A preservative is a natural or synthetic chemical that is added to products such as foods, pharmaceuticals, paints, biological samples, etc. to prevent spoilage, whether from microbial growth or undesirable chemical changes. Image File history File links Information. ... Image File history File links Broom_icon. ... A chemical compound is a chemical substance of two or more different chemically bonded chemical elements, with a fixed ratio determining the composition. ... This article is in need of attention; please see the talk page. ...

Preservatives may be added to wood to prevent the growth of fungi as well as to repel insects and termites. Typically copper, borate, and petroleum based chemical compounds are used. For more information on wood preservatives see timber treatment, lumber and creosote. Trunks A tree trunk as found at the Veluwe, The Netherlands Wood is a solid material derived from woody plants, notably trees but also shrubs. ... Divisions Chytridiomycota Zygomycota Ascomycota Basidiomycota The Fungi (singular: fungus) are a large group of organisms ranked as a kingdom within the Domain Eukaryota. ... Insects (Class Insecta) are a major group of arthropods and the most diverse group of animals on the Earth, with over a million described species—more than all other animal groups combined. ... Families Mastotermitidae Kalotermitidae Termopsidae Hodotermitidae Rhinotermitidae Serritermitidae Termitidae Termites, sometimes known as white ants, are a group of eusocial insects usually classified at the taxonomic rank of order, Isoptera. ... General Name, Symbol, Number copper, Cu, 29 Chemical series transition metals Group, Period, Block 11, 4, d Appearance metallic pinkish red Standard atomic weight 63. ... Borates in chemistry are chemical compounds containing boron bonded to three oxygen atoms written as B(OR)3. ... Pumpjack pumping an oil well near Lubbock, Texas Ignacy Łukasiewicz - inventor of the refining of kerosene from crude oil. ... A chemical compound is a chemical substance of two or more different chemically bonded chemical elements, with a fixed ratio determining the composition. ... Timber treatment or lumber treatment in forestry describes the intensive treatment of timber with chemical agents to increase its durability and ability to be used in an otherwise inappropriate situation like inground use. ... Timber in storage for later processing at a sawmill Lumber or Timber is a term used to describe wood, either standing or that has been processed for use—from the time trees are felled, to its end product as a material suitable for industrial use—as structural material for construction... Creosote is the name used for a variety of products: wood creosote, coal tar creosote, coal tar, coal tar pitch, and coal tar pitch volatiles. ...

Preservatives in food

Preservative food additives can be used alone or in conjunction with other methods of food preservation. A distinction is sometimes made between anti-microbial preservatives which function by inhibiting the growth of bacteria and fungi, and antioxidants such as oxygen absorbers, which inhibit the oxidation of food constituents. Common anti-microbial preservatives include calcium propionate, sodium nitrate, sodium nitrite, sulphites (sulfur dioxide, sodium bisulfite, potassium hydrogen sulfite, etc.) and disodium EDTA. Antioxidants include BHA and BHT. Other preservatives include formaldehyde (usually in solution), glutaraldehyde, diatomaceous earth (kills insects), ethanol, dimethyl dicarbonate and methylchloroisothiazolinone. The benefits and safety of many artificial food additives (including preservatives) are the subject of debate among academics and regulators specializing in food science and toxicology. Food additives are substances added to food to preserve flavor or improve its taste and appearance. ... Various preserved foods Food preservation is the process of treating and handling food in such a way as to stop or greatly slow down spoilage to prevent foodborne illness while maintaining nutritional value, density, texture and flavor. ... Phyla/Divisions Actinobacteria Aquificae Bacteroidetes/Chlorobi Chlamydiae/Verrucomicrobia Chloroflexi Chrysiogenetes Cyanobacteria Deferribacteres Deinococcus-Thermus Dictyoglomi Fibrobacteres/Acidobacteria Firmicutes Fusobacteria Gemmatimonadetes Nitrospirae Omnibacteria Planctomycetes Proteobacteria Spirochaetes Thermodesulfobacteria Thermomicrobia Thermotogae Bacteria (singular, bacterium) are a major group of living organisms. ... For the fictional character, see Fungus the Bogeyman. ... Space-filling model of the antioxidant metabolite glutathione. ... An oxygen absorber Oxygen supports the growth of microorganisms and causes changes in color and rancid odors in packaged foods. ... The most fundamental reactions in chemistry are the redox processes. ... Calcium propionate or calcium propanoate has the formula Ca(C2H5COO)2. ... Made of Porn and sex things Inhalation respiratory irritation Skin May cause irritation. ... Sodium nitrite, with chemical formula NaNO2, is used as a color fixative and preservative in meats and fish. ... Sulfites are sulfur-based compounds often used as preservatives in wines (to prevent spoilage and oxidation,) dried fruits, and dried potato products. ... Sulfur dioxide (or Sulphur dioxide) has the chemical formula SO2. ... Sodium hydrogen sulfite or sodium bisulfite is a chemical compound with the chemical formula NaHSO3. ... EDTA is a widely-used acronym for the chemical compound ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid (and many other names, see table). ... Space-filling model of the antioxidant metabolite glutathione. ... Butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) is a mixture of two isomeric organic compounds, 2-tert-butyl-4-hydroxyanisole and 3-tert-butyl-4-hydroxyanisole. ... Flash point 127 °C R/S statement R: 22-36 37 38 S: 26-36 RTECS number GO7875000 Related compounds Related compounds butylated hydroxyanisole Except where noted otherwise, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C, 100 kPa) Infobox disclaimer and references BHT is the common... The chemical compound formaldehyde (also known as methanal) is a gas with a pungent smell. ... Glutaraldehyde is a colourless liquid with a pungent odor used to sterilize medical and dental equipment. ... A sample of diatomaceous earth Diatomaceous earth (IPA: , also known as DE, diatomite, diahydro, kieselguhr, kieselgur and Celite) is a naturally occurring, soft, chalk-like sedimentary rock that is easily crumbled into a fine white to off-white powder. ... Grain alcohol redirects here. ... Dimethyl dicarbonate or DMDC is a colourless liquid with a sharp odour. ... Chemical structure of methylchloroisothiazolinone Methylchloroisothiazolinone (5-chloro-2-methyl-4-isothiazolinon-3-one) is a preservative with antibacterial and antifungal effects. ... Plato is credited with the inception of academia: the body of knowledge, its development and transmission across generations. ... Food science is a discipline concerned with all technical aspects of food, beginning with harvesting or slaughtering, and ending with its cooking and consumption. ... Toxicology (from the Greek words toxicos and logos [1]) is the study of the adverse effects of chemicals on living organisms [2]. It is the study of symptoms, mechanisms, treatments and detection of poisoning, especially the poisoning of people. ...

Foods such as salt, sugar or vinegar are also used as traditional natural preservatives. Another group of preservatives targets enzymes in fruits and vegetables that continue to metabolize after they are cut. For instance, citric and ascorbic acids inhibit the action of the enzyme phenolase which turns surfaces of cut apples and potatoes brown. Edible salt is mostly sodium chloride (NaCl). ... Magnification of grains of sugar, showing their monoclinic hemihedral crystalline structure. ... Vinegar is sometimes infused with spices or herbs—as here, with oregano. ... Citric acid is a weak organic acid found in citrus fruits. ... This article deals with the molecular aspects of ascorbic acid. ...

External links

• Common Food Preservatives
• US Food & Drug Administration article on Food Preservatives
• [Preserve our Eyes not our Drops http://preservative.free.fr] [relevant information on ocular consequences of preservatives in eye drops]