Potassium Sorbate

Sourcing Potassium Sorbate

Potassium sorbate, also known as sorbistat-k, E-202 and sorbistat-potasium, is a white, odorless, and tasteless salt. Although it is naturally occurring in some fruits like berries, it is commercially produced by a neutralization reaction between sorbic acid and potassium hydroxide. It is an inactive salt form of sorbic acid and just like sorbic acid, it has been found to be active against molds, yeasts, bacteria and fungi. Because of these antimicrobial activities, it is often used as a preservative in the food and beverage industries to preserve foods like cheese, yogurt, dried meat, bread, cake, milkshakes, pickles, ice cream and apple cider.

It is also widely used in personal care products like cosmetics, shampoos, moisturizers, skin and hair products, eye shadows and contact lens solution. Potassium sorbate will produce sorbic acid when dissolved in water, and it is this sorbic acid moiety that possess the antimicrobial activity in the compound.

Manufacturing Applications

One of the major users of potassium sorbate is the wine making industries. Potassium sorbate is used as a wine stabilizer because when it is added to the wine, it produces sorbic acid which is the active agent that inhibits the growth of yeast. The remaining yeasts present in the wine would continue to ferment any residual sugar into alcohol until their death. It is also used to prevent the re-fermentation of these wines. Potassium sorbate is commonly used at concentrations between 0.025% and 0.1% in the food and wine industries. It is most active in slightly acidic mediums; the pH must be low enough to enable the release of free acid that is required for efficient activity.

Potassium Sorbate

It is widely used in the personal care and cosmetic industries to inhibit microbial growth and hence extend the shelf life of these products. One of the major advantages of potassium sorbate is its wide pH range, i.e between 2 - 6.5. The typical concentration of potassium sorbate that is commonly used in the cosmetic industry is between 0.15% - 0.3% when it is used alone or 0.1% - 0.2% when it is used in combination with other preservatives.

Grains and feeds contain enough moisture and nutrient to support the growth and proliferation of microorganisms, so potassium sorbate is often used in the agricultural industries as preservatives for animal feeds and in seed treatments when combined with sodium propionate.

Potassium sorbate is also used in the pharmaceutical industries to preserve liquid preparations and increase the shelf life of these products.

The whitish color, odorless and tasteless nature is one of main reasons why potassium sorbate is used in these industries because it does not interfere with the original color, odor, tastes or the appearance of these products. It is also effective at a wide range of temperature.

Potassium Sorbate Chemical Properties

Potassium sorbate is a white crystalline solid at room temperature, the pure compound has a melting point range between 132°C to 137°C and a density of 1.363g/cm³. At a temperature above 60°C, potassium sorbate will begin to sublime.

It is soluble in water, ethanol, propylene glycol and ethyl alcohol. It is slightly soluble in acetone, chloroform, corn oil and ether. It is insoluble in benzene.

The mode of action of potassium sorbate and other sorbates is by altering the cell membrane, inhibition of certain enzymes that are present within the cells of the microorganism, inhibition of the cells transport systems and the creation of a proton flux into the cell. Potassium sorbate has also been found to be active against bacteria spores and it does this by acting on the post binding stages of the spore forming process and inhibition of certain enzymes within the spores.

Find Potassium Sorbate

1. Potassium Sorbate
   Laboratoires Prod'Hyg
   Potassium Sorbate is an organic acid preservative for personal care products.
2. Potassium Sorbate
   Chemceed
   Potassium Sorbate is an widely used antimicrobial and preservative used in a wide variety of foods and personal care products. Potassium Sorbate works by inhibiting the growth of molds, yeasts and bacteria to preserve the freshness and quality of foods, beverages, or cosmetic products.
3. Potassium Sorbate
   Potassium Sorbate is a potassium salt of sorbic acid (natural fatty acid). Purity >98%. Kosher FCC grade.In water potassium sorbate releases sorbic acid which is the active agent. Widely used as preservative in foods & cosmetics. Effective preservative active against molds, yeast and aerophile bacteria. Effectiveness is enhanced further by chelating agents (e.g. EDTA). Extends shelf life of personal care products typically to several months. Effective in a wide pH range of (2 to 6.5).