The anti-mold and anti-corrosion principle of calcium propionate mainly includes the following aspects:

Inhibitory effect of acidic environment: Calcium propionate will dissociate in water, producing propionate ions and calcium ions. Propionic acid is a weak acid and partially ionizes hydrogen ions in solution, lowering the environmental pH. Most microorganisms such as molds, bacteria, and yeasts grow in neutral or alkaline environments, and acidic environments inhibit their growth and reproduction. When the ambient pH drops to a certain level, the enzyme activity of microorganisms is affected, resulting in disruption of their metabolic processes, slowing down or even stopping their growth and reproduction.

Interference with microbial metabolic processes: Propionate ions are able to penetrate the cell membrane of microorganisms and enter the cell. Inside the cell, propionate ion interferes with microbial metabolic pathways. For example, it can inhibit the activity of certain key enzymes in microbial cells, which are involved in important physiological processes such as energy metabolism and substance synthesis. When the activity of these enzymes is inhibited, microorganisms are unable to carry out their metabolic activities normally, thus affecting their growth and reproduction.

Affecting the structure and function of the cell membrane of microorganisms: Calcium propionate may have an effect on the cell membrane of microorganisms, altering the permeability of the cell membrane. Under normal conditions, the cell membrane is able to selectively allow nutrients to enter the cell and metabolic wastes to exit the cell. When the cell membrane permeability is changed, the important substances inside the cell (such as amino acids, nucleotides, etc.) may leak outside the cell, while the harmful substances from outside may enter the cell more easily, which will destroy the normal physiological function of the cell, and then inhibit the growth of microorganisms, to achieve the effect of mildew and anticorrosion.