Sorbinic Acid

Sorbic acid is an unsaturated fatty acid. It has inhibitory activity against a wide spectrum of yeasts, molds and bacteria, including most food-borne pathogens. Its inhibitory activity depends upon the pH of the substrate; the upper limit for activity is pH6.5 in most applications and the degree of activity increases as the pH decreases. It has more promising effectiveness of inhibitory activity than benzoic acid.

Sorbic acid, as a food additive, is available to joint the metabolism in a normal way within the human body, degrading into carbon dioxide and water. Thus it can be considered as food components as well. Comparing sorbic acid with other preservative, sorbic acid and its salt are safer and will not change the original food color, flavor and nutrition.

Because of the good anti-decomposition and anti-fungus function, sorbic acid is widely used not only in all kinds of food, but also in grains, medicines, cosmetic, toothpaste, tobacco, animal feeds, latex, Paper-manufacturing and pesticide.

Physical properties: