Sodium benzoate

Sodium benzoate, also known as benzoate of soda, is an organic substance with a chemical formula of C7H5NaO2. It is a white granular or crystal powder, odorless or slightly benzoin, slightly sweet, and astringent.

Benzoic acid and its salts are broad-spectrum antimicrobial reagents, but their antibacterial efficacy depends on the PH value of food. With the increase of the acidity of the medium, its bactericidal and bacteriostatic effect increases, but it loses its bactericidal and bacteriostatic effect in an alkaline medium. The optimum pH value of anticorrosion is 2.5-4.0. The product can be used as a fungicide in the pharmaceutical industry, a mordant in the dye industry, a plasticizer in the plastic industry, and an intermediate in organic synthesis such as spices. Sodium benzoate is also an important acid food preservative. When used, it is converted into an effective form of benzoic acid. In addition, it can also be used as a preservative for feed. Benzoic acid and sodium benzoate are generally limited to foods with high protein content. Sodium benzoate has the same effect on microorganisms as benzoic acid, but because it is a sodium salt, the addition amount of sodium benzoate is 1.2 times higher than that of benzoic acid in order to achieve the same germicidal efficacy as benzoic acid.