Sorbic acid

Sorbic acid

:"Sometimes confused with ascorbic acid, Vitamin C."Chembox new
Name = Sorbic acid
ImageFile = Sorbic acid.svg
ImageName = Sorbic acid
IUPACName = (2E,4E)-hexa-2,4-dienoic acid
Section1 = Chembox Identifiers
CASNo = 110-44-1
SMILES = CC=CC=CC(O)O
Section2 = Chembox Properties
Formula = C6H8O2
MolarMass = 112.12 g/mol
MeltingPt = 135 °C
BoilingPt = 228 °C (dec)
pKa = 4.76 at 25 °C

Sorbic acid, or 2,4-hexadienoic acid, is a natural organic compound used as a food preservative. It has the chemical formula C6H8O2. It was first isolated from the unripe berries of the Rowan ("Sorbus aucuparia"), hence its name.

Sorbic acid and its mineral salts, such as sodium sorbate, potassium sorbate and calcium sorbate, are antimicrobial agents often used as preservatives in food and drinks to prevent the growth of mold, yeast and fungi. In general the salts are preferred over the acid form because they are more soluble in water. The optimal pH for the antimicrobial activity is below pH 6.5 and sorbates are generally used at concentrations of 0.025% to 0.10%. Adding sorbate salts to food will however raise the pH of the food slightly so the pH may need to be adjusted to assure safety.

Sorbic acid is also used as a bio descaling agent.

Sorbic acid should not be confused with other chemically unrelated, but similarly named food additives sorbitol, polysorbate, and ascorbic acid ("Vitamin C").

The E numbers are:
* E200 Sorbic acid
* E201 Sodium sorbate
* E202 Potassium sorbate
* E203 Calcium sorbate

Some molds (notably some "Trichoderma" and "Penicillium" strains) and yeasts are able to detoxify sorbates by decarboxylation, producing trans-1,3-pentadiene. The pentadiene manifests as a typical odor of kerosene or petroleum. Other detoxification reactions include reduction to 4-hexenol and 4-hexenoic acid. [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=2253810&dopt=Abstract]

ee also

*Acids in wine

References

External links

* [http://www.chm.bris.ac.uk/webprojects2001/ghumra/intro.htm Sorbic acid on chm.bris.ac.uk]
* [http://www.inchem.org/documents/jecfa/jecmono/40abcj14.htm Sorbic inchem.org]
* [http://physchem.ox.ac.uk/MSDS/SO/sorbic_acid.html MSDS at University of Oxford]


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Look at other dictionaries:

  • sorbic acid — [sôr′bik] n. [ SORB + IC] a white, crystalline solid, CH3CH:CHCH:CHCOOH, isolated from the berries of mountain ash or made synthetically: used in drying oils, and as a food preservative, fungicide, etc …   English World dictionary

  • sorbic acid — noun a white crystalline carboxylic acid used as a preservative • Hypernyms: ↑carboxylic acid * * * ˈsȯrbik noun Etymology: sorb (II) + ic : a crystalline diolefinic acid CH3(CH . CH)2COOH obtained from the unripe fruits of the mountain ash or… …   Useful english dictionary

  • sorbic acid — sorbo rūgštis statusas T sritis chemija formulė CH₃(CH=CH)₂COOH atitikmenys: angl. sorbic acid rus. сорбиновая кислота ryšiai: sinonimas – 2,4 heksadieno rūgštis …   Chemijos terminų aiškinamasis žodynas

  • sorbic acid — /sɔbɪk ˈæsəd/ (say sawbik asuhd) noun a white crystalline solid, CH3CH: CHCH: CHCOOH, used as a fungicide and food preservative. {sorbic from sorb + ic} …  

  • sorbic acid — Obtained from berries of the mountain ash, Sorbus aucuparia (family Rosaceae), or prepared synthetically; it inhibits growth of yeast and mold and is nearly nontoxic to humans; used as a preservative. * * * sor·bic acid .sȯr bik n a crystalline… …   Medical dictionary

  • sorbic acid — noun Etymology: sorb fruit of the service or related trees, from French sorbe, from Latin sorbum Date: 1815 a crystalline acid C6H8O2 obtained from the unripe fruits of the mountain ash or synthesized and used especially as a fungicide and food… …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • sorbic acid — noun an unsaturated aliphatic carboxylic acid, CH.CH:CH.CH:CH.COOH, found in Rowan berries, and used as a preservative Syn: E200, preservative …   Wiktionary

  • sorbic acid — /sawr bik/, Chem. a white, crystalline compound, C6H8O2, slightly soluble in water, soluble in many organic solvents: used as a preservative in pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and food. [1805 15; SORB1 + IC] * * * …   Universalium

  • sorbic acid — sor′bic ac′id [[t]ˈsɔr bɪk[/t]] n. chem. a white, crystalline compound, C6H8O2, used as a preservative in pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and food • Etymology: 1815; sorb+ ic …   From formal English to slang

  • sorbic — (adj.) 1815, in sorbic acid, so called because it was first isolated from the berries of the mountain ash (see SORB (Cf. sorb)) …   Etymology dictionary

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