Potassium sorbate is a potassium salt of sorbic acid with the formula C6H7O2K. It is a white to light yellow granular powder that is soluble in water, propylene glycol, and ethanol. It acts as a preservative by combining with microbial enzyme systems’ sulfhydryl groups, destroying their action and inhibiting the growth of moulds, aerobic bacteria, and yeasts.
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations recommends potassium sorbate as a safe and efficient preservative in various products, including carbonated beverages, fruit juices, wine, candy, confectionery products, aquatic products, meat products, cosmetics, and skin care products. It is packaged in 25kg/carton or 25kg/bag to meet different customer requirements.
Potassium Sorbate Product Data
Technical Specifications and Quality Control Standards for Potassium Sorbate：
| ITEMS | STANDARDs |
| Appearance | White to off-white granular |
| Melting range | 133-135℃ |
| Assay | 99.0% – 101.0% |
| Loss on drying(105℃,3h) | 1% Max |
| Heat Stability | No change in colour after heating for 90 minutes at 105℃ |
| Acidity (as C6H8O2) | 1% Max |
| Alkalinity (as K2CO3) | 1% Max |
| Chloride (as Cl) | 0.018% Max |
| Aldehydes (as formaldehyde) | 0.1% Max |
| Sulfate (as SO4) | 0.038% Max |
| Lead (Pb) | 5 mg/kg Max |
| Arsenic (As) | 3 mg/kg Max |
| Mercury (Hg) | 1 mg/kg Max |
| Heavy metals (as Pb) | 10 mg/kg Max |
| Ph -value (5% water solution) | 8.5-10.5 |
| Zinc | 0.1ppm |
| Cadmium | 0.02ppm |
| Test for potassium | Passes test |
| Test for double bonds | Passes test |
Potassium Sorbate vs Sodium Benzoate
The antiseptic effect of potassium sorbate is 5-10 times that of sodium benzoate, but its toxicity is only 1/40 of that of sodium benzoate. So it is recognized as a low-toxic, safe and efficient food preservative. Moreover, potassium sorbate is still effective at higher pH ranges, for example, pH 6.5, while sodium benzoate almost lost its antimicrobial activity which are effective to only below pH 4.5.
Anti Corrosion Principle
Anti corrosion principle: the combination of sorbic acid and thiol in microbial mould system can destroy many important enzymes of microorganisms, thus achieving the function of inhibiting the growth of microorganisms. In addition, it can disturb the transfer skills, such as the transfer of cytochrome c to oxygen, and the energy transfer on the surface of cell membrane, thus inhibiting the proliferation of microorganisms and achieving the purpose of antisepsis.
