Previous studies indicate that common food preservatives such as sodium benzoate and ascorbic acid can react in solution to form benzene. The mechanism for this reaction is unknown but a radical reaction is suspected. A solution of sodium benzoate and ascorbic acid was exposed to different radical initiators and analyzed by GC/MS in order to determine conditions under which benzene could form.

Formation of benzene from common food preservatives

243rd National Meeting (2012)

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