- Why propionic acid?
- Propionic acid is the industry standard for mold inhibition, the recommended minimum inclusion level is 2 lb per ton of pure propionic acid in finished feed.
- Where does the minimum 2 lb per ton of propionic acid come from?
- Minimum recommendations are based on over 40 years of scientific research.
- Why is Moldless 50% different from other products?
- Brookside Agra uses specialized equipment and a patented process to react pure propionic acid with ammonia (NH3). This patented process buffers the acidity of propionic acid in a way that reduces corrosiveness and aroma.
- Moldless 50% guarantees 50% propionic acid in the product and on the label.
- Other mold inhibitor products only guarantee total acids on the label and not specific concentrations of each acid. Why is this important?
Propionic acid is the most effective organic acid available for feed use. When you reduce the level of propionic acid in a product, you effectively reduce its mold inhibition properties.
5. How do organic acids such as propionic acid work?
• The chemical state of propionic acid and other organic acids are important because they can only enter a mold cell in a non-dissociated state. This means the acid must still have all its H+ (hydrogen ions) attached to the molecule. Once the non-dissociated acid enters the mold cell, the propionic acid dissociates (H+ separates from the molecule). The free H+ reduces intracellular pH in the cell, creating an unfavorable environment. The pH of a mold cell is strictly regulated and when pH is reduced, the cell has to expend large quantities of energy to bring it back to normal. The energy required for this purpose reduces the available energy for necessary metabolic functions and may kill the mold cell.
The chemical state of propionic acid determines the efficacy of the mold inhibitor!
Most mold inhibition products with a higher pH are manufactured with neutralizing agents such as calcium hydroxide and sodium hydroxide to reduce corrosion and aroma of the product. Calcium and sodium hydroxide are strong bases and are primarily used to manufacture calcium propionate and sodium propionate products. Calcium and sodium propionate are not as effective in mold inhibition as Moldless 50% because they have too little available non-dissociated acid to inhibit mold growth. Ammonia, the buffering agent used in Moldless 50%, is a weak base and easily releases propionic acid so that it can inhibit mold growth.
Does your mold inhibitor product have the right pH?
