Calcium Sulphate

Other names: Calcium sulphate

Harm score: 2 (Derivatives of natural substances)

Calcium sulfate, also known as Calcium Sulfate, is a chemical compound that is one of the most abundant minerals in the Earth's crust. It is a white or colourless crystalline substance that is soluble in water and also very heat stable. Calcium sulphate occurs naturally in three basic forms, namely as anhydrite (anhydrous), gypsite (with two water molecules) or gypsum (with two water molecules and in the form of very fine, transparent crystals).

Calcium sulphate is used in many industries and products. In the food industry it is used as a food additive E516, which regulates acidity and acts as a stabilizer. It is commonly present, for example, in bakery products, pasta, confectionery, but also in some types of cheese. Calcium sulphate has a very important application in the construction industry. Here it serves as a basic raw material for the production of plasterboard, plaster of paris and plaster of paris. It is also of considerable use in the ceramic industry for the production of glazes and ceramic enamels. In medicine, calcium sulphate is used to replace bone tissue in various surgical procedures. Its advantage is that it gradually dissolves and is replaced by newly formed bone.