Sodium Benzoate

Overview of Sodium Benzoate
Sodium benzoate is widely used as a food preservative. While it is safe in small doses, having large amounts of sodium benzoate can be fatal. It is also known as the sodium salt of benzoic acid. When water is added to a salt of benzoic acid, we get sodium benzoate. Sodium benzoate occurs naturally, too, especially in fruits like cranberries and blueberries and foods like seafood and dairy products.
Manufacturing Process
There are three types of methods by which sodium benzoate can be prepared:
Naphthalene and Vanadium pentoxide is oxidised to give phthalic anhydride, which in turn is decarboxylated to produce benzoic acid.
Toluene and nitric acid react to form benzoic acid.
Benzotrichloride is hydrolysed and then reacted with a mineral acid to give benzoic acid. Once benzoic acid is obtained from either of the above methods, it is dissolved using a sodium hydroxide solution.