Acesulfame is a food additive, a kinds of sweeteners, chemical name is acetylsulfanilate potassium, also known as AK sugar, the appearance of white crystalline powder, it is a kind of organic synthetic salt, its taste is similar to sugar cane, easily soluble in water, slightly soluble in alcohol. Acesulfame has stable chemical properties and is not prone to decomposition failure. Does not participate in body metabolism, does not provide energy; High sweetness, cheap price; No caries; Good stability to heat and acid, is currently the world's fourth generation of synthetic sweetener. It and other sweeteners mixed use can produce a strong synergistic effect, the general concentration can increase the sweetness of 20% to 40%.
Acesulfame was born from a chance discovery made by German scientists in 1967. At that time, in the process of developing new drugs, they accidentally synthesized this super-sweet substance. Since then, after a lot of in-depth research, fully understand its chemical properties, stability, sweetness and many other properties, Acesulfame gradually into people's vision. In 1983, Acesulfame was first approved for use in the UK, officially starting its journey as a food additive. Since then, the International Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC) and the authorities of many countries and regions such as the European Union, the United States, and Japan have recognized the safety of Acesulfame and allowed it to be used in food production within the specified scope.
From the appearance, Acesulfame appears as a white crystalline powder, pure and colorless, which makes it easy to operate during food processing, whether it is evenly mixed with powdered ingredients or dissolved in liquid food systems. Its sweetness is amazing, reaching about 200 times that of sucrose, and only a small amount of addition can give the food a rich sweetness. In terms of solubility, it is easily soluble in water, and the solubility can reach 27 grams at 20 ° C, which can quickly fuse with water, making the drink instantly have a sweet taste; Slightly soluble in ethanol, this property also provides a possibility for its application in some alcohol-containing food or pharmaceutical preparations.
In terms of chemical properties, Acesulfame is extremely stable, stable to light and heat (capable of 225 ° C high temperature), with a wide range of pH values (pH= 3-7), non-hygroscopic in the air, and will not easily decompose and deteriorate under general food processing, storage, and transportation conditions, and can always maintain the sweet effect. Particularly outstanding is that it does not participate in human metabolism, enter the human body after almost untouched out of the body, neither provide heat, nor cause blood sugar fluctuations, which for the need to control the caloric intake of people, such as diabetes patients, obesity groups, is undoubtedly a great Gospel, so that they can enjoy the sweet at the same time, without worrying about health risks.
Acesulfame has many applications in food processing, mainly including the following aspects:Sweetener: Acesulhoney, as a non-nutritive sweetener, can provide sweetness without affecting human metabolism, and is often used in beverages, candies, pastries and other foods to replace traditional sugar.
Food preservative: Acesulfame has low hygroscopicity and chemical inertia, which can inhibit the growth of many microorganisms and extend the shelf life of food. This has made Acesulfame widely used in foods that require long-term preservation such as pickles and preserves .Improved food stability: Acesulfame can be stable under acidic or alkaline conditions and will not decompose and deteriorate, helping to extend the shelf life of food. This makes it excellent in acidic or alkaline foods such as carbonated drinks Improve taste: Acesulfame enhances the flavor of other seasonings and improves the overall taste of foods. Its pure sweetness and good solubility make the food more delicious.
