What is Benzoic Acid?
Benzoic acid is a widely used preservative. It appears as white crystals or powder with a slight smell of benzene. It is freely soluble in ethanol, ether, and chloroform. Benzoic acid is mainly used to inhibit the growth of bacteria, yeast, and mold, thereby extending the shelf life of food and beverages. It is commonly used in foods such as soy sauce, jam, juice, preserved fruit, carbonated beverages, sauces, and pickles.
The main preparation method of benzoic acid includes toluene oxidation, which oxidizes toluene under the action of a catalyst and oxygen to produce benzoic acid. Benzoic acid is widely regarded as a safe food additive, but the dosage must be strictly controlled when used to ensure that it is within a safe range.
Related parameters:
| Items of inspection | Index |
| Appearance | White crystal |
| Content (dried substance)，w/% ≥ | 99.5 |
| Melting point，℃ | 121~123 |
| Readily oxidizable substances | Passes Test |
| Heavy metal (Pb)/( mg/kg) ≤ | 10 |
| Arsenic, mg/kg ≤ | 2 |
| Chloride（Cl）, w/ % ≤ | 0.014 |
| Phthalic acid, mg/kg ≤ | 100 |
| Biphenyls, mg/kg ≤ | 100 |
| Loss and drying, w/ % ≤ | 0.5 |
Recommended dosage
| Food name | Maximum usage(g/kg) |
| Beverages | 0.1 g/kg |
| Wine | 0.5 g/kg |
| Edible oil | 0.3 g/kg |
| Pickled food | 0.5 g/kg |
| Fish processing | 0.3 g/kg |
| Meat processing | 0.5 g/kg |
| Canned food | 0.4 g/kg |
| Bakery | 0.3 g/kg |
| Seasoning | 0.3 g/kg |
| Starch and its products | 0.3 g/kg |
Benzoic Acid has a wide range of uses
1. Food preservatives: Benzoic acid can inhibit the growth of microorganisms and yeasts in food and play a preservative role. In the processing of foods such as sauces, jams, beverages, candies, canned foods, and condiments, benzoic acid is often used as a preservative to extend the shelf life of products and maintain the freshness and taste of products.
2. Food flavorings: Benzoic acid possesses an aromatic smell and a distinctive taste. It is used as a flavoring agent in the food industry to increase the flavor and taste of products. It is often used to make meat products, baked goods, dairy products, beverages, etc. to add flavor to food and improve the quality of products.
3. Pharmaceutical industry: Benzoic acid is a common pharmaceutical raw material and is often used to prepare drugs and topical agents. In the process of drug preparation, benzoic acid can enhance the stability and efficacy of drugs and extend the effective period of drugs. In addition, benzoic acid is also used to make some topical ointments, disinfectants, and preservatives.
4. Flavor and fragrance industry: Benzoic acid is an important flavor raw material and is widely used in the manufacture of various flavors and fragrances. It can add fragrance and flavor to products such as perfumes, soaps, detergents, cigarettes, cosmetics, etc. The aromatic smell of benzoic acid can make products more attractive and stimulate the senses of customers.
The user asked the question:
Q: What effect does benzoic acid have on the skin?
A: Benzoic acid is an organic compound, a colorless liquid, and a widely used preservative. It has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects, as well as antipruritic and anti-swelling effects. It can be used to prevent the growth of pyogenic cocci and pathogenic yeasts, and can also be used to treat mycoses of the skin, as well as superficial fungal infections of the skin, such as tinea corporis and tinea cruris.
Q: Can benzoic acid really treat acne?
A: Acne is a common skin disease, usually manifested as acne, papules, pustules, nodules, and cysts. Some products containing salicylic acid and benzoic acid can be used to reduce skin oil and prevent bacterial growth.
