Description
The potassium salt of Propionic Acid, completing the trio of commercial propionate preservatives alongside Calcium and Sodium variants. Used wherever the potassium load is preferred over calcium or sodium, particularly in some pharmaceutical and specialty pet-food applications.
White crystalline powder or granules. Highly water-soluble. Active against bread mold and rope-forming bacteria without affecting yeast fermentation, the property shared across all propionate forms.
We supply food-grade Potassium Propionate from manufacturers in China holding ISO, Halal, Kosher and other certifications relevant to the product and production.
Common market grades include Standard Food Grade (FCC compliant), Pharmaceutical Grade meeting BP/USP specifications, and pre-blended systems with potassium-fortified bakery improvers.
Bulk and reduced-MOQ shipments. Batch-level COA covering assay, free propionic acid, heavy metals, and microbiology.
Introduction
Potassium Propionate is functionally equivalent to Calcium and Sodium Propionate as a selective antimycotic preservative, with the difference being the potassium counter-ion replacing calcium or sodium.
Industrial production proceeds by neutralization of Propionic Acid with potassium hydroxide or potassium carbonate, followed by crystallization. All three propionate salts share the same source feedstock (Propionic Acid) and the same selective antimicrobial mechanism.
Regulated as E283 in the EU, classified as Generally Recognized as Safe by the U.S. FDA, and approved by JECFA without a numerical Acceptable Daily Intake limit.
The molecule's antimicrobial mechanism matches Calcium and Sodium Propionate: Propionate inhibits molds and rope-forming bacteria but does not inhibit Saccharomyces cerevisiae, allowing use in yeast-leavened bakery products.
Strategic positioning is the smallest of the three propionate salts by market volume, used primarily where formulators need to avoid both calcium (which can interact with phosphate-based formulation chemistry) and sodium (subject to nutritional restriction). Cost is meaningfully higher than Calcium Propionate and use is correspondingly concentrated in specialty applications where the potassium counter-ion is genuinely valuable.
Where it is used
- Specialty bakery applications requiring potassium fortification rather than calcium or sodium
- Pharmaceutical applications including topical creams and oral suspensions
- Pet food and animal feed in potassium-supplemented formulations
- Personal-care products: hair-care formulations and antifungal preparations
- Reduced-sodium bakery reformulation programs requiring sodium replacement
- Specialty cheese applications
- Industrial applications: herbicide intermediate and chemical synthesis feedstock
Technical data
| Item | Specification |
|---|---|
| Appearance | White crystalline powder or granules |
| Assay (dry basis) | 99.0% to 100.5% |
| Loss on drying | ≤ 1.0% |
| Heavy metals (as Pb) | ≤ 10 mg/kg |
| Arsenic | ≤ 3 mg/kg |
| Iron | ≤ 30 mg/kg |
| Free propionic acid | Passes test |
| Particle size | Per customer specification |
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