PANDORA INDUSTRIES PVT. LTD.
Where Chemistry Meets Excellence
Sorbic Acid Importer in India
Pandora Industries is a trusted importer of high-purity Sorbic Acid in India, catering to manufacturers in food processing, personal care, animal nutrition, and pharmaceutical packaging industries. We supply Sorbic Acid that meets stringent international quality standards, ensuring our customers receive a consistent, reliable product. Our procurement channels are established to guarantee traceability and purity at every batch. Whether your requirement is for small quantities or bulk industrial volumes, Pandora Industries is positioned to fulfill your needs.
About Sorbic Acid
Sorbic Acid is a naturally occurring polyunsaturated fatty acid first isolated in 1859 by German chemist August Wilhelm von Hofmann from the unripe berries of the rowan tree (Sorbus aucuparia), which gave the compound its name. It belongs to the family of short-chain unsaturated carboxylic acids and is characterised by two conjugated carbon-carbon double bonds in its six-carbon backbone. Today, commercial Sorbic Acid is produced synthetically through the reaction of ketene with crotonaldehyde, followed by acid treatment — a process that delivers high purity at industrial scale. In its pure form, Sorbic Acid appears as a white to off-white crystalline powder or granules with a faint, characteristic odour. It is sparingly soluble in cold water but shows improved solubility in hot water, ethanol, and other organic solvents. Its conjugated diene structure is key to both its chemical reactivity and its biological activity as an antimicrobial agent. The compound is stable under normal storage conditions but can oxidise gradually on prolonged exposure to air, light, and moisture. The antimicrobial effectiveness of Sorbic Acid lies in its ability to interfere with microbial enzyme systems, particularly those involved in energy metabolism and cell membrane function. It acts primarily against moulds, yeasts, and select bacteria, making it effective at low concentrations. Importantly, it remains active across a fairly wide pH range (up to approximately pH 6.5), which expands its utility across many food and industrial matrices compared to some other organic acid preservatives. Pandora Industries sources Sorbic Acid from internationally certified manufacturers, maintaining quality documentation including Certificate of Analysis (CoA) and Safety Data Sheets (SDS) for every consignment. This commitment to traceability ensures that buyers across food, cosmetic, pharmaceutical, and agricultural sectors can rely on Pandora Industries as a dependable supply partner for Sorbic Acid in India.
Applications of Sorbic Acid
Sorbic Acid finds documented, high-volume use across several industrial and commercial sectors. Outlined below are its principal application areas, each supported by established scientific and regulatory literature.
Food Preservation
Sorbic Acid is one of the most widely used food preservatives globally, approved under codified regulatory frameworks including Codex Alimentarius and the European food additive regulations (E200). It inhibits the growth of moulds, yeasts, and select pathogenic bacteria in a broad spectrum of food products — including cheese, baked goods, fruit juices, dried fruits, wines, and fermented vegetables. Its effectiveness at concentrations as low as 0.05–0.3% by weight, combined with its low toxicity and clean sensory profile, makes it particularly preferred in applications where taste or odour neutrality is essential. (CAS 110-44-1, PubChem CID 643460)
Cosmetics and Personal Care Products
In cosmetic and personal care formulations, Sorbic Acid serves as a preservative to inhibit microbial contamination throughout the shelf life of creams, lotions, gels, and liquid products. Its relatively mild skin compatibility profile compared to many synthetic preservatives, along with ECHA-approved usage levels, has made it a preferred ingredient in products that target sensitive skin or follow clean-label positioning. It is often used in combination with other preservative systems to achieve broad-spectrum coverage. Typical usage concentrations in finished cosmetics range from 0.1% to 0.6% depending on formulation type and regulatory region.
Animal Feed Preservation
Sorbic Acid is incorporated into compound animal feeds, pet foods, and silage to inhibit mould growth and prevent mycotoxin formation — a critical quality and safety concern for livestock, poultry, and aquaculture producers. The presence of fungal contamination in feed not only degrades nutritional value but can also result in mycotoxin accumulation that poses serious health risks to animals. By suppressing mould proliferation under both dry and semi-moist storage conditions, Sorbic Acid extends the microbiological shelf life of feed products without adversely affecting palatability or animal performance at permitted dosage levels.
Pharmaceutical Packaging and Topical Preparations
Sorbic Acid is used in select pharmaceutical applications as an antimicrobial preservative in topical creams, eye drops, nasal sprays, and oral preparations, particularly where parabens or other conventional preservatives are unsuitable due to regulatory or formulation constraints. Its activity against fungi and certain bacterial strains makes it a functional component in multi-dose ophthalmic preparations and dermatological creams. Additionally, in modified atmosphere or active pharmaceutical packaging, Sorbic Acid derivatives are explored as oxygen scavengers. Pharmacopoeial references including the European Pharmacopoeia document its specifications for pharmaceutical-grade use.
Wine and Beverage Industry
In winemaking, Sorbic Acid is employed specifically as an anti-refermentation agent — it suppresses the regrowth of yeast in bottled wines after sulphur dioxide treatment. This is especially important in semi-sweet and sweet wines where residual sugars can trigger undesirable secondary fermentation in the bottle. At legally permitted concentrations (typically up to 200 mg/L in most regulated markets), Sorbic Acid effectively controls yeast without contributing perceptible off-flavours when correctly dosed. It is also used in other fermented beverages and fruit-based drinks as part of multi-hurdle preservation strategies, often in combination with pH adjustment and reduced water activity.
The breadth of documented applications for Sorbic Acid — spanning food, personal care, animal nutrition, pharma, and packaging — reflects its genuine versatility as an industrial preservative. Pandora Industries supplies high-quality Sorbic Acid to meet the demands of each of these sectors reliably.
Technical Properties of Sorbic Acid
Sorbic Acid Alternative Names
Sorbic Acid is also known as (E,E)-Hexa-2,4-dienoic acid, 2,4-Hexadienoic acid, (2E,4E)-hexa-2,4-dienoic acid, and trans,trans-Sorbic Acid. Its IUPAC name is (2E,4E)-hexa-2,4-dienoic acid.
Sorbic Acid CAS Number
The CAS Registry Number of Sorbic Acid is 110-44-1. This unique identifier is universally referenced in regulatory submissions, safety data sheets, and procurement documentation worldwide.
Sorbic Acid Chemical Formula
The molecular formula of Sorbic Acid is C₆H₈O₂. It consists of a six-carbon chain with two conjugated double bonds and one carboxylic acid functional group, which defines its chemical character as a short-chain unsaturated organic acid.
Sorbic Acid Molecular Weight
The molecular weight of Sorbic Acid is 112.13 g/mol. This relatively low molecular weight contributes to its mobility within food matrices and packaging systems, supporting its functional efficacy at low usage concentrations.
Sorbic Acid Appearance
Sorbic Acid appears as a white to off-white crystalline powder or fine granular solid. It has a faint characteristic odour. The commercial grade supplied by Pandora Industries is a free-flowing powder suitable for direct weighing and dissolution into aqueous or solvent-based systems.
Sorbic Acid Melting Point
The melting point of Sorbic Acid is 134–135 °C (273–275 °F). This relatively high melting point for a six-carbon organic acid is a result of its crystalline packing and the conjugated double-bond structure stabilising the solid lattice.
Sorbic Acid Boiling Point
Sorbic Acid has a reported boiling point of approximately 228 °C (442 °F) at atmospheric pressure, though it may undergo partial decomposition at temperatures approaching the boiling point. Processing temperatures should be kept well below this threshold to preserve product integrity.
Sorbic Acid Solubility
Sorbic Acid is sparingly soluble in cold water (approximately 1.6 g/L at 20 °C), but its solubility increases significantly in hot water. It is freely soluble in ethanol, acetone, and most common organic solvents. In practice, its potassium salt (potassium sorbate) is often used in aqueous systems requiring higher water solubility.
Sorbic Acid Density
The density of Sorbic Acid (crystalline solid) is approximately 1.204 g/cm³ at 20 °C. This data point is relevant for bulk handling, storage volume calculations, and formulation weight-by-volume conversions.
Sorbic Acid Stability
Sorbic Acid is chemically stable under normal ambient conditions when stored correctly. However, it is susceptible to oxidation on prolonged exposure to air and light, which can cause yellowing or loss of potency. It is incompatible with strong oxidising agents and should not be stored in proximity to them. Stability is maintained best in sealed containers away from heat, moisture, and light.
Sorbic Acid Storage Direction
Store Sorbic Acid in a cool, dry, dark, and well-ventilated area in tightly closed containers, away from heat sources, direct sunlight, and oxidising agents. Keep away from humidity to prevent caking or quality degradation. Standard ambient warehouse storage is acceptable provided these conditions are maintained.
Sorbic Acid Packaging
Standard Packaging of Sorbic Acid is 25 kgs drum. Custom Bulk Packaging for Sorbic Acid is available on special request.
Sorbic Acid COA
Please email us at sales@pandoraindia.com to get the COA of Sorbic Acid. Alternatively, you can WhatsApp us at +91-8130322369 for the specifications of Sorbic Acid.
Sorbic Acid Price
Please email us at sales@pandoraindia.com about your requirements. Alternatively, you can give us a call at +91-8130322369 or +91-9312213216 between 10AM to 6PM, Monday to Friday. We will try to get back to you with a quotation for high quality Sorbic Acid at the earliest.
Beyond Sorbic Acid, Pandora Industries maintains a broad portfolio of industrial chemicals serving sectors such as food processing, agrochemicals, water treatment, and specialty manufacturing. From preservatives and acidulants to mineral salts and process chemicals, we source quality-certified materials to support your production needs. Reach out to our team to explore how Pandora Industries can be a comprehensive chemical supply partner for your business.
Pandora Industries Pvt. Ltd. is an importer, supplier and distributor of Sorbic Acid in India