Phytic acid is the hexaphosphate ester of inositol, and it is the principal storage form of phosphorus in seeds. Its six phosphate groups give a high charge density, so it chelates divalent and trivalent cations and binds strongly to positively charged surfaces [1]. The same groups make it an effective flame retardant for cellulose and for synthetic polymers, where it acts in the condensed phase by promoting char formation [2]. Coatings built by layer-by-layer assembly or by complexation with a polycation provide corrosion protection on magnesium and steel [3]. In nutrition the molecule is regarded as an antinutrient because it reduces the absorption of iron and zinc, and this property is the reason for much of the processing research on cereals [4]. Its strong binding is also a limitation, since the additive can sequester the metal ions needed by a catalyst or by a crosslinking reaction [5].
- inositol hexaphosphate
- chelation
- char formation
- flame retardant
- corrosion inhibitor
- antinutrient
- layer-by-layer
References
- Zhu, W.; Yang, M.; Huang, H.; Dai, Z.; Cheng, B.; Hao, S.; A phytic acid-based chelating coordination embedding structure of phosphorus–boron–nitride synergistic flame retardant to enhance durability and flame retardancy of cotton. Cellulose 2020, 27, 4817-4829, 10.1007/s10570-020-03063-3.
- Wang, L.; Zhao, H.; Meng, L.; Chen, H.; Jia, L.; Preparation of phosphorus-nitrogen synergistic flame retardant cellulose composite aerogel from waste cotton/phytic acid/acrylamide. International Journal of Biological Macromolecules 2024, 283, 137277, 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.137277.
- Li, Z.; Zhang, Q.; Cui, J.; Yan, Y.; Ecofriendly Flame-Retardant Polystyrene Composites: Exploiting the Synergistic Effects of Phytic Acid, Polyethyleneimine, and Expandable Graphite. Materials 2025, 18, 4308, 10.3390/ma18184308.
- Cheng, X.W.; Guan, J.P.; Tang, R.C.; Liu, K.Q.; Phytic acid as a bio-based phosphorus flame retardant for poly(lactic acid) nonwoven fabric. Journal of Cleaner Production 2016, 124, 114-119, 10.1016/j.jclepro.2016.02.113.
- Li, Z.; Zhang, Q.; Wang, Q.; Liu, X.; Cui, J.; Yan, Y.; Ecofriendly flame-retardant polystyrene composites containing phytic acid-based flame retardant and montmorillonite nanosheets. Materials Today Communications 2025, 48, 113409, 10.1016/j.mtcomm.2025.113409.