Definition
ChEBI: An organic sodium salt comprising equal numbers of sodium and propionate ions.
Reactions
It is produced by the reaction of propionic acid and sodium carbonate or sodium hydroxide.
General Description
This certified reference material (CRM) is produced and certified in accordance with ISO/IEC 17025 and ISO 17034. This CRM is traceable to primary material from an NMI, e.g. NIST or NMIJ.
Certified content by quantitative NMR incl. uncertainty and expiry date are given on the certificate.
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Flammability and Explosibility
Notclassified
Biological Activity
If sodium propionate is ingested or applied topically in an acid media, it becomes propionic acid. It oxidizes fatty acids, lowers pH values, and facilitates the citric acid cycle through interaction with coenzyme A. There has been evidence of heightened production of insulin in cows and sheep; the insulin later settles to an overall lower level.
Propionic acid inhibits 14CO2 production from palmitate in both control and methylmalonic fibroblasts; propionic acid also inhibited ureagenesis in rat liver slices. These findings may explain the fatty degeneration of the liver and hyperammonemia in propionic and methylmalonic acidemia. Propionic acidemia is an autosomal recessive disorder caused by a defect of propionyl–coenzyme A carboxylase. The main clinical findings are vomiting, lethargy, hypotonia, and metabolic ketoacidosis, and early clinical onset occurs during the neonatal period in ~80% of the patients.
Biochem/physiol Actions
Sodium propionate has an ability to prevent ketosis in dairy cattle.
Purification Methods
Recrystallise it from H2O (solubility 10%) and dry by heating at 100o for 4hours. The solubility of the anhydrous salt in MeOH is 13% at 15o and 13.77% at 68o. It is insoluble in *C6H6 and Me2CO. [Henstock J Chem Soc 1341 1934, Beilstein 2 IV 701.]
Mechanism of food preservation
Sodium propionate at levels of 0.1–5.0% delays the growth of Staphylococcus aureus, Sarcina lutea, Proteus vulgaris, Lactobacillus plantarum, Torula and Saccharomyces ellipsoideus by 5 days. The bacteriostatic action of sodium propionate can be overcome by addition of small amounts of β-alanine for Escherichia coli, but not for other organisms such as Aspergillus clavatus, Bacillus subtilis, Pseudomonas spp. and Trichophyton mentagrophytes. It is believed that the inhibitory action of sodium propionate against E. coli may be due to interference with β-alanine synthesis.