Potassium Sorbate

Synonyms: E202; 2,4-hexadienoic acid (E,E)-potassium salt; kalii sorbas; potassium (E,E)-hexa-2,4-dienoate; potassium (E,E)-sorbate; sorbic acid potassium salt.

Description: Potassium sorbate occurs as a white crystalline powder with a faint, characteristic odor.

Chemical Name: 2,4-Hexadienoic acid potassium salt

Antimicrobial preservative.

• Potassium sorbate is an antimicrobial preservative, with antibacterial and antifungal properties used in pharmaceuticals, foods, enteral preparations, and cosmetics.

• Generally, it is used at concentrations of 0.1–0.2% in oral and topical formulations, especially those containing nonionic surfactants. Potassium sorbate has been used to enhance the ocular bioavailability of timolol.

• Potassium sorbate is used in approximately twice as many pharmaceutical formulations as is sorbic acid owing to its greater solubility and stability in water.

• Like sorbic acid, potassium sorbate has minimal antibacterial properties in formulations above pH 6.

Some loss of antimicrobial activity occurs in the presence of nonionic surfactants and some plastics. See also Sorbic Acid.

Potassium sorbate is used as an antimicrobial preservative in oral and topical pharmaceutical formulations and is generally regarded as a relatively nontoxic material. However, some adverse reactions to potassium sorbate have been reported, including irritant skin reactions which may be of the allergic, hypersensitive type. There have been no reports of adverse systemic reactions following oral consumption of potassium sorbate

Observe normal precautions appropriate to the circumstances and quantity of material handled. Potassium sorbate is irritant to the skin, eyes, and mucous membranes; eye protection and gloves are recommended. In areas of limited ventilation, a respirator is also recommended.

Sorbic acid.