Potassium Sorbate

What is Potassium Sorbate?

Molecular Formula (Potassium Sorbate); C₆H₇KO₂

Molecular Weight; 150.22 g/mol

Chemical Name; Potassium Sorbate

CAS Number; 24634-61-5

Potassium sorbate has the E number E202.

Potassium sorbate is a mold and yeast inhibitor and an antifungal chemical for cheeses. It is the potassium salt of sorbic acid, a naturally occurring antimicrobial compound, and is used as a preservative.

It is a mild preservative compound used as an alternative to paraben chemicals in the production of cosmetics and skin care products.

Compared to other food preservatives, it is more effective against bacteria. Therefore, it is not considered a broad-spectrum preservative. To ensure complete protection of products, Potassium Sorbate must be used in conjunction with other preservatives.

Other names for Potassium Sorbate are as follows;

• Potassium Sorbate
• Sorbistat Potassium
• 2,4-Hexadienoic Acid, potassium salt
• Potassium (2E,4E)-2,4-hexadienoate
• Potassium hexa-2,4-dienoate
• Sorbistat-K
• 2,4-hexadienoic acid potassium
• Sorbate
• Potassium Sorbate Granular

What are the Physical and Chemical Properties of Potassium Sorbate?

Potassium Sorbate is a white or slightly cream-colored chemical. It is found in powder and granular form. Its melting point is 270 °C.

Its density is 1.361 g/cm³. It dissolves in water at 20 °C to produce a clear liquid. Its solution has a colorless to slightly yellow color.

The stability of potassium sorbate is strong enough that it does not react with strong oxidizing agents. When heated to the point of decomposition, it emits toxic fumes from K2O.

At 20 °C, it has a solubility of 2 g/mL in ethanol.

Its solubility is 58.2 g/100 mL.

Boiling Point: Decomposes, no boiling point.

How is it Produced?

Potassium Sorbate is generally produced synthetically today. In standard uses, it does not have a noticeable taste. It is an inexpensive, white powder.

Potassium Sorbate is a naturally occurring unsaturated fatty acid. It is safe for human health when used in accordance with standards. Compared to other food preservatives, sorbate has the lowest allergenic properties.

Sorbic acid is mixed with Potassium Hydroxide in equimolar portions and recrystallized with aqueous ethanol to form this chemical.

How Does it Affect Human Health?

Potassium sorbate has different effects on humans at different concentrations.

Potassium sorbate irritates the skin upon contact. As a precaution, if contact occurs, the affected areas should be washed thoroughly. If it comes into contact with the eyes, it causes severe eye irritation.

If inhaled, it causes irritation to the respiratory tract. To recover from this condition, wash your eyes thoroughly.

How Should it be Stored?

Potassium Sorbate should be stored in a cool, dry place. It should be kept away from heat or light.

It is packaged and stored in 25 kg boxes. With optimal protection, its shelf life ranges from 6 to 8 months.

What is the Mechanism of Action of Potassium Sorbate as a Preservative in Foods?

Potassium Sorbate is used as a preservative in foods. The mechanism of action for its preservative use is based on very different properties. We can detail this preservative effect as follows.

Sorbic Acid and its salts are used as preservatives in foods. Their use at specific concentrations is considered safe. Recently, the antimicrobial properties and usage rates for Sorbate salts and sorbic acid have been very well defined.

Utilizing the preservative properties of Sorbate and Sorbic Acid is of great commercial importance in applications such as animal feed, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and other industrial uses.

The permitted usage rate of Sorbate as a preservative in food products is in the range of 0.001% to 0.003%. A sorbate concentration in the range of 0.001% to 0.003% causes growth stasis in microorganisms. At concentrations above this, it has a lethal effect.

Sorbic Acid is a straight-chain unsaturated monocarboxylic C6 fatty acid. Due to the property stemming from its carboxyl group, Sorbic Acid can form salts and esters. The chemical property of Sorbic Acid is determined by its chain length, carboxyl group, and conjugated double bond. This chemical effect can vary in the presence of catalysts.

Compared to Sorbic Acid, it works over a wider pH range. This allows it to be used as a preservative in a greater variety of foods.

How Does the Solubility of Sorbic Acid and Potassium Sorbate Affect Their Preservative Properties?

Sorbic Acid is relatively insoluble in water at 20 °C. It dissolves easily in hot water, alcohols, and anhydrous acetic acid. Increasing the pH increases the solubility of sorbic acid. In addition, the presence of certain chemicals that act as catalysts increases the solubility of sorbic acid. The solubility of sorbic acid increases in the presence of Pectin, polysorbate, alginate, methylcellulose, and propylene glycol.

In contrast to Sorbic Acid, its sorbate salt has very good solubility at 20 °C. Its solubility of approximately 58.2 w/v allows for its effective use as a preservative in foods.

Sorbate hydrolyzes in water to convert into sorbic acid, which has a more active antimicrobial effect. The effect level of a certain amount of Potassium Sorbate is equivalent to 74% of the effect of the same amount of Sorbic Acid. Therefore, it has been determined that Sorbic Acid has an approximately 1.35 times stronger preservative effect.

How Does the Oxidation of Potassium Sorbate Affect its Preservative Properties?

The oxidation and decomposition of Potassium Sorbate are caused by many different factors. Its oxidation accelerates with increased moisture. This negatively affects the antimicrobial properties of potassium sorbate. Aqueous solutions of Sorbic Acid are highly sensitive to oxidation. This situation affects the reaction kinetics of sorbic acid at the first order. The double bonds of sorbic acid are more susceptible to oxygen molecule attack in aqueous form than in anhydrous form. Sorbate salts polymerize during long-term storage and develop a yellow appearance.

The presence of acidic conditions accelerates the oxidation of sorbate salts. The oxidation of Sorbate by various acids is highly affected by pH and ambient temperature.

The Spectrum of Antimicrobial Properties of Potassium Sorbate and Sorbate Salts

Potassium Sorbate and sorbate salts are known to inhibit the growth of many microorganisms. There are so many that they need to be examined separately.

What are the Applications of Potassium Sorbate?

• It is a common preservative chemical used in wine production. It is added in a specific form after fermentation is complete in wine production. Potassium Sorbate is used to prevent spoilage by yeasts and molds in finished wine. In this application, it works by preventing the proliferation of microorganisms. It is added to wines that have completed fermentation. It ensures that sugars added after fermentation in wine production stop the fermentation process.
• It is used to extend the shelf life of foods. Its chemical effect as a food preservative stems from the potassium salt of sorbic acid. This effect inhibits the growth of pathogens.
• It is used in cheese, yogurt, dairy products, margarines, sour cream, and mayonnaise.
• Potassium Sorbate is used as a preservative in the manufacturing of ear drops.
• Fruit products, including dried fruits, contain Potassium Sorbate to prevent the potential growth of pathogens.
• Beverages, acidified or fermented vegetables, salads, olives, smoked or salted fish, sauces, syrups, and jellies may also contain sorbate.
• Bacterial growth in wet wipes and on the moist layer left on the skin after using wet wipes is a serious problem. It helps form a preservative composition in wet wipes when used together with Benzoic acid and salicylic acid.
• It is used in the production of skin care products in the cosmetics industry. In such applications, it is used to prevent product spoilage.
• It is used in cosmetic products produced as a protein source for the body, skin, and hair.
• It is used in the formulation of face, eye, and skin care products or cosmetic care products.
• It is used in the manufacture of medications for the treatment of colic in babies, to relieve gas pains, in combination with citric acid and some extracts.
• Potassium Sorbate is used as a preservative in the production of hard candies made from fruit juice.
• It is used as a preservative in the manufacturing of dry food for animals.
• In the production of disinfectant gel and ultrasound gel, it is used as a preservative to prevent bacterial formation and to ensure a longer shelf life for the gel.
• In the production of phyllo dough, it is used together with calcium propionate by lowering the pH. In this way, it exhibits antimicrobial properties and prevents mold formation.
• In the manufacturing of fruit-flavored energy drinks, it is used as a preservative alongside vitamins, in combination with sodium benzoate.

How Do its Prices Change?

With the advancement of technology, its price has increased further. The reason for this is that the applications for Potassium Sorbate have also increased with technology.

The factor that most affects its prices is the emergence of a new product using Potassium Sorbate, which causes a radical price increase. This is because the amount of raw material supplied to the market does not meet the demand for Potassium Sorbate.

One of the biggest factors affecting its price is the establishment of a new Potassium Sorbate production facility, which causes an inversely proportional decrease. However, over time, the price stabilizes.

One of the disadvantages of this product is logistics. Since Potassium Sorbate has bulky packaging, its shipping costs are higher compared to other chemical substances.