Sodium propionate

Sodium propanoate

Hygroscopic white powder with a characteristic odor

Fixed

287 ° C

Well in water ( 995 g · l-1 at 25 ° C)

Attention

• 6332 mg · kg -1 ( LD50, mouse, oral)
• 1640 mg · kg -1 ( LD50, Rabbit, transdermal)

Template: Infobox chemical / molecular formula search available

Sodium propionate is a white hygroscopic salt of propionic acid, which melts at 287 ° C. It is used in the food industry as a preservative ( E 281 ) and used as a fungistat and a feed additive.

Safety

In toxicological studies with mice, rabbits and rats showed sodium propanoate at relatively low acute toxicity (LD50 6.322 g / kg (mouse, oral) and 1.64 g / kg (rabbit, dermal) ) effects on the animals' behavior (sleepiness, partly also excitation) and the respiratory system (shortness of breath ). Prolonged administration of propionic acid and propionates in the feed of rats in doses from 0.6 to 5 %, these changes of the forestomach ( thickening and inflammation ) cause. This is classified as species-specific for rat reaction, since in other species such as mice and rabbits, no effects were observed. Furthermore, the salt irritates the skin, mucous membranes, eyes and respiratory tract.