[Theoden]

Hi everyone,

I've been attempting to find a way to rid oats of phytic acid. I've researched such methods online, but would prefer not to turn this vital breakfast component into a slimy mess by soaking it overnight. I've thought about trying to react it with NaCO₃, but I fear my intended products could actually be the reactants of the reverse reaction:

C₆H₁₈O₂₄P₆ + NaCO₃    NaC₆O₂₄P₆ + H₂CO₃ + 8H₂ ?

Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

[Borek]

Nothing of what you wrote looks correct. If I guess correctly what you are trying to do probably the most important thing is: you can't neutralize a single compound of a mixture without reacting other components as well. That's not how it works.

[Theoden]

Nothing of what you wrote looks correct. If I guess correctly what you are trying to do probably the most important thing is: you can't neutralize a single compound of a mixture without reacting other components as well. That's not how it works.

Thanks for the reply! But would there still be a way to neutralize (in surety) a quantity of this acid, regardless of whether the method alters the rest of the mixture?

[Borek]

But would there still be a way to neutralize (in surety) a quantity of this acid, regardless of whether the method alters the rest of the mixture?

In general you can neutralize every acid, that's almost a definition of what an acid is.

[Arkcon]

Phytic acid is called an acid, and you can neutralize it with the appropriate amount of base.  According to basic chemistry, you plan would produce what would be called sodium phytate.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phytic_acid

I have to guess, but I'm assuming you want to remove the deleterious effect detailed in Wikipedia by "neutralizing."  I think if you read that article carefully, you'll discover that chemical neutralization of acid groups on a molecule by base is not the same as "neutralizing" a toxin.

[Theoden]

Phytic acid is called an acid, and you can neutralize it with the appropriate amount of base.  According to basic chemistry, you plan would produce what would be called sodium phytate.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phytic_acid

I have to guess, but I'm assuming you want to remove the deleterious effect detailed in Wikipedia by "neutralizing."  I think if you read that article carefully, you'll discover that chemical neutralization of acid groups on a molecule by base is not the same as "neutralizing" a toxin.

Thanks! I had actually assumed that changing the structure of phytic acid via chemical bonding would diminish its toxic effect. I did some more research though, and found that turning it into salt form would have no effect on its properties - Oh well.

Would there be a way to chemically restrain a phytate from its effects (absorbing other minerals)?