1. Potassium sorbate
Potassium sorbate, the potassium salt of sorbic acid, CAS No. 24634-61-5, EINECS No. 246-376-1 Chemical formula C6H7KO2, Molecular weight 150.22.
White to light yellow scaly crystals, crystal particles or crystal powder, odorless or slightly smelly, easily absorbed moisture and discolored by oxidation when exposed to air for a long time. It’s soluble in water, soluble in propylene glycol and ethanol. Often used as preservative.
2. Appearance of potassium sorbate
There are 3 kinds of appearance of potassium sorbate: noodle or granular, powder and pellet.
3. How is potassium sorbate preserved?
The preservative mechanism of potassium sorbate is the same as that of sorbic acid, that is, it combines with the sulfhydryl group of microbial enzyme system and thus destroys the action of many enzyme systems. Potassium sorbate can effectively inhibit the activity of mold, aerobic bacteria and yeast, and prevent the reproduction of microorganisms such as Staphylococcus, Clostridium botulinum and Salmonella, but it is ineffective against anaerobic Bacillus and Lactobacillus acidophilus, etc. The inhibition of development is stronger than its sterilization effect, thus achieving the purpose of prolonging the shelf life of food while maintaining the original flavor of food.
4. Effective PH range of potassium sorbate
Potassium sorbate is an acidic preservative, and still has a good preservative effect in food close to neutral (6.0-6.5).
5. Manufacturers of Potassium Sorbate
Nowadays, the main manufacturers of potassium sorbate are concentrated in China.
The potassium sorbate main manufacturers are Jinneng Science and Technology Company Limited, Shandong Hongda Biotechnology Co., Ltd, Jiangsu Mupro IFT Corp, Nantong Acetic Acid Chemical Co., Ltd, Wanglong Tech Co., Ltd, RuGao ChangJiang Food Co., Ltd, Nantong Alchemy Biotech Development Co., Ltd, Jiangbei Additive Co., Ltd, and Daicel Nanning Food Ingredients Co., Ltd.
5.1 Jinneng Science and Technology Company Limited
Jinneng Science and Technology Company Limited is a comprehensive chemical company with comprehensive resource utilization and economic cycle type, which was listed on Shanghai A-share on May 11, 2017 (stock code 603113). The main products are p-cresol, sorbic acid (potassium), carbon black, silica, methanol, coke, propylene, polypropylene, etc., which are used in many fields such as medicine, food, steel, automobile, plastic and chemical fiber.
5.2 Jiangsu Mupro IFT Corp
Jiangsu Mupro IFT Corp, established in November 2004, is a company aiming to develop and provide healthy food ingredients, with main products such as calcium propionate, potassium sorbate, potassium citrate, etc.
5.3 Nantong Acetic Acid Chemical Co. Ltd
Nantong Acetic Acid Chemical Co., Ltd (Nantong Acetic Acid Chemical Factory founded in 1959) is a national high-tech enterprise and a major high-tech enterprise of the National Torch Program, mainly producing four series of food and feed additives, pharmaceutical and pesticide intermediates, pigment and dye intermediates, and basic organic chemical products.
5.4 Wanglong Tech Co., Ltd
Ningbo Wanglong Tech Co., Ltd. is a national key high-tech enterprise, founded in 1992, with industries in chemicals, food additives, vegetable industry, paper industry, packaging, real estate, wire and cable, finance in one.
It mainly produces downstream derivatives of acetic acid, which are divided into four categories: food additives, pharmaceutical intermediates, pesticide intermediates, and intermediates for printing and dyeing industry. Among them, the annual production capacity of food additive sorbic acid (potassium salt) is 50,000 tons, 70,000 tons of diethylenone, 160,000 tons of acetic anhydride, 50,000 tons of methyl acetoacetate, 50,000 tons of ethyl acetoacetate
5.5 Shandong Hongda Biotechnology Co. Ltd
Shandong Hongda Biotechnology (Group) Co., Ltd. was founded in 2004, is a national high-tech enterprise producing ethanol and downstream products from dried potatoes and corn. The Group’s products include food-grade glacial acetic acid, amines, piperidine, sorbic acid (potassium), pyridine, 3-cyanopyridine, nicotinamide, etc., with a comprehensive annual production capacity of 1 million tons.
5.6 RuGao ChangJiang Food Co. Ltd
RuGao ChangJiang Food Co. Ltd. is located in Rugao, Jiangsu Province. The company was established in 1997. It mainly produces food additives, with annual production capacity of 13,000 tons of sorbic acid, 20,000 tons of potassium sorbate, 10,000 tons of calcium propionate, 2,000 tons of calcium sorbate and 2,000 tons of calcium citrate.
5.7 Nantong Alchemy Biotech Development Co., Ltd
Nantong Alchemy Biotech Development Co., Ltd. was established in 2000, is a Chinese national high-tech enterprise specializing in the development, production and sales of food additives and biotechnology. The main products of the company are food additives, feed additives, water treatment agents, cosmetic additives and other products.
5.8 Jiangbei Additive Co., Ltd
Jiangbei Additive Co., Ltd. is located in Rugao Port Development Zone, Rugao City, Jiangsu Province, and is a professional manufacturer engaged in food additives. The production capacity of potassium sorbate: 6500 tons/year, calcium citrate: 2000 tons/year, calcium sorbate: 300 tons/year, compound bread preservative: 200 tons/year.
5.9 Daicel Nanning Food Ingredients Co., Ltd
Daicel Nanning Food Ingredients Co., Ltd. is a wholly foreign owned enterprise producing Sorbic Acid and Potassium Sorbate, being invested by Daicel (China) Investment Co., Ltd., a holding company established in China by Daicel Corporation of Japan. The company used to be Hoechst Nanning Food Ingredients Co., Ltd., a Sino-Germany joint venture before the equity transfer. They have an annual production capacity of over 4000MT of sorbic acid and potassium sorbate.
6. Summary
Potassium sorbate is a widely used preservative. The main production capacity is concentrated in China.
Major producers of potassium sorbate include Jinneng Science and Technology Company Limited, Shandong Hongda Biotechnology Co., Ltd, Jiangsu Mupro IFT Corp, Nantong Acetic Acid Chemical Co., Ltd, Wanglong Tech Co., Ltd, RuGao ChangJiang Food Co., Ltd, Nantong Alchemy Biotech Development Co., Ltd, Jiangbei Additive Co., Ltd, and Daicel Nanning Food Ingredients Co., Ltd.
