properties: white powder; melting point 622°c; easily soluble in water; it has different bulk density, i.e. low density 0.35-0.5g/cm3, medium density 0.51-0.65g/cm3 and high density 0.66-0.9g/cm3. uses: used as one of the main auxiliaries for synthetic detergent, synergist for soap; water softener, tanning agent for leather making, auxiliary for dyeing; as an effective dispersion agent for suspension solutions of coatings, kaolin, magnesium oxide, calcium carbonate and drilling mud etc.; as an oil contamination resistance agent in paper production. in foodstuff industry it is used as quality improver in the process of canned food, fruit juice drinks, foodstuffs from milk or soybeans. it may tender the meat in canned ham and soften the skin of horse bean in canned horse bean. it may also serves as a softener or densifier in foodstuff industry.