Compositions containing ammonium carbonate have long been known. They were once produced commercially and were formerly known as sal volatile or salt of hartshorn. It is obtained by dry distillation of nitrogen-containing organic matter such as hair, horn, and leather. In addition to ammonium bicarbonate, this material also contains ammonium carbamate (NH4CO2NH2) and ammonium carbonate ((NH4)2CO3). It is sometimes called ammonium bicarbonate. It has a strong ammonia odor, and after digestion with alcohol, the carbamate dissolves, leaving a residue of ammonium bicarbonate. [3]
A similar breakdown occurs when sesquicarbonate is exposed to air.
Ammonium bicarbonate is used in the food industry as a leavening agent for flat baked goods such as biscuits and crackers. It was common in households before the advent of modern baking powder. Many baking recipes, especially those from Scandinavian countries, may still refer to it as hartshorn or hornsalt,[4][5] although it is called "hirvensarvisuola" in Finnish and "hirvensarvisuola" in Norwegian "hjortetakksalt" in Danish, "hjorthornssalt" in Swedish, and "Hirschhornsalz" in German (literal translation, "antler salt"). It smells like ammonia, but dissipates quickly and has no taste at all. For example, it is used in Swedish "drömmar" biscuits and Danish "brunkager" Christmas biscuits, as well as in German Lebkuchen. In many cases, it can be washed with baking soda or soaked Baking powder or a combination of both can be substituted, depending on recipe ingredients and fermentation requirements.[6] Compared to baking soda or potash, hartshorn has the advantage of producing more gas at the same dose and does not Leaves any salty or soapy taste in the finished product, as it completely decomposes into water and gaseous products and evaporates during baking. However, it should not be used in moist, bulky baked goods such as plain bread or cakes because Some ammonia can get trapped in it and can create an unpleasant taste.It is designated E number E503 in the EU for use as a food additive.
