Sodium benzoate is the sodium salt of benzoic acid, widely used as a food preservative and pickling agent. A white crystalline chemical with the formula C6H5COONa, it has an E number of E211. It can be produced by reacting sodium hydroxide with benzoic acid.
Sodium benzoate is commonly used as a preservative in cosmetics and personal care items, such as hair products, baby wipes, toothpaste, and mouthwash ( 2 ). It also has industrial uses. One of its biggest applications is to deter corrosion, such as in coolants for car engines.
Sodium benzoate is typically dosed for adults at 2–5 g orally twice daily.
Sodium benzoate is an organic sodium salt resulting from the replacement of the proton from the carboxy group of benzoic acid by a sodium ion. It has a role as an antimicrobial food preservative, a drug allergen, an EC 1.13. 11.33 (arachidonate 15-lipoxygenase) inhibitor, an EC 3.1.
