Sodium borohydride

Sodium borohydride (CAS 16940-66-2), commonly abbreviated as NaBH4, is a selective reducing agent used across chemical manufacturing, precious metals recovery, and industrial processing. It delivers controlled reduction reactions under mild conditions. This makes it a preferred reagent where selectivity and process efficiency are critical procurement considerations. In pharmaceutical manufacturing, NaBH4 reduces ketones and aldehydes to alcohols in active pharmaceutical ingredient synthesis.

It offers a safer and more scalable alternative to other hydride reagents. Precious metals recovery operations use it to precipitate gold, silver, and platinum-group metals from leach solutions, improving yield in mining and refining circuits. Pulp and paper producers apply it as a bleaching stabilizer to protect brightness gains during hydrogen peroxide bleaching stages. Textile and leather processors use NaBH4 in reductive finishing baths to fix dyes.

This helps reduce residual chromium in effluent and meet discharge compliance targets. Sodium borohydride is supplied as a white crystalline powder and in stabilized aqueous solution, with concentrations ranging from 12% to 40%. Standard grades include technical and pharmaceutical-grade material, with pharmaceutical supply aligned to USP and Ph. Eur. specifications. Bulk powder is available in drums and fiber packs.

Solution grades are typically shipped in IBCs or isotanks. This versatile chemical remains a staple for industrial applications requiring high-purity reduction and efficient metal recovery processes globally.