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sodium benzoate

 
Dictionary: sodium benzoate

n.
The sodium salt of benzoic acid, NaC7H5O2, used as a food preservative, an antiseptic, and an intermediate in dye manufacture and in the production of pharmaceuticals. Also called benzoate of soda.


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Chemistry Dictionary: sodium benzenecarboxylate
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Variant: sodium benzoate

An either colourless crystalline or white amorphous powder, C6H5COONa, soluble in water and slightly soluble in ethanol. It is made by the reaction of sodium hydroxide with benzoic acid and is used in the dyestuffs industry and as a food preservative. It was formerly used as an antiseptic.



Drug Info: Sodium Benzoate; Sodium Phenylacetate
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Brand names: Ammonul®Ucephan®

Chemical formula:





Sodium Benzoate; Sodium Phenylacetate Injection

What is Sodium Benzoate; Sodium Phenylacetate Injection?

SODIUM BENZOATE; SODIUM PHENYLACETATE (Ammonul®) is a drug that is used to reduce high levels of ammonia in your blood. Too much ammonia in the blood can be caused by problems with your body's urea cycle, which helps you get rid of waste from normal protein breakdown. Generic sodium benzoate; sodium phenylacetate and injections are not yet available.

What should I tell my health care provider before I take this medicine?

They need to know if you have any of these conditions:
• allergies to any aspirin-containing or aspirin-like products
• diabetes or any problems with your blood sugar
• epilepsy or seizure disorder
• heart failure, high blood pressure, or any problems with your cardiovascular system
• liver or kidney problems/failure
• swelling of your ankles or legs
• an unusual reaction to Sodium Benzoate; Sodium Phenylacetate, other medicines, foods, dyes, or preservatives
• pregnant or trying to get pregnant
• breast-feeding

How should this medicine be used?

Sodium benzoate; sodium phenylacetate is for infusion into a vein through a central line only. A healthcare professional will give you this drug in a hospital or clinic setting.

Contact your pediatrician or health care professional regarding the use of this medicine in children. Special care may be needed.

What if I miss a dose?

This does not apply. Your healthcare professional will watch your ammonia levels and decide on how to best continue your treatment.

What drug(s) may interact with Sodium Benzoate; Sodium Phenylacetate?

ampicillin
• corticosteroids (examples: betamethasone, budesonide, cortisone, dexamethasone, hydrocortisone, methylprednisolone, prednisolone, prednisone, triamcinolone)
• penicillin
probenecid
• sodium phenylbutyrate
trimethoprim
• valproate or valproic acid

Tell your prescriber or health care professional about all other medicines you are taking, including non-prescription medicines, nutritional supplements, or herbal products. Also tell your prescriber or health care professional if you are a frequent user of drinks with caffeine or alcohol, if you smoke, or if you use illegal drugs. These may affect the way your medicine works. Check with your health care professional before stopping or starting any of your medicines.

What should I watch for while taking Sodium Benzoate; Sodium Phenylacetate?

Notify the nearest healthcare professional immediately if you begin to feel a burning sensation or swelling at the IV site or if you feel more confused, agitated, or have trouble breathing.

Watch for any signs of sickness or infection. Your healthcare professional will outline a plan for your diet and monitoring. Visit your healthcare professional for regular checks on your blood ammonia levels. Consider wearing a medical alert tag with your diagnosis. If you become unconscious because of too much ammonia in your blood, the doctor will have the diagnosis information.

What side effects may I notice from receiving Sodium Benzoate; Sodium Phenylacetate?

Side effects that you should report to your prescriber or health care professional as soon as possible:
• bleeding
• burning or swelling at the injection site
• chest pain
• confusion, disorientation, any changes in mental status or memory
• difficulty breathing/ rapid breathing
• fever
• jaundice (yellow skin color)
• problems urinating
• seizures
• skin rash, itching, or hives
• swelling of your belly, arms, or legs
• vomiting

Side effects that usually do not require medical attention (report to your prescriber or health care professional if they continue or are bothersome).
• diarrhea
• dizziness
• flushing
• headache
• increased thirst or urination
• nausea
• stomach pain
• tiredness



Where can I keep my medicine?

Sodium benzoate; sodium phenylacetate injections will be given to you in a clinic or hospital setting. You will not take this medicine at home.

Last updated: 7/1/2002

Important Disclaimer: The drug information provided here is for educational purposes only. It is intended to supplement, not substitute for, the diagnosis, treatment and advice of a medical professional. This drug information does not cover all possible uses, precautions, side effects and interactions. It should not be construed to indicate that this or any drug is safe for you. Consult your medical professional for guidance before using any prescription or over the counter drugs.

 
Columbia Encyclopedia: sodium benzoate
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sodium benzoate or benzoate of soda, chemical compound, C6H5CO2Na, colorless or white crystalline, aromatic compound; the sodium salt of benzoic acid. It is soluble in water and is used as a preservative in foods and beverages; because it is poisonous, the concentration is limited by law to 0.1%.


Wikipedia: Sodium benzoate
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Sodium benzoate
Sodium benzoate
IUPAC name
Other names E211, benzoate of soda
Identifiers
CAS number 532-32-1 Yes check.svgY
PubChem 517055
RTECS number DH6650000
SMILES
Properties
Molecular formula NaC6H5CO2
Molar mass 144.11 g/mol
Density 1.497 g/cm3
Melting point

300 °C

Solubility in water soluble
Solubility soluble in ethanol
Acidity (pKa) 8.0
Hazards
Flash point 100 °C
Autoignition
temperature
500 °C
LD50 4100 mg/mg (oral, rat)
 Yes check.svgY (what is this?)  (verify)
Except where noted otherwise, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C, 100 kPa)
Infobox references

Sodium benzoate (E211) has the chemical formula NaC6H5CO2. It is the sodium salt of benzoic acid and exists in this form when dissolved in water. It can be produced by reacting sodium hydroxide with benzoic acid.

Contents

Uses

Sodium benzoate is a preservative. It is bacteriostatic and fungistatic under acidic conditions. It is used most prevalently in acidic foods such as salad dressings (vinegar), carbonated drinks (carbonic acid), jams and fruit juices (citric acid), pickles (vinegar), and condiments. It is also found in alcohol-based mouthwash and silver polish.[citation needed] It can also be found in cough syrups like Robitussin.[1] Sodium benzoate is declared on a product label as 'sodium benzoate' or E211.

It is also used in fireworks as a fuel in whistle mix, a powder which emits a whistling noise when compressed into a tube and ignited.[citation needed]

Sodium benzoate is produced by the neutralization of benzoic acid with sodium hydroxide.[2] Benzoic acid is a natural preservative found in cranberries, prunes, greengage plums, cinnamon, ripe cloves, and apples.[citation needed] Though benzoic acid is a more effective preservative, sodium benzoate is more commonly used as a food additive because benzoic acid does not dissolve well in water.[2] Concentration as a preservative is limited by the FDA in the U.S. to 0.1% by weight. The International Programme on Chemical Safety found no adverse effects in humans at doses of 647–825 mg/kg of body weight per day.[3][4]

Cats have a significantly lower tolerance against benzoic acid and its salts than rats and mice.[5] Sodium benzoate is, however, allowed as an animal food additive at up to 0.1%, according to AFCO's official publication.[6]

Mechanism of food preservation

The mechanism starts with the absorption of benzoic acid into the cell. If the intracellular pH changes to 5 or lower, the anaerobic fermentation of glucose through phosphofructokinase is decreased by 95%.[7]

Safety and health

In combination with ascorbic acid (vitamin C, E300), sodium benzoate and potassium benzoate may form benzene,[8] a known carcinogen. Heat, light and shelf life can affect the rate at which benzene is formed.

Professor Piper of the University of Sheffield claims that sodium benzoate by itself can damage and inactivate vital parts of DNA in a cell's mitochondria. Mitochondria consume oxygen to generate ATP, the body's energy currency. If they are damaged due to disease, the cell malfunctions and may enter apoptosis. There are many illnesses now tied to DNA damage, including Parkinson's and other neurodegenerative diseases, but above all, the aging process in general.[9][10][11][12][13]

Hyperactivity

Research published in 2007 for the UK's Food Standards Agency (FSA) suggests that certain artificial colours, when paired with sodium benzoate (E211) may be linked to hyperactive behaviour. The results were inconsistent regarding sodium benzoate, so the FSA recommended further study.[14][15][16]

Professor Jim Stevenson from Southampton University, and author of the report, said: "This has been a major study investigating an important area of research. The results suggest that consumption of certain mixtures of artificial food colours and sodium benzoate preservative are associated with increases in hyperactive behaviour in children. However, parents should not think that simply taking these additives out of food will prevent hyperactive disorders. We know that many other influences are at work but this at least is one a child can avoid."[16]

Two mixtures of additives were tested in the research:[16]

Mix A:

  • Sunset yellow (E110)
  • Tartrazine (E102)
  • Carmoisine (E122)
  • Ponceau 4R (E124)
  • Sodium benzoate (E211)

Mix B:

  • Sunset yellow (E110)
  • Quinoline yellow (E104)
  • Carmoisine (E122)
  • Allura red (E129)
  • Sodium benzoate (E211)

Sodium benzoate was included in both mixes, but the effects observed were not consistent. The Food Standards Agency therefore considers that, if real, the observed increases in hyperactive behaviour were more likely to be linked to one or more of the specific colours tested.

On 10 April 2008, the Foods Standard Agency called for a voluntary removal of the colours (but not sodium benzoate) by 2009.[17] In addition, it recommended that there should be action to phase them out in food and drink in the European Union (EU) over a specified period.[18]

In response to consumer insistence on a more natural product and E211's links to DNA damage and ADHD, the Coca Cola Company is in the process of phasing Sodium Benzoate out of Diet Coke. The company has stated that it plans to remove E211 from its other products — including Sprite, Fanta, and Oasis — as soon as a satisfactory alternative is discovered.[19]

Compendial status

See also

Notes & References

  1. ^ Sodium benzoate in Robitussin cough
  2. ^ a b INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMME ON CHEMICAL SAFETY
  3. ^ Concise International Chemical Assessment Document 26: Benzoic acid and sodium benzoate
  4. ^ Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel Bindu Nair (2001). "Final Report on the Safety Assessment of Benzyl Alcohol, Benzoic Acid, and Sodium Benzoate". Int J Tox 20 (Suppl 3): 23–50. 
  5. ^ Bedford PG, Clarke EG (January 1972). "Experimental benzoic acid poisoning in the cat". Vet. Rec. 90 (3): 53–8. PMID 4672555. 
  6. ^ AFCO (2004). Official Publication. pp. 262. 
  7. ^ Krebs HA, Wiggins D, Stubbs M, Sols A, Bedoya F (September 1983). "Studies on the mechanism of the antifungal action of benzoate". Biochem. J. 214 (3): 657–63. PMID 6226283. 
  8. ^ FDA, 2006. "Data on Benzene in Soft Drinks and Other Beverages, " United States Food and Drug Administration.
  9. ^ Martin Hickman Caution: Some soft drinks may seriously harm your health The Independent on Sunday 27 May 2007
  10. ^ Martin Hickman E211 Revealed: Evidence highlights new fear over drinks additive The Independent on Sunday 27 May 2007
  11. ^ Leading article: Children deserve our doubts The Independent on Sunday 27 May 2007
  12. ^ Chris Mercer Fresh health fears hit benzoate in soft drinks BeverageDaily 29 May 2007
  13. ^ Piper PW (December 1999). "Yeast superoxide dismutase mutants reveal a pro-oxidant action of weak organic acid food preservatives". Free Radic. Biol. Med. 27 (11-12): 1219–27. PMID 10641714. http://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0891-5849(99)00147-1. 
  14. ^ Food Standards Agency issues revised advice on certain artificial colours 6 September 2007
  15. ^ Food Colorings and Hyperactivity "Myomancy" 7 September 2007
  16. ^ a b c Agency revises advice on certain artificial colours Food Standards Agency 11 September 2007
  17. ^ BBC Europe-wide food colour ban call 10 April 2008
  18. ^ FSA Board discusses colours advice 10 April 2008
  19. ^ The Daily Mail DNA Damage Fear 24 May 2008
  20. ^ a b c Sigma Aldrich. "Sodium benzoate". http://www.sigmaaldrich.com/catalog/Lookup.do?N5=CAS%20No.&N3=mode+matchpartialmax&N4=532-32-1&D7=0&D10=532-32-1&N25=0&N1=S_ID&ST=RS&F=PR. Retrieved 17 Jyly 2009. 
  21. ^ Therapeutic Goods Administration. "Chemical Substances". http://www.tga.gov.au/docs/pdf/aan/aanchem.pdf. Retrieved 17 Jyly 2009. 
  22. ^ The United States Pharmacopeial Convention. "Revisions to USP 29–NF 24". http://www.usp.org/USPNF/revisions/usp29nf24firstSupplement04.html. Retrieved 17 Jyly 2009. 

External links


 
 

 

Copyrights:

Dictionary. The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.  Read more
Chemistry Dictionary. A Dictionary of Chemistry. Sixth Edition. Copyright © Market House Books Ltd, 2008. All rights reserved.  Read more
Drug Info. Gold Standard. Copyright © 2008 by Gold Standard. All rights reserved.  Read more
Columbia Encyclopedia. The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition Copyright © 2003, Columbia University Press. Licensed from Columbia University Press. All rights reserved. www.cc.columbia.edu/cu/cup/ Read more
Wikipedia. This article is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Sodium benzoate" Read more