Potassium sorbate (CAS 24634-61-5)

Potassium sorbate is the potassium salt of sorbic acid, chemical formula CH3CH=CH−CH=CH−CO2K. It is a white salt that is very soluble in water (58.2% at 20 °C). It is primarily used as a food preservative (E number 202). Potassium sorbate is effective in a variety of applications including food, wine, and personal-care products. While sorbic acid occurs naturally in some berries, virtually all of the world’s supply of sorbic acid, from which potassium sorbate is derived, is manufactured synthetically.