What is potassium sorbate?
Potassium sorbate (E202) is the potassium salt of sorbic acid and one of the most widely used preservatives in the food industry. It is a white to cream, tasteless and odourless product. While sorbic acid itself is poorly soluble in water, the potassium salt dissolves at about 58 g per 100 ml at 20 °C, which makes it easy to apply in aqueous systems. It suppresses yeast and mould growth and has limited effect on bacteria.
Why does pH matter so much?
Potassium sorbate acts by converting to sorbic acid in solution; the antimicrobial activity comes from the undissociated sorbic acid. The pKa of sorbic acid is 4.76, so the lower the pH, the higher the share of undissociated form and the greater the efficacy. Activity is high at pH 4, markedly lower at pH 6 and practically unusable above pH 6.5. Product pH is therefore the first figure to check when setting the preservative dose.
Applications and typical rates
Cheese surfaces and dairy, cakes, pastry and bakery, juices and syrups, sauces and dressings, pickles and brines, dried fruit, confectionery, wine and some beverages. Typical usage is 0.05–0.2% (500–2000 mg/kg); legal maximums differ by product category and must be checked against the Turkish Food Codex and target market regulations.
Granular or powder?
The granular form is dust-free, flows better and is less likely to block dosing systems; it is preferred in high-volume production. The powder dissolves faster and suits manual dosing in small batches. Purity and chemical properties are identical in both forms.
Technical properties and quality criteria
Check purity (≥ 99%, dry basis), moisture (≤ 1%), pH (1% solution: 7–10), heavy metals (lead, arsenic, mercury), alkalinity, solubility, particle size and food-grade conformity statement (FCC or European Pharmacopoeia). Residual solvents and microbiological values should also be reported.
Wholesale sourcing: price and minimum order
The wholesale price of potassium sorbate is set by the raw material (sorbic acid) market, purity grade, form (granular/powder), origin (China and the EU are common) and order quantity. The typical minimum order is 100–500 kg. PERDIST identifies the form suited to your application, compares sources and provides a written quotation with documents.
Frequently asked questions
Need current pricing, minimum order, origin or technical documents for this ingredient? Tell us the application and monthly quantity; we reply with a written quotation within one business day.