Sodium Hydrosulfite

Sodium dithionite (also known as sodium hydrosulfite) is a white crystalline powder with a weak sulfurous odor. It is the sodium salt of dithionous acid.

Although it is stable under most conditions, it will decompose in hot water and in acid solutions. It can be obtained from sodium bisulfite. Sodium dithionite is stable when dry, but is slowly oxidized by air when in solution. Thus solutions of sodium dithionite cannot be stored for a long period of time.

This compound is a water-soluble salt, and can be used as a reducing agent in aqueous solutions. It is used as such in some industrial dyeing processes, where an otherwise water-insoluble dye can be reduced into a water-soluble alkali metal salt. The reduction properties of sodium dithionite also eliminate excess dye, residual oxide, and unintended pigments, thereby improving overall colour quality.

Sodium dithionite can also be used for water treatment, gas purification, cleaning, and stripping. It can also be used in industrial processes as a sulfonating agent or a sodium ion source.

In addition to the textile industry, this compound is used in industries concerned with leather, foods, polymers, photography, and many others. Sodium dithionite has been used in chemical enhanced oil recovery to stabilize polyacrylamide polymers against radical degradation in the presence of iron.

It has also been used in environmental applications to propagate a low front in the subsurface in order to reduce pollutants such as chromium.

For additional information and documents about Sodium Dithionite or how we can supply your organization, please give us a call, send us an email or contact us here: