Calcium benzoate

Calcium benzoate (CAS 2090-05-3), also recognized by its food additive designation E213, is the calcium salt of benzoic acid used as a preservative across food, pharmaceutical, and personal care applications. It inhibits microbial growth, particularly yeasts, moulds, and bacteria, extending shelf life in acidic formulations where preservative activity is most effective for the final product stability.

In food and beverage manufacturing, E213 is approved for use in products such as margarines, low-sugar jams, and certain beverages as a cost-effective alternative to sodium benzoate where sodium reduction is a priority. Pharmaceutical manufacturers incorporate it as a preservative in oral liquid formulations, syrups, and topical preparations requiring microbial stability over an extended shelf life for patient safety.

Personal care formulators use it in rinse-off and leave-on products, including shampoos and lotions, where broad-spectrum preservation at low pH is required for maintaining product integrity. It also functions as a tablet coating agent and excipient in solid dosage form development. Calcium benzoate is supplied as a white crystalline powder or fine granules for various industrial uses.

Standard grades include food-grade material compliant with FCC and E213 purity specifications, as well as pharmaceutical-grade material meeting USP and BP requirements for global compliance. Technical-grade material is also available for industrial preservation applications. These high-quality standards ensure the chemical meets the rigorous demands of modern manufacturing and safety protocols.