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E536 Potassium ferrocyanide is an inorganic chemical compound acting as an anti-caking agent in table salt.
E536 Potassium ferrocyanide prevents salt from clumping and absorbing moisture.
E536 Potassium ferrocyanide is highly stable, does not break down in the human body, and is safe and compliant with EU regulations in the permitted quantities.
CAS Number: 14459-95-1
Molecular Formula: C6H2FeKN6O-3
Molecular Weight: 269.07
EINECS Number: 680-418-3
Synonyms: TETRAPOTASSIUM HEXACYANOFERRATE, 13943-58-3, tetrapotassium hexacyanoferrate(II), DTXSID60892423, CHEBI:30059, K4Fe(CN)6, K4[Fe(CN)6], RefChem:867813, DTXCID401839101, lambda6-iron ion tetrapotassium hexakis(iminomethanide), potassium hexakis(cyano-kappaC)ferrate, 237-722-2, 680-418-3, E-536, ferrate(4-) hexakis(cyano-kappaC) tetrapotassium, INS-536, hexacyanoferrate of potassium, potassium ferrocyanide, potassium hexacyanoferrate, potassium hexacyanoferrate(II), tetrapotassium ferrocyanide, yellow prussiate of potash, Kaliumhexazyanoferrat(II), gelbes Blutlaugensalz, potassium hexacyanidoferrate(II), SCHEMBL50656, MFCD00167022, AKOS015914046, NS00093584, POTASSIUM HEXACYANOFERRATE(II)-3-HYDRATE PURE;POTASSIUM HEXACYANOFERRATE(II) TRIHYDRATE, REAGENTPLUS TM, >= 99%;POTASSIUM HEXACYANOFERRATE(II) TRI-HYDRA TE FINE CRYST.;POTASSIUM HEXACYANOFERRATE(II)-3-HYDRATE TECHNICAL;POTASSIUM HEXACYANOFERRATE(II)-3- HYDRATE R. G., REAG. A;Potassium ferrocyanide(II) hydrate, 99.99+% metals basis;POTASSIUM FERROCYANIDE(II) TRIHYDRATE, 99%, A.C.S. REAGENT;POTASSIUM HEXACYANOFERRATE(II) TRIHYDRAT E, ACS
E536 Potassium ferrocyanide, also known as potassium hexacyanoferrate(II) (K₄[Fe(CN)₆]), is a stable coordination salt of iron and cyanide groups that is mainly used as an anticaking agent in table salt and food-grade salt mixtures, where it prevents salt crystals from sticking together by reducing moisture-induced clumping and maintaining free-flowing powder properties during storage and transport.
Although it contains cyanide groups in its structure, they are strongly bound to iron in a stable complex, which makes the compound very different from free cyanide substances under normal conditions.
E536 Potassium ferrocyanide improves salt stability and storage performance in humid environments.
E536 Potassium ferrocyanide consists of a central iron(II) ion surrounded by six cyanide ligands forming a highly stable octahedral complex, with potassium ions balancing the charge, and this structure prevents easy release of cyanide under neutral and mildly alkaline conditions typically found in food processing and storage environments.
Only strongly acidic conditions could potentially cause decomposition.
E536 Potassium ferrocyanide improves chemical stability and safe regulated use.
E536 Potassium ferrocyanide appears as a yellow crystalline solid, is water-soluble, and remains stable under normal storage conditions, making it suitable for industrial handling and controlled food additive applications when used in very small regulated quantities.
Its low reactivity is one of the key reasons it is widely used in salt products.
E536 Potassium ferrocyanide improves handling safety and product consistency.
E536 Potassium ferrocyanide functions primarily as an anticaking and anti-humidity agent, where it interferes with crystal growth and moisture absorption processes that normally cause salt particles to bind together, especially in finely ground salt used in cooking, food processing, and industrial applications.
This ensures that salt remains dry and free-flowing even in humid climates.
E536 Potassium ferrocyanide improves usability and consumer product quality.
E536 Potassium ferrocyanide is best described as a stable iron–cyanide coordination compound used in regulated trace amounts as an anticaking agent in salt products because of its ability to prevent clumping while remaining chemically stable under normal storage and food-use conditions.
E536 Potassium ferrocyanide, commonly known as potassium ferrocyanide, is a commonly used anticaking agent.
Its cytotoxic and genotoxic effect has been evaluated.
The growth of chemical garden in aqueous potassium hexacyanoferrate solution droplets on a superhydrophobic surface has been reported.
The inhibition efficiency of potassium ferrocyanide in phosphoric acid solution against the corrosion of mild steel has been investigated.
E536 Potassium ferrocyanide is produced industrially from hydrogen cyanide, iron(II) chloride, and calcium hydroxide, the combination of which affords Ca2[Fe(CN)6]·11H2O.
This solution is then treated with potassium salts to precipitate the mixed calcium-potassium salt CaK2[Fe(CN)6], which in turn is treated with potassium carbonate to give the tetrapotassium salt.
E536 Potassium ferrocyanide is also important in high-purity salt refining technologies, where it is used in extremely small controlled doses to ensure that ultra-fine salt particles produced by vacuum evaporation remain separate, because these very small crystals have a much higher surface area and tend to absorb moisture more easily than coarse salt, making them more prone to caking during packaging and storage.
Its effectiveness is based on modifying crystal surface interactions rather than reacting chemically with sodium chloride itself.
E536 Potassium ferrocyanide improves industrial salt quality control and moisture resistance.
In humidity-controlled logistics and packaging systems, E536 Potassium ferrocyanide helps maintain salt stability during long-distance transport, especially in container shipping where temperature and humidity fluctuations can cause repeated cycles of condensation and drying that normally accelerate clumping in untreated salt products.
E536 Potassium ferrocyanide is especially important in global food supply chains.
This improves distribution reliability and product consistency.
In specialty salt blends and seasoning systems, E536 Potassium ferrocyanide is used to maintain uniform texture in mixed products containing salt and other fine powdered ingredients, ensuring that blends remain evenly distributed without segregation or hardening during storage or consumer use.
This is important for industrial seasoning mixes and processed foods.
E536 Potassium ferrocyanide improves formulation stability and consumer usability.
In electrochemical and coordination chemistry research, E536 Potassium ferrocyanide is widely studied because it provides a stable iron-centered complex that can undergo reversible redox reactions, making it useful for investigating electron transfer processes, electrode behavior, and complex ion stability in aqueous solutions.
These properties make it a standard reference compound in electrochemistry.
E536 Potassium ferrocyanide improves scientific understanding of redox systems.
Melting point: 70 °C (lit.)
Bulk density: 950–1050kg/m3
Density: 1.85
Storage temp.: Store at +5°C to +30°C
Solubility: H2O: 0.5 M at 20 °C, clear, yellow
Form: fine crystals
Color: yellow
Specific Gravity: 1.85
Odor: odorless
pH range: 8–10 at 211 g/L at 25 °C
pH: 9.5 (100 g/L, H2O, 20℃) (anhydrous substance)
Water Solubility: 270 g/L (12 ºC)
Merck: 14,7631
Exposure limits:
ACGIH: TWA 1 mg/m3
NIOSH: IDLH 25 mg/m3; TWA 1 mg/m3
Stability: Stable. Incompatible with oxidizing agents and strong acids (may generate very toxic HCN). Not combustible.
InChI: 1S/6CN.Fe.4K.3H2O/c61-2;;;;;;;;/h;;;;;;;;;;;31H2/q;;;;;;-4;4*+1;;;
InChIKey: NRYOVBQTVIWDNU-UHFFFAOYSA-N
SMILES: O.O.O.[K+].[K+].[K+].[K+].N#CFe-4(C#N)(C#N)(C#N)C#N
E536 Potassium ferrocyanide is widely used in food-grade table salt production, where it ensures that refined salt remains free-flowing during packaging, transportation, and long-term storage, particularly in regions with high humidity where salt naturally absorbs moisture and forms hard lumps that reduce usability.
This makes it essential in maintaining consistent salt quality for consumers.
E536 Potassium ferrocyanide improves food product stability and handling convenience.
In industrial salt processing systems, E536 Potassium ferrocyanide is used during bulk handling and packaging of fine salt powders to prevent block formation in silos, storage containers, and transport systems, ensuring smooth mechanical flow and reducing production interruptions caused by clogging or compaction.
This is especially important in large-scale food and chemical industries.
E536 Potassium ferrocyanide improves industrial efficiency and material flow reliability.
E536 Potassium ferrocyanide is sometimes included in small amounts to keep road salt from clumping during winter storage, ensuring that it spreads evenly when applied to roads for ice melting and safety management in cold climates.
E536 Potassium ferrocyanide supports reliable performance of winter road treatment systems.
This improves road safety and salt application efficiency.
In pigment and dye manufacturing, E536 Potassium ferrocyanide is used in the production of iron-based pigments such as Prussian blue, where its iron–cyanide structure serves as a precursor for controlled chemical reactions that generate stable and intensely colored inorganic pigments used in paints, inks, and coatings.
This highlights its importance in coordination chemistry-based pigment production.
E536 Potassium ferrocyanide improves industrial color chemistry and pigment synthesis.
In laboratory chemistry and research, E536 Potassium ferrocyanide is used as a reagent in coordination chemistry studies and metal ion detection, where it helps form characteristic complexes with iron and other transition metals, allowing researchers to analyze redox reactions and complex stability.
Its predictable chemical behavior makes it useful in analytical experiments.
E536 Potassium ferrocyanide improves chemical research accuracy and educational demonstrations.
In historical photography and cyanotype processes, ferrocyanide compounds were used in light-sensitive reactions that produce blue images on treated paper or fabric, making it an important chemical in early photographic and blueprint technologies before modern imaging systems.
This remains relevant in educational and artistic chemistry demonstrations.
E536 Potassium ferrocyanide improves historical understanding of imaging chemistry.
In industrial chemical studies, E536 Potassium ferrocyanide is used as a model compound for studying coordination complexes, ligand stability, and redox chemistry involving iron-centered systems under controlled laboratory conditions.
This helps scientists understand complex ion behavior in aqueous environments.
E536 Potassium ferrocyanide improves coordination chemistry research and material science development.
E536 Potassium ferrocyanide is the inorganic compound with formula K4[Fe(CN)6]·3H2O.
It is the potassium salt of the coordination complex [Fe(CN)6]4−.
This salt forms lemon-yellow monoclinic crystals.
Lemon yellow monoclinic columnar crystal or powder, sometimes with cubic metamorphosis.
Soluble in water, insoluble in ethanol, ether, methyl acetate and liquid ammonia.
E536 Potassium ferrocyanide, K4Fe(CN)6·3H20, is obtained commercially from gasworks spent oxide (which contains Prussian blue) by treatment with lime and subsequent treatment of the solution with a soluble potassium salt ; the less soluble potassium hexacyanoferrate(II) can be crystallized from this mixture.
In the laboratory it is readily prepared by treating aqueous iron(II) sulphate with an excess of potassium cyanide ; the initially precipitated iron(II) cyanide dissolves upon boiling in the excess of potassium cyanide solution and the ferrocyanide crystallizes on cooling.
In electroplating and surface engineering studies, E536 Potassium ferrocyanide systems are used to influence metal deposition behavior, where they can modify ion availability and help achieve smoother, more controlled coatings on metals such as zinc, copper, and steel under specific industrial conditions.
E536 Potassium ferrocyanide is used in research and controlled industrial formulations.
This improves coating uniformity and surface quality.
In industrial pigment synthesis beyond Prussian blue, E536 Potassium ferrocyanide is used in intermediate chemical pathways that produce iron-based coordination pigments with controlled color intensity and stability, which are used in inks, paints, plastics, and coatings requiring durable coloration.
E536 Potassium ferrocyanides role is structural in forming coordination frameworks.
This improves pigment chemistry and industrial color performance.
E536 Potassium ferrocyanide is used as a reference compound for studying complex ion formation because its iron–cyanide coordination structure is highly stable and reproducible, allowing scientists to calibrate methods for detecting metal ions and studying ligand exchange reactions.
This makes it valuable in laboratory calibration and method development.
E536 Potassium ferrocyanide improves analytical accuracy and experimental reproducibility.
In materials science and corrosion studies, E536 Potassium ferrocyanide is investigated for its role in forming protective layers or influencing electrochemical behavior on metal surfaces, helping researchers understand how coordination compounds affect corrosion resistance in different environmental conditions.
This is mainly experimental and research-focused.
E536 Potassium ferrocyanide improves corrosion science and material protection research.
In historical imaging and blueprint production, E536 Potassium ferrocyanide compounds were used in cyanotype photography, where UV light exposure triggers reactions that produce stable blue images, and although this is largely replaced by digital imaging, it remains important in educational demonstrations and artistic chemistry applications.
E536 Potassium ferrocyanide represents one of the classic applications of coordination chemistry in imaging science.
This improves historical and educational understanding of photographic chemistry.
In environmental chemistry monitoring, E536 Potassium ferrocyanide is studied to understand how stable cyanide complexes behave in soil and water systems, especially under changing pH, temperature, and oxidation conditions, helping regulators assess environmental safety and breakdown pathways in industrial scenarios.
This supports safe chemical regulation and environmental protection policies.
E536 Potassium ferrocyanide improves environmental risk assessment and chemical safety modeling.
Uses Of E536 Potassium ferrocyanide:
Moderately strong oxidizer when coupled with ferricyanide.
Applied in formation of a xerogel via a cyanogel the gel has potential use in solid-state gas sensors.
E536 Potassium ferrocyanide is a yellow crystal also known as yellow prussiate of potash.
E536 Potassium ferrocyanide was made by stirring hot potassium carbonate with wool or horn clippings with an iron rod.
E536 Potassium ferrocyanide is soluble in water 1:4 but not in alcohol.
E536 Potassium ferrocyanide was used as a developer for some iron processes and as an additive for alkaline pyro developers.
E536 Potassium ferrocyanide is mainly used as a food-approved anticaking agent and industrial flow improver because of its ability to prevent salt particles from sticking together by blocking moisture absorption and crystal bridging.
In table salt production, it is used to keep salt free-flowing and prevent clumping during storage and use.
This improves product quality and usability.
In food-grade salt processing, it is used in very small regulated amounts to maintain powder stability in humid environments.
E536 Potassium ferrocyanide improves storage performance and consumer convenience.
E536 Potassium ferrocyanide is used to improve flowability during packaging, transport, and bulk storage.
E536 Potassium ferrocyanide improves manufacturing efficiency.
In de-icing salt, it is used to prevent freezing and clumping during winter storage and distribution.
E536 Potassium ferrocyanide improves road safety and application performance.
In pigment manufacturing, it is used as a precursor for iron-based pigments such as Prussian blue.
E536 Potassium ferrocyanide improves industrial pigment production.
In laboratory chemistry, it is used as a reagent in coordination chemistry and metal ion testing.
This improves analytical accuracy and research applications.
E536 Potassium ferrocyanide is mainly used as a food-grade anticaking agent and industrial flow-control additive because it prevents salt crystals from binding together by blocking moisture absorption and crystal bridging, which keeps fine salt powders dry, free-flowing, and easy to handle during storage, transport, and consumer use.
E536 Potassium ferrocyanide is used in very small regulated amounts to prevent clumping and maintain smooth pouring behavior in refined salt products.
E536 Potassium ferrocyanide improves product quality and usability.
In food-grade salt blends, it is used to maintain powder stability in humid environments where salt would otherwise absorb moisture and harden into lumps.
E536 Potassium ferrocyanide improves storage stability and shelf life.
In industrial salt processing, it is used to ensure smooth flow during bulk handling, packaging, and transport operations.
This improves manufacturing efficiency and material handling.
In de-icing salt applications, it helps prevent freezing and clumping during winter storage so that salt can be spread evenly on roads.
E536 Potassium ferrocyanide improves winter road safety and application performance.
E536 Potassium ferrocyanide is used as a precursor in the production of iron-based pigments such as Prussian blue.
E536 Potassium ferrocyanide improves industrial pigment synthesis.
In laboratory chemistry, it is used as a reagent in coordination chemistry and metal ion analysis.
E536 Potassium ferrocyanide improves analytical accuracy and chemical research.
In industrial chemical studies, it is used in controlled reactions involving iron complexes and coordination compounds.
E536 Potassium ferrocyanide improves chemical development and process understanding.
Safety Profile Of E536 Potassium ferrocyanide:
E536 Potassium ferrocyanide is considered a low-to-moderate hazard compound under normal regulated use, because the ferrocyanide complex is stable and does not release free cyanide ions under neutral or mildly alkaline conditions typical of food and industrial applications.
The primary hazard occurs under strongly acidic conditions, where the compound may decompose and release hydrogen cyanide gas, which is highly toxic; however, this is not expected under normal food processing or storage conditions due to strict pH control.
E536 Potassium ferrocyanide makes acidity control essential for safety.
Inhalation of dust may cause mild respiratory irritation, particularly in industrial environments where fine particles may become airborne.
This requires standard ventilation and dust control.
Skin and eye contact may cause mild irritation, but it is not corrosive or strongly reactive under normal exposure conditions.
Rinsing with water is usually sufficient.
E536 Potassium ferrocyanide is stable under normal storage conditions but must be kept away from strong acids to prevent decomposition risk.
E536 Potassium ferrocyanide improves safe storage practices.
From an environmental perspective, it should not be released in large quantities, because cyanide-containing complexes may pose risks under certain breakdown conditions, even though ferrocyanides are significantly less toxic than free cyanide compounds.
