Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jun 9, 2026

Calcium propanoate

Calcium propanoate or calcium propionate is a chemical compound with the chemical formula Ca(C2H5COO)2. It is the calcium salt of propanoic acid.

Last revised
Jun 9, 2026
Read time
≈ 3 min
Length
684 w
Citations
16
Source
Wikipedia ↗
Calcium propanoate1
source ↗
Names
Preferred IUPAC name
Calcium dipropanoate
Other names
Calcium propionate
Calcium dipropionate
Mycoban
E282
Identifiers
3D model (JSmol)
ChemSpider
ECHA InfoCard 100.021.633
EC Number
  • 223-795-8
E number E282 (preservatives)
KEGG
UNII
  • InChI=1S/2C3H6O2.Ca/c2*1-2-3(4)5;/h2*2H2,1H3,(H,4,5);/q;;+2/p-2 ☒N
    Key: BCZXFFBUYPCTSJ-UHFFFAOYSA-L ☒N
  • InChI=1/2C3H6O2.Ca/c2*1-2-3(4)5;/h2*2H2,1H3,(H,4,5);/q;;+2/p-2
    Key: BCZXFFBUYPCTSJ-NUQVWONBAE
  • CCC(=O)[O-].CCC(=O)[O-].[Ca+2]
Properties
C6H10CaO4
Molar mass 186.2192 g/mol
Appearance White crystalline solid
Melting point 385 °C (725 °F; 658 K)2
49 g/100 mL (0 °C)
55.8 g/100 mL (100 °C)
Solubility slightly soluble in methanol, ethanol
insoluble in acetone, benzene
Structure
monoclinic
Hazards
GHS labelling:3
GHS05: Corrosive
Danger
H318
P264+P265, P280, P305+P354+P338, P317
NFPA 704 (fire diamond)
NFPA 704 four-colored diamondHealth 2: Intense or continued but not chronic exposure could cause temporary incapacitation or possible residual injury. E.g. chloroformFlammability 1: Must be pre-heated before ignition can occur. Flash point over 93 °C (200 °F). E.g. canola oilInstability 0: Normally stable, even under fire exposure conditions, and is not reactive with water. E.g. liquid nitrogenSpecial hazards (white): no code
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2
1
0
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
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Calcium propanoate or calcium propionate is a chemical compound with the chemical formula Ca(C2H5COO)2. It is the calcium salt of propanoic acid.

Uses

Food additive

As a food additive, it is listed as E number 282 in the Codex Alimentarius. Calcium propionate is used as a preservative in a variety of products including bread, baked goods, processed meat, whey, and dairy products.4 It is only effective in foods with a pH of 5.5 or below (i.e., foods that are relatively more acidic).5

In bakery products, it acts as a mold inhibitor, typically added at 0.1–0.4%.5 Calcium propionate and sodium propionate are effective against both Bacillus mesentericus (rope) and mold.6

Agriculture

In agriculture, it is used to prevent milk fever in cows and as a feed supplement.7

It can be used as a fungicide on fruit.8

Industrial

It is of research interest in the production of belite cement clinkers9 and as a dual NOx/SOx reducing agent in coal furnaces.10

Reactions

Thermal decomposition in an inert atmosphere follows a radical mechanism that yields 3-pentanone.2 In the presence of oxygen, an exothermic reaction occurs involving the formation of carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, acetaldehyde, methane and water.2 This occurs at approximately 310 °C (590 °F; 583 K), while the radical pathway occurs near the melting point at 385 °C (725 °F; 658 K).2 Both pathways end in the formation of calcite.2

Safety

In a 1973 study reported by the EPA, the waterborne administration of 180 ppm of calcium propionate was found to be slightly toxic to bluegill sunfish.11

References

References

  1. Merck Index, 11th Edition, 1705.
  2. Zaidi, Sihem; Sanchez-Rodriguez, Daniel; Farjas, Jordi; Mohamed, Dammak; Roura-Grabulosa, Pere (2023-12-01). "Thermal decomposition of calcium propionate: films and powders". Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry. 148 (23): 13039–13049. doi:10.1007/s10973-023-12177-2. ISSN 1588-2926.
  3. PubChem. "Calcium propionate". pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. Retrieved 2026-02-01.
  4. Codex Alimentarius data for calcium propanoate Archived 2006-10-21 at the Wayback Machine
  5. New York State Food Venture Center, Cornell University (Summer 1998). "Chemical Food Preservatives: Propionates and Parabens". Geneva, New York. Archived from the original on 2010-04-12. Retrieved 2025-12-14.
  6. Furia, T. E. (1973). CRC Handbook of Food Additives. CRC Handbook of Food Additives. CRC Press.
  7. Center for Food and Nutrition Policy, Virginia Tech–Alexandria (August 12, 2002). CFNP TAP Review: Calcium Propinate, Livestock (PDF) (Report). USDA Agricultural Marketing Service. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2003-05-15.
  8. Biggs, A. R.; El-Kholi, M. M.; El-Neshawy, S.; Nickerson, R. (1997). "Effects of Calcium Salts on Growth, Polygalacturonase Activity, and Infection of Peach Fruit by Monilinia fructicola". Plant Disease. 81 (4): 399–403. Bibcode:1997PlDis..81..399B. doi:10.1094/PDIS.1997.81.4.399. PMID 30861823.
  9. Betancur-Granados, Natalia; Molina, Jarol E.; Pöllmann, Herbert; Tobón, Jorge I.; Restrepo-Baena, Oscar Jaime (2021-03-01). "Influence of metallic precursors in the mineralogy and reactivity of belite cement clinkers obtained by flame spray pyrolysis". Materials Today Communications. 26 101917. doi:10.1016/j.mtcomm.2020.101917. ISSN 2352-4928.
  10. Patsias, A. A.; Nimmo, W.; Gibbs, B. M.; Williams, P. T. (2005-10-01). "Calcium-based sorbents for simultaneous NOx/SOx reduction in a down-fired furnace". Fuel. 84 (14): 1864–1873. doi:10.1016/j.fuel.2005.03.009. ISSN 0016-2361.
  11. "OPP PESTICIDE ECOTOXICITY DATABASE - Details - Pesticide: Calcium propionate". EPA / USDA / NIFA. Archived from the original on 2019-01-23. Retrieved 2019-01-22.
External links