Propionic acid is a short-chain saturated fatty acid comprising ethane attached to the carbon of a carboxy group.
- Korean limit
- 0.9%
Definition
Propionic acid is a short-chain saturated fatty acid comprising ethane attached to the carbon of a carboxy group. It has a role as an antifungal drug. It is a saturated fatty acid and a short-chain fatty acid. It is a conjugate acid of a propionate.
Source: PubChem
US FDA substance register · UNII JHU490RVYR · registered name Propionic acid · single chemical substance
Propionic Acid is the organic acid that conforms to the formula:
Cosmetic roles
Safety & regulatory references
- Restricted
- China · South Korea
- Allowed preservative
- United Kingdom
Source: MFDS (Korea) cosmetic regulatory information · ASEAN Cosmetic Directive · EU Cosmetics Regulation · Taiwan FDA cosmetic ingredients · UK cosmetics regulations (OPSS)
Argentina · Brazil
- Maximum concentration permitted at final product : 2.0% (expressed as acid)
ASEAN
- Maximum authorised concentration in the finished cosmetic product : 2% (acid)
Taiwan
- 2.0%
European Union
- Maximum concentration in ready for use preparation : 2% (acid)
Source: MFDS (Korea) cosmetic regulatory information
Not classified under Korea’s toxic-substance GHS list · existing chemical substance
Restriction V/2
Source: EU CosIng ingredient list
More data — names, identifiers, properties, test records, literature
Official labels & definitions
JCIA labelling name プロピオン酸: 本品は、次の化学式で表される脂肪酸である。
Source: JCIA labelling names (Japan)
Names & identifiers
- CAS No.chemical registry number
- 79-09-4
- EC No.EU chemical inventory number
- 201-176-3
- DTXSIDUS EPA chemical ID
- DTXSID8025961
- DTXCIDUS EPA compound ID
- DTXCID505961
- IUPAC
- Propanoic acid
- Molecular formula
- C3H6O2
- Molecular weight
- 74.079 g/mol
Measured properties
- Colour
- colourless
- Odour threshold
- 0.16 ppm
- Melting/freezing point
- -21.5 ℃
- Initial boiling point and range
- 140.7~141.4 ℃ (1 013 hPa)
- Flash point
- 54 ℃
- Upper/lower flammability or explosive limits
- 12.1 / 2.9 %
- Vapour pressure
- 3.53 ㎜Hg(25℃)
- Water solubility
- 100 g/100㎖(25℃)
- Vapour density
- 2.56
- Relative density
- 0.99
- n-Octanol/water partition coefficient (Kow)
- 0.33
- Auto-ignition temperature
- 485 ℃
- Decomposition temperature
- -1528.3 ℃(kJ/mol)
- Viscosity
- 1.02 cP(25℃)
- Molecular weight
- 74.08
Values measured on the substance itself. The KOSHA data are a reference for writing and reviewing safety data sheets, not a specification for a commercial raw material.
Source: KOSHA safety data sheets (Korea)
What products actually use it for
What the 24 products reported to the US EPA with this ingredient use it for. Products outside cosmetics are included, so the top few rows are its main uses.
- Preservative4
- Processing aids not otherwise specified3
- Solvent2
- Soil amendments2
- Flavouring and nutrient2
- pH regulating agent2
- Fragrance2
- Hardener2
5 other uses
- Intermediate1
- Anti-freeze agent1
- Biocide1
- Monomers1
- Adhesion/cohesion promoter1
Source: US EPA CompTox dashboard
Irritation and sensitisation studies
8 skin studies and 2 eye studies are on record.
The study conclusions largely agree (100%). These tests are on the raw material itself; irritation at the amount in a finished product is a different question.
See all 10 studies
- Not likely to be sensitizing
skin sensitisation: in vivo (non-LLNA) · Screening · equivalent or similar to OECD Guideline 406 (Skin Sensitisation) - Category 6.3A (Category 2)
Skin Irritation · Read Across - Skin Corr. 1B
Skin Irritation · Authoritative - Category 8.2B (Category 1B)
Skin Irritation · Read Across - Category 1
Skin Irritation · Screening - Classification not possible
Skin Sensitization · Screening - Skin corrosion/irritation - Category 1
Skin Irritation · Screening - Skin corrosion - category 1B
Skin Irritation · Screening - Category 8.3A (Category 1)
Eye Irritation · Read Across - Category 1
Eye Irritation · Screening
Source: US EPA CompTox dashboard
Related literature
- Assessment of the feed additive consisting of propionic acid for all terrestrial animal species for the renewal of its authorisation (Eastman Chemical B.V., Perstorp AB, Dow Europe GmbH, BASF SE) · 2024
- Melatonin treatment increases skin microbiota-derived propionic acid to alleviate atopic dermatitis. · 2024
- Propionic acid bacteria in the food industry: An update on essential traits and detection methods. · 2021
- Microbial Propionic Acid Production · 2017
- Propionibacterium spp.—source of propionic acid, vitamin B12, and other metabolites important for the industry · 2017
Linked databases 25
- ASEAN Cosmetic Directive
- Australian Industrial Chemicals Inventory (AICIS)
- ChEBI
- ChEMBL
- China inventory of existing ingredients (IECIC)
- EU CosIng ingredient list 2
- EU Cosmetics Regulation
- JCIA labelling names (Japan)
- Korea Cosmetic Association ingredient dictionary
- Korea toxic substances GHS register (NIER)
- KOSHA safety data sheets (Korea)
- MFDS (Korea) cosmetic ingredient register 2
- MFDS (Korea) cosmetic regulatory information 2 3 4
- NIST Chemistry WebBook
- PubChem
- Taiwan FDA cosmetic ingredients
- Tlooto literature search 2 3 4 5
- UK cosmetics regulations (OPSS)
- UniChem cross-reference IDs
- US EPA CompTox dashboard 2
- US EPA DSSTox chemical database
- US FDA substance registration (GSRS)
- US FDA Unique Ingredient Identifier (UNII)
- Wikidata
- Wikipedia · Korean · English · Japanese · Chinese