E515 (Potassium sulphates) is a chemical compound, the potassium salts of sulphuric acid.

It appears in the form of a white powder.

What it is used for and where

Food

Ingredient on the European food additives list as E515, acting as an acidity regulator.

Cosmetics

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. 

Safety

EFSA's Panel on Food Additives provided a scientific opinion reviewing the safety of sulphuric acid (E513) and its salts of sodium (E514), potassium (E515), calcium (E516) and ammonium (E517) when used as food additives. The Panel observed that exposure to sulphates at the mean and 95th percentile in the non-labelled scenario, as well as in the other scenarios, is far below the 300 mg/kg dose that induced a laxative effect in humans. On the basis of the available toxicological database, the Panel concluded that exposure to sulphuric acid (E513), sodium sulphate (E514), potassium sulphates (E515), calcium sulphate (E516) and ammonium sulphate (E517) does not raise safety concerns for the stated uses and use levels and no numerical Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI) is required (1).

Medical

Dietary supplement in cases of potassium deficiency.

Other uses:

• fertilisers
• plant protection products
• detergents
• automotive care products
• paints
• coating
• adhesives
• fragrances and air fresheners
• tissues

Potassium sulfate studies

• Molecular Formula: K₂SO₄  K₂O₄S
• Molecular Weight: 174.253 g/mol
• UNII: 1K573LC5TV
• CAS: 7778-80-5    10233-01-9
• EC Number: 231-915-5  233-558-0
• PubChem Substance ID 329820055
• MDL number MFCD00011388

Synonyms:

• Potassium sulphate
• Sulphuric acid, potassium salt
• Dipotassium sulfate
• Sulfuric acid dipotassium salt
• CHEBI:32036
• Sulfuric acid, potassium salt
• Potassiumsulfate

References_____________________________________________________________________

(1) EFSA Panel on Food Additives and Nutrient Sources added to Food (ANS); Younes M, Aggett P, Aguilar F, Crebelli R, Dusemund B, Filipič M, Frutos MJ, Galtier P, Gott D, Gundert-Remy U, Kuhnle GG, Lambré C, Leblanc JC, Lillegaard IT, Moldeus P, Mortensen A, Oskarsson A, Stankovic I, Waalkens-Berendsen I, Wright M, Di Domenico A, van Loveren H, Giarola A, Horvath Z, Lodi F, Tard A, Woutersen RA. Re-evaluation of aluminium sulphates (E 520-523) and sodium aluminium phosphate (E 541) as food additives. EFSA J. 2018 Jul 27;16(7):e05372. doi: 10.2903/j.efsa.2018.5372.