Table 7. Chemicals yielding sulfur dioxide which are currently allowed for use in food as preservatives (Adapted from Green, 1976)

Chemical

Formula

Theoretical Yield (%)

Solubility (mg/100 mL)

Sulphur dioxide

SO2

100.0

11 at 20 oC

Sodium sulphite anhydrous

Na2SO3

50.8

28 at 40 oC

Sodium sulphite (heptahydrate)

Na2SO3 @7H2O

25.4

24 at 25 oC

Sodium hydrogen sulphite

NaHSO3

61.6

300 at 20 oC

Sodium metabisulphite

Na2S2O5

67.4

54 at 20 oC

Potassium metabisulphite

K2S2O5

57.6

25 at 0 oC