Sodium Benzoate

Sodium benzoate is a well known and widely used preservative for pharmaceutical products such as syrups, flavoured vehicles, and multiple dose containers for liquid preparations. It is also used in toiletries, and cosmetics and as a co-solvent in pharmaceutical manufacture. In the manufacture of compressed tablets that will give clear solutions, sodium benzoate powder in the granulation is considered to be an efficient lubricant and provides rapid disintegration. Sodium benzoate has a solubilising effect for certain drugs, which is useful in caffeine preparations or certain anaesthetic compositions. Sodium benzoate is a safe, economical preservative in certain toilet preparations such as creams, lotions, gum solutions, and toothpaste. Its advantages for these applications are that it is colourless, odourless, readily soluble, and generally is compatible other ingredients.