Sodium benzoate, powder
General Product Information
| Article. | Sodium benzoate, powder |
| Synonyms | E211, Benzoate of soda |
| CAS No. | 532-32-1 |
| EEG No. | – |
| EINECS No. | 208-534-8 |
| IMO | – |
| Tariff-Code | 2916310090 |
| UN No. | – |
| VLG/ADR | – |
Description
Sodium benzoate powder is the sodium salt of benzoic acid and is valued in industry for its preservative properties. This makes it ideally suited for applications in pharmaceuticals as well as food and cosmetics. The product is stable, highly soluble in water and effective against fungi, yeasts and certain bacteria in acidic environments.
Characteristics
- Grade: Pharmaceutical.
- BP Grade: High purity and meets stricter standards for solvent residues and other contaminants.
- High purity: Meets pharmaceutical requirements for use in medicinal applications.
- Odor: Odorless.
- Flavor: Slightly salty taste.
Physical & Chemical Properties
| Chemical Structure | C7H5O2Na |
| Molar Weight | 144.11 g/mol |
| Melting Point | >300 °C (decomposition) |
| Boiling Point | >450 °C |
| Solubility | Highly soluble in water. |
| Density | 1.5 g/cm³ |
| Refractive Index | – |
| pH | Approx. 8.0 (on 1% solution) |
| Color | White |
| Shape | Fine crystalline powder |
Applications
Sodium benzoate is applied in various ways, for instance:
1. Pharmaceutical Industry
In syrups, drinks, creams and eye drops, due to antimicrobial activity and compliance with pharmacopoeia specifications.
2. Cosmetics & Personal Care
In products such as shampoo, body lotion, face creams and makeup.
3. Food Industry
In acidic foods as food additive E211, such as soft drinks, fruit juices, sauces, pickles and jams.
4. Industrial Applications
In coolants, detergents and adhesives as a microbial inhibitor.
Interessing Links
- British Pharmacopoeia (BP) of the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA)
- Codex Alimentarius (FAO/WHO) – Guidelines and standards for food additives and food ingredients.
- European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) – For chemical information and regulations.
- European Food Information Council (EFIC) – Food facts for healthy choices.
- European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) – Information about safety and application of food additives.
- European Pharmacopoeia (EP) of the European Directorate for the Quality of Medicines & HealthCare.
- PubChem – Sodium Benzoate of the National Library of Medicine by the National Center for Biotechnology Information.
- U.S. Pharmacopoeia (USP)
- Wikipedia – Sodium benzoate