{{chembox | Verifiedfields = changed | Watchedfields = changed | verifiedrevid = 442834022 | Reference = <ref>''Merck Index'', 11th Edition, '''1705'''.</ref> | ImageFile = Calcium propanoate.svg | PIN = Calcium dipropanoate | OtherNames = Calcium propionate<br>Calcium dipropionate<br>Mycoban<br>E282 | Section1 = {{Chembox Identifiers | CASNo_Ref = {{cascite|correct|??}} | CASNo=4075-81-4 | UNII_Ref = {{fdacite|correct|FDA}} | UNII = 8AI80040KW | PubChem=19999 | EINECS =223-795-8 | KEGG = D09875 | SMILES=CCC(=O)[O-].CCC(=O)[O-].[Ca+2] | ChemSpiderID_Ref = {{chemspidercite|changed|chemspider}} | ChemSpiderID = 18840 | InChI = 1/2C3H6O2.Ca/c2*1-2-3(4)5;/h2*2H2,1H3,(H,4,5);/q;;+2/p-2 | InChIKey = BCZXFFBUYPCTSJ-NUQVWONBAE | StdInChI_Ref = {{stdinchicite|changed|chemspider}} | StdInChI = 1S/2C3H6O2.Ca/c2*1-2-3(4)5;/h2*2H2,1H3,(H,4,5);/q;;+2/p-2 | StdInChIKey_Ref = {{stdinchicite|changed|chemspider}} | StdInChIKey = BCZXFFBUYPCTSJ-UHFFFAOYSA-L }} | Section2 = {{Chembox Properties | Formula = C<sub>6</sub>H<sub>10</sub>CaO<sub>4</sub> | MolarMass = 186.2192 g/mol | Appearance = White crystalline solid | Density = | MeltingPtC = 385 | MeltingPt_ref = <ref name=Zaidi /> | BoilingPt = | Solubility = 49 g/100 mL (0 °C) <br> 55.8 g/100 mL (100 °C) | SolubleOther = slightly soluble in methanol, ethanol <br> insoluble in acetone, benzene }} | Section3 = {{Chembox Structure | CrystalStruct = monoclinic }} | Section4 = {{Chembox Hazards | MainHazards = | GHS_ref = <ref>{{Cite web |last=PubChem |title=Calcium propionate |url=https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/19999 |access-date=2026-02-01 |website=pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov |language=en}}</ref> | GHSPictograms = {{GHS05}} | GHSSignalWord = Danger | HPhrases = {{H-phrases|H318}} | PPhrases = {{P-phrases|P264+P265|P280|P305+P354+P338|P317}} | FlashPt = | AutoignitionPt = | NFPA-H = 2 | NFPA-F = 1 | NFPA-R = 0 }} }}

'''Calcium propanoate''' or '''calcium propionate''' is a chemical compound with the chemical formula Ca(C<sub>2</sub>H<sub>5</sub>COO)<sub>2</sub>. 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.<ref name="alimentarius">[http://www.codexalimentarius.net/gsfaonline/additives/details.html?id=306 Codex Alimentarius data for calcium propanoate] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061021214228/http://www.codexalimentarius.net/gsfaonline/additives/details.html?id=306 |date=2006-10-21 }}</ref> It is only effective in foods with a pH of 5.5 or below (i.e., foods that are relatively more acidic).<ref name="venture" />

In bakery products, it acts as a mold inhibitor, typically added at 0.1–0.4%.<ref name="venture">{{cite web |title=Chemical Food Preservatives: Propionates and Parabens |author=((New York State Food Venture Center, Cornell University)) |date=Summer 1998 |location=Geneva, New York |url=https://www.nysaes.cornell.edu/necfe/pubs/pdf/Venture/venture3_chemical.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100412155551/http://www.nysaes.cornell.edu/necfe/pubs/pdf/Venture/venture3_chemical.html |archive-date=2010-04-12 |url-status=dead |access-date=2025-12-14}}</ref> Calcium propionate and sodium propionate are effective against both ''Bacillus mesentericus'' (rope) and mold.<ref>Furia, T. E. (1973). CRC Handbook of Food Additives. CRC Handbook of Food Additives. CRC Press.</ref>

=== Agriculture === In agriculture, it is used to prevent milk fever in cows and as a feed supplement.<ref name="feed">{{cite report |title=CFNP TAP Review: Calcium Propinate, Livestock|author=((Center for Food and Nutrition Policy, Virginia Tech–Alexandria))|date=August 12, 2002|url=http://www.ams.usda.gov/nop/NationalList/TAPReviews/CalciumPropionate.pdf|publisher=USDA Agricultural Marketing Service|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030515082846/http://www.ams.usda.gov/nop/NationalList/TAPReviews/CalciumPropionate.pdf|archive-date=2003-05-15|url-status=dead}}</ref>

It can be used as a fungicide on fruit.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Biggs |first1=A. R. |last2=El-Kholi |first2=M. M. |last3=El-Neshawy |first3=S. |last4=Nickerson |first4=R. |title=Effects of Calcium Salts on Growth, Polygalacturonase Activity, and Infection of Peach Fruit by Monilinia fructicola |journal=Plant Disease |volume=81 |pages=399–403 |year=1997 |doi=10.1094/PDIS.1997.81.4.399 |issue=4 |pmid=30861823 |bibcode=1997PlDis..81..399B |doi-access=}}</ref>

=== Industrial === It is of research interest in the production of belite cement clinkers<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Betancur-Granados|first=Natalia|last2=Molina|first2=Jarol E.|last3=Pöllmann|first3=Herbert|last4=Tobón|first4=Jorge I.|last5=Restrepo-Baena|first5=Oscar Jaime|date=2021-03-01|title=Influence of metallic precursors in the mineralogy and reactivity of belite cement clinkers obtained by flame spray pyrolysis|url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352492820329287|journal=Materials Today Communications|volume=26|pages=|doi=10.1016/j.mtcomm.2020.101917|issn=2352-4928|article-number=101917|url-access=subscription}}</ref> and as a dual NO<sub>''x''</sub>/SO<sub>''x''</sub> reducing agent in coal furnaces.<ref>{{Cite journal|title=Calcium-based sorbents for simultaneous NOx/SOx reduction in a down-fired furnace|url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0016236105000992|journal=Fuel|date=2005-10-01|issn=0016-2361|pages=1864–1873|volume=84|issue=14|doi=10.1016/j.fuel.2005.03.009|first=A. A.|last=Patsias|first2=W.|last2=Nimmo|first3=B. M.|last3=Gibbs|first4=P. T.|last4=Williams|url-access=subscription}}</ref>

== Reactions == Thermal decomposition in an inert atmosphere follows a radical mechanism that yields 3-pentanone.<ref name=Zaidi>{{Cite journal |last=Zaidi |first=Sihem |last2=Sanchez-Rodriguez |first2=Daniel |last3=Farjas |first3=Jordi |last4=Mohamed |first4=Dammak |last5=Roura-Grabulosa |first5=Pere |date=2023-12-01 |title=Thermal decomposition of calcium propionate: films and powders |url=https://doi.org/10.1007/s10973-023-12177-2 |journal=Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry |language=en |volume=148 |issue=23 |pages=13039–13049 |doi=10.1007/s10973-023-12177-2 |issn=1588-2926|doi-access=free }}</ref> In the presence of oxygen, an exothermic reaction occurs involving the formation of carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, acetaldehyde, methane and water.<ref name=Zaidi /> This occurs at approximately {{Convert|310|C|F K}}, while the radical pathway occurs near the melting point at {{Convert|385|C|F K}}.<ref name=Zaidi /> Both pathways end in the formation of calcite.<ref name=Zaidi />

== Safety == In a 1973 study reported by the EPA, the waterborne administration of 180&nbsp;ppm of calcium propionate was found to be slightly toxic to bluegill sunfish.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ipmcenters.org/Ecotox/Details.cfm?RecordID=18447|title=OPP PESTICIDE ECOTOXICITY DATABASE - Details - Pesticide: Calcium propionate|publisher=EPA / USDA / NIFA|access-date=2019-01-22|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190123010651/http://www.ipmcenters.org/Ecotox/Details.cfm?RecordID=18447|archive-date=2019-01-23|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== *[https://www.cspinet.org/page/chemical-cuisine-food-additive-safety-ratings Center for Science in the Public Interest list of food additives]

{{Calcium compounds}}

Category:Propionates Category:Calcium compounds Category:Food preservatives Category:E-number additives