Chemistry
Cyclamate is a sulfamic acid, usually used as the sodium or calcium salt.
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Molecular formula: C6H13NO3S Molecular weight: 179.23 Very sparingly soluble in water Slowly hydrolyzed in hot water Data for Sodium cyclamate: Molecular formula: C6H12NNaO3S Molecular weight: 201.22 Freely soluble in water Data for Calcium cyclamate: Molecular formula: C12H24CaN2O6S2 Molecular weight: 396.54 Freely soluble in water
Biology
The safety of cyclamate is controversial. It is approved for use in some countries and not in others.
Discovery
Michael Sveda was a graduate student at the University of Illinois, working in the laboratory of Audrieth on the synthesis of anti-pyretic (anti-fever) drugs. While working in the laboratory in 1937, he put his cigarette down on the lab bench. When he put it back in his mouth, he discovered the sweet taste of cyclamate. If you are interested in sweetener discovery stories, see The History of High Potency Sweeteners: Tales of Discovery.
Names
Cyclohexylsulfamic acid Cyclohexanesulfamic acid Hexamic acid Sodium cyclohexylsulfamate Cyclamate sodium Sodium cyclamate Assugrin Sucaryl sodium Sucrosa Calcium cyclohexylsulfamate Calcium cyclamate Cyclohexylsulfamic acid calcium salt Cyclamate calcium Sucaryl calcium Cyclan
Taste
Sweet. At high concentrations, sodium and calcium cyclamate may have detectable salty taste as well. The sweetness potency relative to sucrose is about 35-50, but depends upon the concentration of sucrose which is being matched. The concentration vs. response relationship in water (results in food systems will vary) is shown below. This graph is based on data from DuBois, Walters, Schiffman, Warwick, Booth, Pecore, Gibes, Carr & Brands in "Sweeteners: Discovery, Molecular Design, and Chemoreception," D.E. Walters et al., Eds., American Chemical Society, 1991. The equation allows you to calculate sweetness response (R) for any concentration (C). The units of R are percent sucrose equivalent; the units of C are parts per million (ppm).
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© by D. Eric Walters