Sodium benzoate is a popular antimicrobial preservative widely adopted in food, beverage, cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries. It restrains the growth of bacteria, yeast and moulds, effectively prolonging the shelf‑life of finished goods. Compared with benzoic acid, it features better water solubility, which brings much easier operation for aqueous‑based production systems. It delivers optimal anti‑microbial performance under acidic conditions, so it is largely used in acidic drinks, jams, sauces and personal‑care products. Apart from preservation usage, it also works as a practical chemical intermediate for producing other fine‑chemical products.