics not specifically restricted under Reg. 1223/2009 (use per GMP).

• Oral care: widely used; hydroxyapatite regulated depending on classification (cosmetic vs device).

• Environmental note: manage phosphate discharges responsibly to minimize eutrophication risk.

Storage and shelf life

• Store tightly closed, cool and dry, protected from humidity.

• MCP needs stronger moisture barriers; DCP/TCP are less hygroscopic but can cake.

• Typical shelf life: 24–36 months (grade- and packaging-dependent).

Troubleshooting (baking)

• Alkaline/soapy taste or greenish crumb: excess NaHCO₃ → increase MCP or reduce soda; target batter pH ~6.8–7.4.

• Low volume: insufficient acid or premature CO₂ loss (long bench time with fast acids) → switch to double-acting systems or bake promptly.

• Pale crust: pH too low or low sugars → rebalance acid/base; allow a small amount of free soda for Maillard (avoid off-taste).

Formulation notes (cosmetic/oral care)

• Face powders: DCP/TCP boost glide and matte; synergize with silicas and modified starches.

• Dentifrices: DCPD offers gentle abrasivity; pair with fluorides and/or hydroxyapatite for enamel benefits.

• Emulsions: at low levels as opacifier/texture builder (check sedimentation; ensure adequate viscosity).

Medical

In medical applications it is used in bone treatment (1), in odontostomatology to protect tooth enamel (2) and to treat granulomas or periapical lesions (3) and to correct intrabony periodontal filling defects (4).

Another interesting technique is the subchondral injection of calcium phosphate, which consists of the application of a synthetic calcium-phosphate bone substitute into the bone marrow with the aim of improving the structural quality of the subchondral bone in order to achieve a modification of the bone to prevent the progression of arthritis and eventual bone collapse (5).

This article reviews the classification of calcinosis, a rheumatic disorder, with the mechanisms that may contribute to the pathogenesis of calcinosis and summarises the evidence evaluating non-pharmacological and pharmacological interventions for the treatment of calcinosis involving hydroxyapatite and calcium phosphate (6).

Bones are an important area of application for biomaterials and grafts to achieve healing from critical size defects are composed of calcium phosphates.

Safety

The Panel on Food Additives and Flavourings added to Food (FAF) provided a scientific opinion re-evaluating the safety of phosphates (E 338–341, E 343, E 450–452) as food additives. The Panel considered that (1). The Panel considered that phosphates have low acute oral toxicity and there is no concern regarding genotoxicity and carcinogenicity. The Panel calculated a group Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI) for phosphates expressed as phosphorus of 40 mg/kg body weight (bw) per day and concluded that this ADI is protective for the human population (7).

Animal nutrition

It increases body weight, reproduction rate and survival rate, shortens the fattening period and improves the defence against diseases such as chondropathy, dysentery and paralysis.

Cosmetics

Abrasive agent. It contains abrasive particles to remove stains or biofilm that accumulate on the stratum corneum or teeth. Baking soda, kieselguhr, silica and many others have abrasive properties. Peeling or exfoliating products used in dermatology or cosmetic applications contain abrasive agents in the form of synthetic microspheres, however these microspheres or abrasive particles are not biodegradable and create pollution in aquatic ecosystems.

Antiplaque agent. This ingredient has the property of preventing the onset of caries by fighting the bacteria responsible for acid corrosion of teeth.

Buffering agent. It is an iingredient that can bring an alkaline or acid solution to a certain pH level and prevent it from changing, in practice a pH stabiliser that can effectively resist instability and pH change.

Bulking agent. It regulates the water content, dilutes other solids, can increase the volume of a product for better flow, acts as a buffer against organic acids, helps to keep the pH of the mixture within a certain level.

Oral care agent. This ingredient can be placed in the oral cavity to improve and/or maintain oral hygiene and health, to prevent or improve a disorder of the teeth, gums, mucous membrane.

Viscosity control agent. It controls and adapts viscosity to the required level for optimal chemical and physical stability of the product and dosage in gels, suspensions, emulsions, solutions. 

The most relevant studies on this ingredient have been selected with a summary of their contents:

    Calcium phosphate studies

Typical commercial product characteristics Calcium phosphate

• Molecular Formula   CaHO₄P      Ca₃O₈P₂
• Molecular Weight   136.06
• Exact Mass   135.923843
• CAS   7757-93-9
• UNII    K4C08XP666
• EC Number   231-826-1   
• DSSTox Substance ID  DTXSID1049803
• IUPAC  tricalcium;diphosphate
• InChI=1S/3Ca.2H3O4P/c;;;2*1-5(2,3)4/h;;;2*(H3,1,2,3,4)/q3*+2;;/p-6 
• InChl Key      QORWJWZARLRLPR-UHFFFAOYSA-H
• SMILES   [O-]P(=O)([O-])[O-].[O-]P(=O)([O-])[O-].[Ca+2].[Ca+2].[Ca+2]
• MDL number  MFCD00010909
• PubChem Substance ID    24892950
• ChEBI  9679
• FEMA   3081   
• NACRES   NA.25   
• RTECS  

Synonyms

• Calcium phosphate
• Dicalcium phosphate
• Monohydrogen calcium phosphate
• dibasic calcium phosphate
• Calcium hydrogen phosphate
• Calcium phosphate, dibasic
• calcium,hydrogen phosphate

References____________________________________________________________

(1) Kawata M, Azuma K, Izawa H, Morimoto M, Saimoto H, Ifuku S. Biomineralization of calcium phosphate crystals on chitin nanofiber hydrogel for bone regeneration material. Carbohydr Polym. 2016 Jan 20;136:964-9. doi: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2015.10.009. 

(2) Shen P, Bagheri R, Walker GD, Yuan Y, Stanton DP, Reynolds C, Reynolds EC. Effect of calcium phosphate addition to fluoride containing dental varnishes on enamel demineralization. Aust Dent J. 2016 Sep;61(3):357-65. doi: 10.1111/adj.12385. 

(3) Mostafa AA, Zaazou MH, Chow LC, Mahmoud AA, Zaki DY, Basha M, Abdel Hamid MA, Khallaf ME, Sharaf NF, Hamdy TM. Injectable nanoamorphous calcium phosphate based in situ gel systems for the treatment of periapical lesions. Biomed Mater. 2015 Nov 6;10(6):065006. doi: 10.1088/1748-6041/10/6/065006. 

Abstract. Nonsurgical local treatment of a periapical lesion arising from trauma or bacterial infection is a promising innovative approach. The present study investigated the feasibility of developing injectable amorphous calcium phosphate nanoparticles (ACP NPs) and ACP NPs loaded with an anti-inflammatory drug; ibuprofen (IBU-ACP NPs) in the form of thermoreversible in situ gels to treat periapical lesions with the stimulation of bone formation. NPs were produced by a spray-drying technique. Different formulations of Poloxamer 407 were incorporated with/without the produced NPs to form injectable gels. A drug release study was carried out. A 3 month in vivo test on a dog model also was assessed. Results showed successful incorporation of the drug into the NPs of CP during spray drying. The particles had mean diameters varying from 100 to 200 nm with a narrow distribution. A drug release study demonstrated controlled IBU release from IBU-ACP NPs at a pH of 7.4 over 24 h. The gelation temperature of the injectable in situ gels based on Poloxamer 407 was measured to be 30 °C. After 3 months of implantation in dogs, the results clearly demonstrated that the inclusion of ACP NPs loaded with IBU showed high degrees of periapical bone healing and cementum layer deposition around the apical root tip.

(4) Stevanović M, Biočanin V, Nedkić M, Ignjatović N. Efficacy of nanocrystalline bone substitute biphasic calcium phosphate/poly-DL-lactide-co-glycolide for periodontal intrabony defects filling. Vojnosanit Pregl. 2015 Aug;72(8):689-95. doi: 10.2298/vsp140528049s. 

Abstract. Background/aim: Different bone substitutes have been used for filling and reparation of intrabony defects. The aim of this study was to compare nanocrystalline material, biphasic calcium phosphate poly-DL-lactide-co-glycolide (BCP/PLGA) with deproteinised bovine bone (DPBB) and beta-tricalcium phosphate (P-TCP) in the treatment of periodontal intrabony defects....Conclusion: Significant reductions of PPD and CEJ were registered in the group with BCP/PLGA when compared to the beta-TCP group.

 (5) Winge MI, Reikerås O, Røkkum M. Calcium phosphate bone cement: a possible alternative to autologous bone graft. A radiological and biomechanical comparison in rat tibial bone. Arch Orthop Trauma Surg. 2011 Aug;131(8):1035-41. doi: 10.1007/s00402-011-1271-z.

Abstract. Background: Donor site morbidity is a problem after autologous bone transplantation. An injectable CaP bone cement indicates properties similar to bone....Conclusion: The injectable CaP bone cement confirms its similarities to bone, implying that it can be used as an adjunct to secure bone fragments and as a possible alternative to autologous bone transplantation in clinical practice.

(6) Elahmar H, Feldman BM, Johnson SR. Management of calcinosis cutis in rheumatic diseases. J Rheumatol. 2022 May 15:jrheum.211393. doi: 10.3899/jrheum.211393.

(7) EFSA Panel on Food Additives and Flavourings (FAF); Younes M, Aquilina G, Castle L, Engel KH, Fowler P, Frutos Fernandez MJ, Fürst P, Gürtler R, Husøy T, Mennes W, Moldeus P, Oskarsson A, Shah R, Waalkens-Berendsen I, Wölfle D, Aggett P, Cupisti A, Fortes C, Kuhnle G, Lillegaard IT, Scotter M, Giarola A, Rincon A, Tard A, Gundert-Remy U. Re-evaluation of phosphoric acid-phosphates - di-, tri- and polyphosphates (E 338-341, E 343, E 450-452) as food additives and the safety of proposed extension of use. EFSA J. 2019 Jun 12;17(6):e05674. doi: 10.2903/j.efsa.2019.5674.