Ammonium bicarbonate has a variety of uses across different industries. Here are some of the most common uses:
- Food industry: Ammonium bicarbonate is commonly used as a leavening agent in baked goods such as cookies, crackers, and biscuits. It produces carbon dioxide when heated, which causes the dough to rise and gives the baked goods a light and fluffy texture.
- Agriculture: Ammonium bicarbonate is used as a fertilizer in agriculture because it provides nitrogen to plants, which is an essential nutrient for their growth.
- Pharmaceutical industry: Ammonium bicarbonate is used as an ingredient in some medications, particularly in effervescent tablets, to provide a fizzy sensation when dissolved in water.
- Chemical industry: Ammonium bicarbonate is used as a source of ammonia and carbon dioxide in the production of other chemicals such as dyes, pigments, and plastics.
- Cleaning industry: Ammonium bicarbonate is sometimes used as a cleaning agent for metals, such as brass and copper, due to its ability to remove tarnish and corrosion.
Other industries: Ammonium bicarbonate can also be used in the production of ceramics, as a blowing agent in the rubber industry, and in fire extinguishers as a non-toxic, non-corrosive, and non-conductive extinguishing agent.