Potassium Phosphates
Potassium Phosphates is the umbrella name for the three orthophosphate salts of potassium: monopotassium phosphate (KH₂PO₄), dipotassium phosphate (K₂HPO₄), and tripotassium phosphate (K₃PO₄).
The group is regulated as a single additive class under the EU number E340 and is used across food, beverage, pharmaceutical, fertilizer, and cleaning applications as buffers, emulsifying salts, nutrient sources, and alkali builders.
We source bulk Potassium Phosphates from top China manufacturers for our partners. The manufacturers are in Jiangsu. A smaller requirement can ship in a combined container with other ingredients.
Please send the grade you need, the volume and your destination port, and we will come back with a solution and a price.
or call +86-21-6858 0751
- Packaging
- 25 kg kraft paper bag with PE inner liner
- ISO 9001
- HACCP
- Halal
- Kosher
Specifications
| Item | Specification |
|---|---|
| Appearance | White crystalline powder or granules |
| Assay (dried basis) | ≥ 98.0% |
| Total P₂O₅ | 51.0–53.0% (MKP) / 40.0–42.0% (DKP) / 32.0–34.0% (TKP) |
| Potassium (as K) | 28.0–29.5% (MKP) / 44.0–45.5% (DKP) / 54.0–56.0% (TKP) |
| pH (1% solution, 25°C) | 4.2–4.7 (MKP) / 8.7–9.4 (DKP) / 11.5–12.5 (TKP) |
| Loss on Drying | ≤ 2.0% |
| Water-Insoluble Matter | ≤ 0.2% |
| Solubility | Freely soluble in water; practically insoluble in ethanol |
| Fluoride (as F) | ≤ 10 mg/kg |
| Chloride (as Cl) | ≤ 0.2% |
| Sulfate (as SO₄) | ≤ 0.15% |
| Sodium (as Na) | ≤ 0.5% |
| Heavy Metals (as Pb) | ≤ 5 mg/kg |
| Lead (as Pb) | ≤ 2 mg/kg |
| Arsenic (as As) | ≤ 3 mg/kg |
Common Markets Grades
The three group members differ in pH, solubility, and primary use case, and are usually specified individually rather than as a blend.
E340(i) monopotassium phosphate (MKP) is the acidic member, with a 1 percent solution pH near 4.5. It is the standard choice for fertigation, yeast nutrition, and acidic buffer systems.
E340(ii) dipotassium phosphate (DKP) is mildly alkaline near pH 9. It dominates use in non-dairy creamers, processed-cheese emulsification, and mineral fortification of beverages.
E340(iii) tripotassium phosphate (TKP) is strongly alkaline near pH 12. Its use centres on cleaning, water treatment, and poultry antimicrobial sprays, with a smaller role in alkaline food buffering.
Premixed MKP-DKP blends are produced for buffer pre-formulations targeting specific intermediate pH set points, and tailored ratios are used to hit defined effective sodium-free buffering ranges.
Applications
- Buffering and pH control across food, beverage, supplement, and pharmaceutical formulations
- Emulsifying salts for processed and analog cheese systems
- Non-dairy creamer stabilisation to prevent feathering in hot coffee
- Mineral fortification (potassium and phosphate) in sports drinks and clinical nutrition
- Yeast nutrient and fermentation aid in brewing, distilling, and bakery
- Water-soluble fertilizers and fertigation programs supplying chloride-free P and K
- Hydroponic and foliar-feed nutrient solutions
- Cleaning and sanitation formulations, including poultry antimicrobial sprays where permitted
- Industrial water treatment for scale and corrosion control
- Biochemistry buffers, including phosphate-buffered saline and minimal microbial media
Brands Using Potassium Phosphates
Widely-distributed consumer products that list Potassium Phosphates on the ingredient label.
- GatoradeGatorade Thirst Quencher ↗Monopotassium phosphate (a potassium phosphate, E340) is used in Gatorade as the source of potassium electrolytes.Label verified 2026-05-24
- Coffee mateCoffee mate Original Liquid Coffee Creamer ↗Coffee mate Original liquid creamer uses dipotassium phosphate (a potassium phosphate, E340) as an emulsifying salt.Label verified 2026-05-24
- CheeriosOriginal Cheerios ↗Original Cheerios is processed with tripotassium phosphate (a potassium phosphate, E340) as an alkaline buffering agent.Label verified 2026-05-24
- Premier ProteinPremier Protein Shake Chocolate ↗Premier Protein RTD shake lists dipotassium and tripotassium phosphate as mineral/buffering ingredients (the E340 umbrella).Label verified 2026-05-24
- International DelightInternational Delight French Vanilla Coffee Creamer ↗Uses dipotassium phosphate (a potassium phosphate, E340) as a buffering salt in the non-dairy creamer emulsion.Label verified 2026-05-24
- PoweradePowerade Lemon-Lime Sports Drink ↗Powerade contains monopotassium phosphate (a potassium phosphate, E340) as a source of potassium electrolytes.Label verified 2026-05-24
Brand names, product names and logos are the property of their owners. They appear here as published evidence that the ingredient is used, taken from the brand's own label or website. Their appearance is not an endorsement, and it does not mean the brand buys from us or from any manufacturer listed on this site.
China Manufacturers of Potassium Phosphates
Top Potassium Phosphates manufacturers in China.
Company names and logos are the property of the manufacturers themselves. They are listed here because our own directory records them as producing this ingredient. A listing is not an endorsement by them, and we do not represent them or speak on their behalf.
How We Help Source Potassium Phosphates
Direct Factory Sourcing
We run the whole process: selecting the manufacturer from the top Chinese food ingredient producers, negotiating the price, verifying quality, and coordinating the logistics. You deal with us instead of with several factories at once.
Original Packaging and Documents from the Manufacturer
The manufacturer sends your Potassium Phosphates out of its own factory in the original packing, through to your destination port. The COA, COO, MSDS, TDS and any certifications reach you from the manufacturer as well.
Free Samples and Lead Time
We send 100 to 500 g free for your own laboratory to test and you cover only the courier, usually within 2 to 3 working days. ETD is usually within 7 to 15 days once the order is confirmed, and we check that date against the factory's own manufacturing schedule before we give it to you.
Combined Shipment
We can load Potassium Phosphates together with other ingredients such as Sodium Acetate, Calcium Citrate and Sodium Lactate into one 20' FCL. If your quantity is small, we can also ship LCL.
Regulatory Status
Potassium phosphates carry the umbrella EU number E340 with sub-numbers (i), (ii), and (iii) for the mono-, di-, and tribasic salts respectively, and Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 permits them across most food categories.
In the United States the group is Generally Recognized as Safe under 21 CFR 182.1613, with specific listings for buffer and sequestrant use in 21 CFR 182.6285. Individual salts also appear in 21 CFR 184.
The European Food Safety Authority issued a 2019 re-evaluation of phosphates as food additives covering the sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, and ammonium salts together and setting a combined group health-based guidance value.
JECFA likewise handles the dietary phosphates as a combined group rather than evaluating each cation separately.
Pharmacopoeial monographs exist in USP, Ph. Eur., and JP for each of the three salts individually, with the standard panel of identity, purity, and heavy-metal tests.
Manufacturing Process
All three salts are produced by neutralising food-, technical-, or fertilizer-grade phosphoric acid with potassium hydroxide or potassium carbonate at controlled stoichiometries.
A 1:1 acid-to-base mole ratio yields MKP, a 1:2 ratio yields DKP, and a 1:3 ratio (with KOH only) yields TKP. The end point of each reaction is verified by potentiometric titration to confirm the correct degree of neutralisation.
Reaction liquors are clarified, concentrated under vacuum, and either crystallised to give hydrated grades or spray-dried to give anhydrous powders. Output is screened, milled, and packed under moisture-protected conditions.
Global capacity is concentrated in China, with notable Western producers in Belgium (Prayon), Germany (BK Giulini, part of ICL), Israel (ICL), and the United States (Innophos). The underlying phosphate rock supply chain is dominated by Morocco (OCP), China, and the United States.
