Potassium propanoate or potassium propionate is a chemical compound with the chemical formula K(C2H5COO). It is the potassium salt of propanoic acid.
Preparation
Potassium propanoate can be prepared by treating potassium carbonate with propanoic acid.[2]
Use
It is used as a food preservative and is represented by the food labeling E number E283 in Europe[4] and by the INS number 283 in Australia and New Zealand.[5]
Reactions
Decomposition takes place via ketonization, yielding the symmetric ketone (3-pentanone) and potassium carbonate:[2]
- 2K(O2CEt) → K2CO3 + Et(CO)Et
References
- ^ a b c J. I. G. Cadogan, J. Buckingham, F. MacDonald: Dictionary of Organic Compounds: First Supplement. CRC Press, 1996, ISBN 978-0-412-54110-0
- ^ a b c d Bui, Ly Huong; de Klerk, Arno (2014-02-13). “Thermal Behavior of Potassium C1–C12 n-Alkanoates and Its Relevance to Fischer–Tropsch”. Journal of Chemical & Engineering Data. 59 (2): 400–411. doi:10.1021/je400874d. ISSN 0021-9568.
- ^ PubChem. “Potassium propionate”. pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. Retrieved 2026-02-01.
- ^ UK Food Standards Agency: “Current EU approved additives and their E Numbers”. Retrieved 2011-10-27.
- ^ Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code“Standard 1.2.4 – Labelling of ingredients”. 8 September 2011. Retrieved 2011-10-27.