Potassium Benzoate

Today, preservation of food has taken center stage with many stakeholders giving varied reactions on the effects of food preservatives on the health of people. Many preservatives are made of benzoate compounds, which are believed to prevent food spoilage. Salts are formed when this compound reacts with some acids such as benzoic acid. The preservative is majorly use in industrial preservation process to increase the shelf life of most foods.

Side effects potassium benzoate

Industrial preservatives that use potassium benzoate just like other benzoates, cause allergies and are responsible for health effects such as leukemia and Parkinson's disease and liver cirrhosis. Although potassium benzoate as a preservative has scientifically been found to have significant benefits, they are believed to have far-reaching effects on the human body.
These additives are mixed in beverages are the major products that use this product to create a preservative effect. This helps to stabilize the food for a long shelf life. The product is also used in the fireworks industry and is used in large scale manufacturing applications

How potassium benzoate is produced industrially

Many methods are used to produce potassium benzoate either commercially or industrially. Benzoic acids are reacted on a large scale with potassium salts to come up with potassium salts. Because this process involves the use of oxygen, it is commonly referred to as oxidation process.
One method to make it is by oxidizing toluene. The benzoic acid so formed is made to react with potassium salts to form potassium benzoate. In some laboratory applications, methyl benzoate is added to potassium thioacetate. The process is facilitated through transfer of radicals.
The federal regulations under Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act exempt a tolerance requirement for a maximum residual level of potassium benzoate when used for some industrial processes to preserve food substances.

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