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E211 Sodium Benzoate is a widely used food preservative with the chemical formula C₇H₅NaO₂.
E211 Sodium Benzoate inhibits the growth of bacteria, yeast, and mold in acidic foods like soft drinks, salad dressings, and pickles.
The U.S. FDA generally recognizes E211 Sodium Benzoate as safe within strict daily limits (0–5 mg/kg of body weight).
CAS Number: 532-32-1
Molecular Weight:144.10317
Abbreviations: BzONa, NaOBz
ChEBI: CHEBI:113455
ChEMBL : ChEMBL1356
ChemSpider: 10305 check
ECHA InfoCard: 100.007.760 Edit this at Wikidata
E number: E211
Synonyms: Sodium Benzonate,Soudium benzoate,Natriumbenzoat,BENZOIC ACID SODIUM SALT,ucephan;PUROX S,FEMA 3025,femanumber3025,odium benzoate,sodiumbenzoicacid
Description
Sodium benzoate, also known as benzoic acid sodium, is commonly used as food preservatives in food industry, odorless or with slight smell of benzoin, and tastes sweet astringency.
Stable in air, can absorb moisture in open air.
It’s naturally found in blueberry, apple, plum, cranberry, prunes, cinnamon and cloves, with weaker antiseptic performance than benzoic acid.
Antiseptic performance of 1.180g sodium benzoate is equivalent of about 1g benzoic acid.
In acidic environment, sodium benzoate have obvious inhibitory effect on a variety of microorganisms: when pH is at 3.5, 0.05% solution can completely inhibit the growth of yeast; while when pH is above 5.5, E211 Sodium Benzoate has poor effect on a lot of mold and yeast; hardly has any effect in alkaline solution.
After sodium benzoate enters into the body, in the process of biotransformation, E211 Sodium Benzoate would combine with glycine to be uric acid, or combine with glucuronic acid to be glucosiduronic acid, and all to be eliminated from the body in urine, not to accumulate in the body.
As long as E211 Sodium Benzoate is within the scope of the normal dosage, E211 Sodium Benzoate would be harmless to the human body, and E211 Sodium Benzoate is a safe preservatives.
E211 Sodium Benzoate also can be used for carbonated beverages, concentrated juice, margarine, chewing gum base, jam, jelly, soy sauce, etc.
Human acceptable daily intake (ADI) < 5 mg/kg body weight (take benzoic acid as calculation basis).
Sodium benzoate has big lipophilicity, and it is easy to penetrate cell membrane into the cells, interfere in permeability of cell membrane, and inhibit cell membrane’s absorption of amino acids; cause Ionization acidification of alkaline storage in the cell when entering into, inhibit activity of respiratory enzymes, and stop condensation reaction of acetyl coenzyme A, and thereby achieve the purpose of food antiseptic.
E211 Sodium Benzoate has the chemical formula NaC7H5O2; E211 Sodium Benzoate is a widely used food preservative, with E number E211.
E211 Sodium Benzoate is the sodium salt of benzoic acid and exists in this form when dissolved in water.
E211 Sodium Benzoate can be produced by reacting sodium hydroxide with benzoic acid.
E211 Sodium Benzoate, also known as benzoate of soda, is the sodium salt of benzoic acid, widely used as a food preservative (with an E number of E211) and a pickling agent.
E211 Sodium Benzoate appears as a white crystalline chemical with the formula C6H5COONa.
Sodium Benzoate (E211) is a widely used, water-soluble organic salt primarily functioning as an antimicrobial food preservative.
E211 Sodium Benzoate is most effective at inhibiting the growth of yeasts, molds, and bacteria in acidic environments (pH ≤ 4.5).
General Description
E211 Sodium Benzoate is a sodium salt of benzoic acid, that is freely soluble in water compared to benzoic acid.
E211 Sodium Benzoate is generally used as an antimicrobial preservative in cosmetics, food, and pharmaceuticals.
Pharmaceutical secondary standards for application in quality control, provide pharma laboratories and manufacturers with a convenient and cost-effective alternative to the preparation of in-house working standards.
Sodium benzoate Properties
Melting point: >300 °C (lit.)
Density: 1,44 g/cm3
vapor pressure: 0Pa at 20℃
FEMA: 3025 | SODIUM BENZOATE
Flash point: >100°C
storage temp.: room temp
solubility: H2O: 1 M at 20 °C, clear, colorless
pka: 4.03[at 20 ℃]
form: Crystals, Granules, Flakes or Crystalline Powder
color: White
PH: 7.0-8.5 (25℃, 1M in H2O)
Odor: odorless
biological source: synthetic
Water Solubility: soluble
Merck: 14,8582
BRN: 3572467
Stability: Stable, but may be moisture senstive. Incompatible with strong oxidizing agents, alkalis, mineral acids.
InChI: 1S/C7H6O2.Na/c8-7(9)6-4-2-1-3-5-6;/h1-5H,(H,8,9);/q;+1/p-1
InChIKey: WXMKPNITSTVMEF-UHFFFAOYSA-M
Production
E211 Sodium Benzoate is commonly produced by the neutralization of sodium hydroxide (NaOH) with benzoic acid (C6H5COOH), which is itself produced commercially by partial oxidation of toluene with oxygen.
White crystals or granules, or colorless powder, with sweet astringency.
Soluble in water, ethanol, glycerol and methanol.
E211 Sodium Benzoate is almost odorless or exhibits a sweet, faint, balsamic odor and a sweet–sour to acrid taste.
For a detailed description, refer to Burdock (1997).
History
In 1820, benzoic acid was discovered by German chemist Friedrich Wöhler through the oxidation of toluene.
His research laid the groundwork for the eventual production of sodium benzoate.
The process typically involves neutralizing benzoic acid with sodium hydroxide, creating sodium benzoate—a stable compound with excellent antibacterial and antifungal properties.
Sodium benzoate was commercially introduced in the late 19th century.
Its preservative qualities made it particularly valuable as food products began to be mass-produced and distributed.
In 1908, sodium benzoate was recognized as a food preservative by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
This allowed E211 Sodium Benzoate to be used in various food products, including soft drinks, pickles, and sauces, to prevent spoilage and extend shelf life.
Production methods
1. Neutralized by benzoic acid and sodium bicarbonate.
Put water and sodium bicarbonate into the neutralizing pot, boil E211 Sodium Benzoate and make E211 Sodium Benzoate dissolved into sodium bicarbonate solution.
Mix E211 Sodium Benzoate with benzoic acid until PH value of the reaction solution reaches to 7-7.5.
Heat E211 Sodium Benzoate to emit over carbon dioxide, and then add active carbon to decolorize E211 Sodium Benzoate for half an hour.
Do suction filtration, after filtrate gets concentrated, put E211 Sodium Benzoate into flaker tray, dry it to be sheets in the drum, crush E211 Sodium Benzoate, and then sodium benzoate is made.
Consumption rate of benzoic acid (99.5%) 1045kg/t and sodium bicarbonate (98%) 610kg/t.
2. Use 32% soda solution to neutralize benzoic acid in the pot to reach PH value of 7.5, and neutralization temperature is 70℃.
Use 0.3% active carbon to decolorize the neutralized solution, vacuum filter E211 Sodium Benzoate, concentrate, dry E211 Sodium Benzoate and then E211 Sodium Benzoate comes to powdered sodium benzoate.
C6H5COOH+Na2CO3→C6H5COONa
3. To get E211 Sodium Benzoate by toluene oxidation made benzoic acid reacting with sodium bicarbonate, sodium carbonate or sodium hydroxide.
Chemical Properties
E211 Sodium Benzoate is a white crystalline solid.
E211 Sodium Benzoate is odorless and nonflammable
E211 Sodium Benzoate occurs as a white granular or crystalline, slightly hygroscopic powder.
E211 Sodium Benzoate is odorless, or with faint odor of benzoin and has an unpleasant sweet and saline taste.
Preparation
Produced by the neutralization of benzoic acid with sodium bicarbonate, sodium carbonate or sodium hydroxide.
Definition
sodium benzoate: An either colourlesscrystalline or white amorphouspowder, C6H5COONa, soluble inwater and slightly soluble in ethanol.
E211 Sodium Benzoate is made by the reaction of sodiumhydroxide with benzoic acid and isused in the dyestuffs industry and asa food preservative.
E211 Sodium Benzoate was formerlyused as an antiseptic.
ChEBI: An organic sodium salt resulting from the replacement of the proton from the carboxy group of benzoic acid by a sodium ion.
Function & characteristics:
E211 Sodium Benzoate and benzoates are used as preservatives against both yeasts and bacteria in acidic products.
They are not very effective against fungi, and ineffective in products with a pH above 5 (slightly acidic or neutral).
High concentrations have an acid taste, which limits the application. Benzoates are often preferred, due to better solubility.
Uses
As a preservative
Sodium benzoate can act as a food preservative.
E211 Sodium Benzoate is most widely used in acidic foods such as salad dressings (for example acetic acid in vinegar), carbonated drinks (carbonic acid), jams and fruit juices (citric acid), pickles (acetic acid), condiments, and frozen yogurt toppings.
E211 Sodium Benzoate is also used as a preservative in medicines and cosmetics.
Under these conditions E211 Sodium Benzoate is converted into benzoic acid (E210), which is bacteriostatic and fungistatic.
E211 Sodium Benzoate is generally not used directly due to its poor water solubility.
Concentration as a food preservative is limited by the FDA in the U.S. to 0.1% by weight.
E211 Sodium Benzoate is also allowed as an animal food additive at up to 0.1%, per the Association of American Feed Control Officials.
E211 Sodium Benzoate has been replaced by potassium sorbate in the majority of soft drinks in the United Kingdom.
In the 19th century, sodium benzoate as a food ingredient was investigated by Harvey W. Wiley with his 'Poison Squad' as part of the US Department of Agriculture.
This led to the 1906 Pure Food and Drug Act, a key event in the early history of food regulation in the United States.
In pharmaceuticals
Sodium benzoate is used as a treatment for urea cycle disorders due to its ability to bind amino acids.
This leads to excretion of these amino acids and a decrease in ammonia levels.
Recent research shows that sodium benzoate may be beneficial as an add-on therapy (1 gram/day) in schizophrenia
Total Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale scores dropped by 21% compared to placebo.[medical citation needed]
Sodium benzoate, along with phenylbutyrate, is used to treat hyperammonemia.
Sodium benzoate, along with caffeine, is used to treat postdural puncture headache, respiratory depression associated with overdosage of narcotics, and has been used experimentally with ergotamine to treat vascular headache.
Uses
1. Sodium benzoate is also an important preservative of acid type food.
E211 Sodium Benzoate transforms into effective form of benzoic acid during application.
See benzoic acid for application range and dosage.
In addition, E211 Sodium Benzoate also can be used as fodder preservative.
2. Preservatives; antimicrobial agent.
3. Sodium benzoate agent is a very important preservative of acid type fodder.
E211 Sodium Benzoate transforms into effective form of benzoic acid during application.
See benzoic acid for application range and dosage.
In addition, E211 Sodium Benzoate also can be used as food preservative.
4. Used in the research of pharmaceutical industry and plant genetic, also used as dye intermediates, fungicide and preservatives.
5. E211 Sodium Benzoate is used as food additive (preservative), fungicide in pharmaceutical industry, dye mordant, plasticizer in plastic industrial, and also used as organic synthetic intermediate of spices and others.
Uses
Sodium benzoate is a preservative.
E211 Sodium Benzoate is bacteriostatic and fungistatic under acidic conditions.
E211 Sodium Benzoate is most widely used in acidic foods such as salad dressings (vinegar), carbonated drinks (carbonic acid), jams and fruit juices (citric acid), pickles (vinegar), and condiments.
E211 Sodium Benzoate is also used as a preservative in medicines and cosmetics.
As a food additive, sodium benzoate has the E number E211.
E211 Sodium Benzoate is also used in fireworks as a fuel in whistle mix, a powder that emits a whistling noise when compressed into a tube and ignited.
The fuel is also one of the fastest burning rocket fuels and provides a lot of thrust and smoke.
E211 Sodium Benzoate does have its downsides: there is a high danger of explosion when the fuel is sharply compressed because of the fuel's sensitivity to impact.
Uses
Sodium Benzoate is a preservative that is the sodium salt of benzoic acid.
E211 Sodium Benzoate converts to benzoic acid, which is the active form.
E211 Sodium Benzoate has a solubility in water of 50 g in 100 ml at 25°c.
E211 Sodium Benzoateis 180 times as soluble in water at 25°c as is the parent acid.
the optimum functionality occurs between ph 2.5 and 4.0 and E211 Sodium Benzoate is not recom- mended above ph 4.5.
E211 Sodium Benzoate is active against yeasts and bacteria.
E211 Sodium Benzoate is used in acidic foods such as fruit juices, jams, relishes, and bever- ages. its use level ranges from 0.03 to 0.10%.
Uses
E211 Sodium Benzoate is a non-toxic, organic salt preservative that is particularly effective against yeast, with some activity against molds and bacteria.
E211 Sodium Benzoate is generally used in concentrations of 0.1 to 0.2 percent.
Uses
Vasodilator
Uses
A benzene compound used as a synthetic reagent.
Antimicrobial agent, flavoring agent and adjuvant in food; not to exceed a maximum level of 0.1% in food (21 CFR, 184.1733, 582.3733).
Antifungal and bacteriostatic preservative in pharmaceuticals at concentrations of ~0.1%. Clinical reagent (bilirubin assay).
Uses and Mechanism
E211 Sodium Benzoate works by penetrating microbial cells and lowering their intracellular pH.
This inhibits the anaerobic fermentation of glucose, drastically slowing the proliferation of food-spoiling microorganisms.
E211 Sodium Benzoate is commonly used in:
Food & Beverages: Carbonated soft drinks, fruit juices, jams, pickles, and condiments.
Pharmaceuticals & Cosmetics: Functions as an excipient, preservative, and an active ingredient in some cough medications.
Industrial Applications: Acts as an anticorrosive agent and a crystallization catalyst in plastics (e.g., polypropylene).
Other uses
Sodium benzoate is also used in fireworks as a fuel in whistle mix, a powder that emits a whistling noise when compressed into a tube and ignited.
Key Properties & Uses
Mechanism: E211 Sodium Benzoate is most active in highly acidic environments (pH ≤ 4.5), where E211 Sodium Benzoate converts into benzoic acid to disrupt microbial growth.
Commercial Source: Synthesized by neutralizing benzoic acid (which is naturally present in cranberries and cinnamon) with sodium hydroxide.
Other Uses: Used to extend the shelf life of cosmetics, pharmaceutical formulations, and as a corrosion inhibitor in various industrial applications.
Pharmaceutical Applications
Sodium benzoate is used primarily as an antimicrobial preservative in cosmetics, foods, and pharmaceuticals.
E211 Sodium Benzoate is used in concentrations of 0.02–0.5% in oral medicines, 0.5% in parenteral products, and 0.1–0.5% in cosmetics.
The usefulness of sodium benzoate as a preservative is limited by its effectiveness over a narrow pH range.
Sodium benzoate is used in preference to benzoic acid in some circumstances, owing to its greater solubility.
However, in some applications E211 Sodium Benzoate may impart an unpleasant flavor to a product.
Sodium benzoate has also been used as a tablet lubricant at 2–5% w/w concentrations.
Solutions of sodium benzoate have also been administered, orally or intravenously, in order to determine liver function.
Key Chemical & Physical Properties
Formula & Structure: C₇H₅NaO₂
Molecular Weight: 144.11 g/mol
Appearance: Odorless (or faint benzoin-like odor), white crystalline or granular powder
Solubility: Highly soluble in water
Production: Synthesized by neutralizing benzoic acid with sodium hydroxide, sodium carbonate, or sodium bicarbonate.
Health & Safety Considerations
Benzene Formation: When combined with ascorbic acid (Vitamin C, E300) in beverages, E211 Sodium Benzoate can form trace amounts of benzene, a known carcinogen.
Regulatory bodies actively monitor these levels.
Sensitivity: While the human body rapidly processes and excretes sodium benzoate, a small percentage of individuals may experience allergic reactions, such as skin rashes or asthma symptoms.
Regulatory Stance: According to the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), E211 Sodium Benzoate is an approved additive, though they continuously re-evaluate exposure limits for heavy consumers.
Health and safety
1909 Heinz advertisement against sodium benzoate
In the United States, sodium benzoate is designated as generally recognized as safe (GRAS) by the Food and Drug Administration.
The International Programme on Chemical Safety found no adverse effects in rats at doses of 647–825 mg/kg of body weight per day.
Cats have a significantly lower tolerance against benzoic acid and its salts than rats and mice.
The human body rapidly clears sodium benzoate by combining E211 Sodium Benzoate with glycine to form hippuric acid which is then excreted.
The metabolic pathway for this begins with the conversion of benzoate by butyrate-CoA ligase into an intermediate product, benzoyl-CoA, which is then metabolized by glycine N-acyltransferase into hippuric acid.
Safety Profile
Poison by subcutaneous and intravenous routes.
Moderately toxic by ingestion, intramuscular, and intraperitoneal routes.
An experimental teratogen.
Experimental reproductive effects.
Mutation data reported.
Larger doses of 8-10 g by mouth may cause nausea and vomiting.
Small doses have little or no effect.
Combustible when exposed to heat or flame.
When heated to decomposition E211 Sodium Benzoate emits toxic fumes of Na2O.
