Sodium Saccharin

Overview of Sodium Saccharin

Sodium saccharin, or sodium ortho-sulphobenzimide with molecular formula C₇H₄NNaO₃S, is the salt form of saccharin, an artificial sweetener. It is available in anhydrous and dihydrated forms. It is an odorless, white powder. It is 300 to 500 times sweeter than sugar (sucrose). The major application of Sodium saccharin is in the food industry as an additive in different products. Due to its rapidly dissolving nature in water, it is used as an artificial sweetener in carbonated beverages and sodas.

Manufacturing Process

There are two main processes for making saccharin: The first one is the Remsen-Fahlberg process, and the second one is the Maumee, or Sherwin-Williams process, named after the organization that further modified the Maumee process.

1. Remsen-Fahlberg process

This process was named after the two scientists who discovered sodium saccharine. In this process, toluene is synthesized with chlorosulfonic acid to produce ortho and para-toluenesulfonyl chloride. Subsequent treatment with potassium permanganate and ammonia forms the corresponding toluene sulfonamides.

2. Maumee Process

In the early 1950, USA-based Maumee Chemical Company developed a new process for saccharin production. Earlier, saccharin is produced from anthracitic acid by the continuous production process. After the merger of Maumee Chemical Company and PMC Specialties group, they improved the process to a batch process by using purified methyl anthranilate as a starting material that naturally occurs in grapes.

Food Industry 

In the food industry, sodium saccharin is used as a non-nutritive sweetener and stabilizer in various food and cold drinks. In bakery industries, it is used to sweeten baked goods, bread, cookies, and muffins. It is used in artificially sweetened diet drinks and sodas because it is rapidly dissolved in water. Marzipan, plain, sweetened, and fruit-flavoured yoghurt, jams,jellies, and ice creams are the products that contain sodium saccharin.

Detergent Industry

Sodium saccharin is added to toothpaste and mouthwashes as a sweetening agent. Without adding sodium saccharin, toothpaste would have a bitter taste. Colgate uses sodium saccharin rather than natural sugar because it does not contribute to the production of decay-causing acids.

Cosmetic Industry 

In cosmetics and personal care products, sodium saccharin is used to formulate dental products, mouthwashes, and lipstick as a sweetener and flavouring agent.

Other Applications 

Sodium saccharin is an intermediate chemical ingredient in herbicides and pesticide manufacturing. It is used as a catalytic agent in the manufacture of anaerobic adhesives, an adhesive that stiffens without existence the of oxygen. They are commonly known as sealants or locking compounds used to seal closed or secure fitting parts. Sodium Saccharin is used in the pharmaceutical industry as a coating on drugs.