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402907

Sigma-Aldrich

Propionic acid

ACS reagent, ≥99.5%

Synonym(s):

Acid C3, Propanoic acid, Propanyl acid

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About This Item

Linear Formula:
CH3CH2COOH
CAS Number:
Molecular Weight:
74.08
Beilstein/REAXYS Number:
506071
EC Number:
MDL number:
UNSPSC Code:
12352100
eCl@ss:
39021305
PubChem Substance ID:
NACRES:
NA.21

grade

ACS reagent

Quality Level

vapor density

2.55 (vs air)

vapor pressure

2.4 mmHg ( 20 °C)

assay

≥99.5%

form

liquid

autoignition temp.

955 °F

expl. lim.

12.1 %

analyte chemical class(es)

amino acids

impurities

≤0.002% Carbonyl compounds
≤0.10% Readily oxidizable substances (as HCOOH)
≤0.15% water

evapn. residue

≤0.01%

color

APHA: ≤20

refractive index

n20/D 1.386 (lit.)

bp

141 °C (lit.)

mp

−24-−23 °C (lit.)

solubility

H2O: soluble

density

0.993 g/mL at 25 °C (lit.)

cation traces

heavy metals (as Pb): ≤0.001%

SMILES string

CCC(O)=O

InChI

1S/C3H6O2/c1-2-3(4)5/h2H2,1H3,(H,4,5)

InChI key

XBDQKXXYIPTUBI-UHFFFAOYSA-N

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General description

Propionic acid (PA) also known as propanoic acid is a short chain fatty acid mainly used as food preservative. It is one of the main metabolic end product formed during the fermentation of undigested food in the colon by the microbiota. Its manufacture by glycerol/glucose co-fermentation using Propionibacterium acidipropionici has been reported. Crystal structure study reveals that PA crystals are monoclinic with space group P21/c.
Propionic acid (PA) is a naturally occurring carboxylic acid, which in its pure state exists as a colorless corrosive liquid with an unpleasant odor. It is miscible in water. Industrially it is produced by hydrocarboxylation of ethylene in presence nickel carbonyl as a catalyst. PA has been found to reduce food intake, lower the fatty acids content in plasma and liver, might improve tissue insulin sensitivity and exerts immunosuppressive actions. Propionic acid is an excellent raw material as it is stable, cheap and safe and can even be used as a food additive.

Application

Propionic acid may be used to alter limestone in order to increase its ability of CO2 uptake.

signalword

Danger

Hazard Classifications

Eye Dam. 1 - Flam. Liq. 3 - Skin Corr. 1B - STOT SE 3

target_organs

Respiratory system

Storage Class

3 - Flammable liquids

wgk_germany

WGK 1

flash_point_f

129.2 °F - closed cup

flash_point_c

54 °C - closed cup

ppe

Faceshields, Gloves, Goggles, type ABEK (EN14387) respirator filter


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The crystal structure of propionic acid.
Strieter FJ, et al.
Acta Crystallographica, 15(12), 1233-1239 (1962)
Enhancement of CO2 capture capacity by modifying limestone with propionic acid.
Sun R, et al.
Powder Technology, 233, 8-14 (2013)
Derrick F MacFabe et al.
Behavioural brain research, 217(1), 47-54 (2010-10-13)
Recent evidence suggests that a variety of environmental factors, including dietary and gastrointestinal agents, may contribute to autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Here we administered propionic acid (PPA), a short chain fatty acid that is used as a food preservative and
Yin Liu et al.
Current microbiology, 62(1), 152-158 (2010-06-15)
Cosubstrates fermentation is such an effective strategy for increasing subject metabolic products that it could be available and studied in propionic acid production, using glycerol and glucose as carbon resources. The effects of glycerol, glucose, and their mixtures on the
Biological effects of propionic acid in humans; metabolism, potential applications and underlying mechanisms
Sa'ad, H., et al.
Molecular and Cellular Biology, 1801 (11), 1175-1183 (2010)

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