Calcium Propionate CAS#4075-81-4
Effective Antifungal and Antimicrobial Performance – Provides broad-spectrum inhibition against molds and certain bacteria, helping prevent microbial growth and extend product shelf life.
Excellent Water Solubility and Stability – Stable under normal storage conditions, highly soluble in water, and maintains reliable performance under light and heat.
Safe for Food and Feed Applications – A normal intermediate of animal metabolism, making it suitable for use as a preservative in foods and as an antifungal additive in animal feed.
Versatile Industrial Applications – Widely used as a food preservative, feed additive, and fungicide, while also helping improve feed quality, extend storage life, and support livestock productivity when used in compound formulations.
Calcium Propionate CAS#4075-81-4
Calcium propionate, also known as calcium propanoate, is a white crystalline powder with a faint odor. It is stable at room temperature, hygroscopic, and incompatible with strong oxidizing agents. The compound has a melting point of approximately 300°C, a pH value of 7–9, is highly soluble in water, and only slightly soluble in alcohol.
As a widely used food antifungal agent, calcium propionate is the calcium salt of propionic acid. It appears as a white crystal or powder, is odorless or has a slight propionic acid odor, and remains stable under light and heat. It is soluble in water, producing an alkaline solution, slightly soluble in methanol and ethanol, and insoluble in benzene and acetone. The product is deliquescent in moist air, loses its crystal water at around 120°C, undergoes a phase change at 200–210°C, and decomposes into calcium carbonate at 330–340°C.
Under acidic conditions, calcium propionate releases free propionic acid, which exhibits antimicrobial activity against Aspergillus niger and certain bacteria. As a normal intermediate in animal metabolism, it is considered safe for use in animal feed. It provides broad-spectrum protection against molds and yeasts, helping inhibit microbial growth and prevent feed spoilage. It is widely used as a preservative in bread and bakery products, a fungicide for food and feed, and a feed additive to extend shelf life. When used in combination with other inorganic compounds, it can also help improve livestock appetite and increase milk production in dairy cows, with a recommended dosage of less than 0.3% of the total feed (calculated as propionic acid).
Calcium Propionate Chemical Properties
| Melting point | 300 °C |
| density | 1.41[at 20℃] |
| vapor pressure | 0-399Pa at 20-23℃ |
| storage temp. | Store below +30°C. |
| solubility | water: soluble1g/10 mL, clear, colorless |
| form | Crystals or Crystalline Powder |
| color | White |
| PH | 9.2 (200g/l, H2O, 20℃)(IUCLID) |
| Odor | at 100.00%. bland mild propionic acid |
| Water Solubility | 1 g/10 mL |
| Merck | 141698 |
| BRN | 3698682 |
| Stability: | Stable. Hygroscopic. Incompatible with strong oxidizing agents. |
| Cosmetics Ingredients Functions | PRESERVATIVE |
| InChI | 1S/2C3H6O2.Ca/c2*1-2-3(4)5;/h2*2H2,1H3,(H,4,5);/q;;+2/p-2 |
| InChIKey | BCZXFFBUYPCTSJ-UHFFFAOYSA-L |
| SMILES | CCC(=O)O[Ca]OC(=O)CC |
| LogP | 0.33 at 25℃ |
| CAS DataBase Reference | 4075-81-4(CAS DataBase Reference) |
| EPA Substance Registry System | Calcium propionate (4075-81-4) |
| Risk Statements | 36/37/38 |
| Safety Statements | 24/25 |
| WGK Germany | 2 |
| RTECS | UE8450000 |
| TSCA | TSCA listed |
| HS Code | 29155000 |
| Storage Class | 11 - Combustible Solids |
| Hazard Classifications | Eye Dam. 1 |
| STOT SE 3 | |
| Hazardous Substances Data | 4075-81-4(Hazardous Substances Data) |
Product Application of Calcium Propionate CAS#4075-81-4
Food Industry
Calcium propionate is widely used as a preservative and nutritional additive in foods such as bread, processed meats, baked goods, dairy products, and whey. It is particularly effective at pH values below 5.5, making it well suited for dough formulations to inhibit mold growth. It can also help reduce the sodium content in bread formulations and is used as a browning agent for processed fruits and vegetables. Sodium propionate may be used as an alternative in certain applications.
Beverage Industry
Calcium propionate is used to inhibit the growth of microorganisms, helping to improve the stability and shelf life of beverages.
Pharmaceutical Industry
Calcium propionate powder functions as an antimicrobial agent. It is also used to prevent mold growth in aloe vera-based formulations used in holistic therapies, allowing higher concentrations of aloe vera liquid to be incorporated while maintaining product stability.
Agriculture
Calcium propionate is used as a feed additive and nutritional supplement to help prevent milk fever in dairy cows. It is also widely used in poultry feed and animal feeds, including cattle and dog food, and has applications as a pesticide.
Cosmetics and Personal Care
As preservative E282, calcium propionate helps inhibit bacterial growth, protecting cosmetic and personal care products from spoilage. It is also used to regulate the pH of cosmetic formulations.
Industrial Applications
The product is used in paint and coating additives, as well as in plating and surface treatment formulations.
Photography
Calcium propionate is also used in the manufacture of photographic chemicals and photographic processing supplies.
