Hello, I am developing a solution with cleaning properties which will have a pH of 9 or 10 (doesn't matter entirely and will be dependent on preservation methods). However, I must use preservation methods which are paraben and formaldehyde free. AND the preservative must be available in powdered form as well as being soluble in water.
I have investigated the use of benzoic acid (BA) (in the form of sodium benzoate) and sorbic acid (SA) (in the form of potassium sorbate) which I plan to use in my acid based solutions. However the efficacy of these preservatives are restricted to acidic environments.
So my questions (plea for help) are as follows:
In acidic conditions are both SA and BA required to create an effective preservative? If so what concentrations would you recommend?
And what are my options for an alkaline based solution preservative?
Many thanks in advance for any help/advice given!
Unless a cosmetic or drug - a cleaner likely will be regulated by EPA and its preservative must be a registered pesticide.
"Environmentally-friendly" is a marketing term that has no technical meaning. As you have apparently ruled out formaldehyde releasers, assume this is as much marketing as technical. Assuming EPA regulatory compliance, the ready options for you are the isothiazolinones - Benzyl and Methyl. The former (one is "Koralone" from DuPont) was commonly used until recent years when the sole supplier was shut down due to environmental violations (would that be "environmentally friendly"?) and a subsequent explosion. You might try the Methyl (Dupont also supplies a bunch of 'em).
There are other ways to preserve such products but they include process design and a more sophisticated technical approach than just dropping in a preservative.
Even in acidic products, organic acids are pretty poor preservatives - esp. vs Gram-negative bacteria. Do not think sorbic acid is registered so would not be legal in this application. Think there is only one source of EPA-registered Benzoic acid and that's Emerald.
- Badges
- Science topic
- Similar topics
- Biological Science
- Biochemistry
- Biochemical Techniques
- Analytical Chemistry
- pH