| Description | Potassium benzoate is the potassium salt of benzoate. It is mostly used for food preservation for inhibiting the growth of mold, yeast and bacteria since it can create low pH condition after entering into the cells to suppress the anaerobic fermentation of glucose. It can also be used in the whistle in many fireworks. In analytic chemistry, it can be used as eluents for ion chromatography to increase the detector response. |
| Chemical Properties | Potassium benzoate occurs as a slightly hygroscopic, white, odorless
or nearly odorless crystalline powder or granules. Aqueous
solutions are slightly alkaline and have a sweetish astringent taste. |
| Chemical Properties | Potassium benzoate ( E212 ) , the potassium salt of benzoic acid, is a food preservative that inhibits the growth of mold, yeast and some bacteria. It works best in low-pH products, below 4.5, where it exists as benzoic acid.
Acidic foods and beverages such as fruit juice (citric acid), sparkling drinks (carbonic acid), soft drinks (phosphoric acid), and pickles (vinegar) may be preserved with potassium benzoate. It is approved for use in most countries including Canada, the U.S., and the EU, where it is designated by the E number E212. In the EU, it is not recommended for consumption by children. |
| Uses | Potassium Benzoate is manufactured primarily for food and beverage use. It is a chemical preservative, which in very low concentrations inhibits the activity of the microorganisms. It is used in carbonated beverages. The shelf life of un-pasteurized cider can be greatly extended by adding potassium benzoate. It is also used as the whistle in many fireworks. |
| Uses | Pharmaceutic aid (preservative). |
| Production Methods | Potassium benzoate is prepared from the acid–base reaction
between benzoic acid and potassium hydroxide. |
| Flammability and Explosibility | Not classified |
| Pharmaceutical Applications | Potassium benzoate is predominantly used as an antimicrobial
preservative in a wide range of beverages, foods and some
pharmaceutical formulations. Preservative efficacy increases with
decreasing pH; it is most effective at pH 4.5 or below. However, at
low pH undissociated benzoic acid may produce a slight though
discernible taste in food products.
Increasingly, potassium benzoate is used as an alternative to
sodium benzoate in applications where a low sodium content is
desirable.
Therapeutically, potassium benzoate has also been used in the
management of hypokalemia. |
| Safety Profile | Combustible when
exposed to heat or flame. When heated to
decomposition it emits acrid smoke and
irritating fumes. |
| Safety | Potassium benzoate is widely used in food products and is generally
regarded as a nontoxic and nonirritant material. However, people
with a history of allergies may show allergic reactions when exposed
to potassium benzoate. Ingestion is inadvisable for asthmatics.
Higher concentrations of potassium benzoate have been reported to
cause irritation to mucous membranes.
The WHO acceptable daily intake of total benzoates including
potassium benzoate, calculated as benzoic acid, has been estimated
at up to 5 mg/kg of body-weight. |
| Safety | Potassium benzoate was recently described by the Food Commission, who campaign for 'safer, healthier food in the UK', as "mildly irritant to the skin, eyes and mucous membranes".
Cats have a significantly lower tolerance to benzoic acid and its salts than rats and mice. |
| Synthesis | One very common way to make potassium benzoate is by oxidizing toluene.
Another way to synthesize potassium benzoate in the lab setting is by reacting methyl benzoate with potassium thio acetate. |
| storage | Potassium benzoate is stable at room temperature under normal
storage conditions. Since it is slightly hygroscopic, potassium
benzoate should be stored in sealed containers. Exposure to
conditions of high humidity and elevated temperatures should be
avoided. |
| Purification Methods | Potassium benzoate [582-25-2] M 160.2. Crystallise it from water (1mL/g) between 100o and 0o. [Beilstein 9 III 375, 9 IV 279.] |
| Spectra | Carbon 13 NMR
The carbon NMR shows 5 unique peaks. There are four peaks between 130 - 140 ppm from the carbons in the benzene ring. There is an additional carbon peak around 178 ppm representing the carbon from the carbonyl.
Infrared spectrum The following are the main peaks in the IR spectrum.
1610: C=O from carbonyl
1580: C=C from benzene ring. |
| Mechanism of food preservation | The mechanism of food preservation begins with the absorption of benzoic acid into the cell. If the intracellular pH changes to 5 or lower, the anaerobic fermentation of glucose through phosphofructokinase is decreased by 95 %. |
| Incompatibilities | Potassium benzoate is incompatible with strong acids and strong
oxidizing agents. |
| Regulatory Status | GRAS listed. Accepted as a food additive in Europe. Included in the
Canadian List of Acceptable Non-medicinal Ingredients. |
| References | Gjerde, Douglas T., and J. S. Fritz. "Sodium and potassium benzoate and benzoic acid as eluents for ion chromatography." Analytical Chemistry 53.14(1981):2324-2327.
Zengin, N., et al. "The evaluation of the genotoxicity of two food preservatives: Sodium benzoate and potassium benzoate." Food & Chemical Toxicology An International Journal Published for the British Industrial Biological Research Association 49.4(2011):763-9.
Zeb, Alam, et al. "Grape juice preservation with benzoate and sorbate. " Advances in Food Sciences (2009).
Marietta, Michael S. "Fireworks artillery shell." US, US6912958. 2005. |