Sodium chloride

Sodium chloride (CAS 7647-14-5), commonly known as salt or NaCl, is one of the most broadly sourced inorganic compounds in industrial and food supply chains.

Where is Sodium chloride used?

• Food processing: preservative and flavor enhancer that controls water activity to extend shelf life
• Cured meats, cheeses, snacks and condiments: primary savory taste profile
• Textile and leather: fixes dyes to fiber substrates and cures hides
• Water treatment: regenerates ion exchange resins in softening systems
• Chemical manufacturing: primary feedstock for chlor-alkali production, generating chlorine and caustic soda.
• De-icing salt for winter road service.
• Detergent powder formulations.
• 0.9% solution for infusion is used as a vehicle for the administration of medicines and electrolytes.

Formulation notes

• Incompatible with hydrocortisone, amphotericin B, tetracyclines, cephalothin, erythromycin, lactobionate, and lithium salts.
• Doses may be expressed in mEq or mmol of sodium, mass of sodium, or mass of sodium salt, where 1 g NaCl equals 394 mg Na, 17.1 mEq or 17.1 mmol of Na and Cl.
• Before adding a drug, verify that it is soluble and stable in water within the pH range of the 0.9% sodium chloride solution.

Typical specification

• Osmolarity of the solution is 3420 mOsm/l.
• Salt can be enriched with iodine or fluorine.

Regulatory status

• Assessment of table salt is based on Codex Alimentarius Standard 150-1985 (current version).
• Assessment of table salt is based on Regulation (EC) 1333/2008 on food additives and its implementing regulations.
• Salt with added iodide, fluoride or folic acid is marketed in Germany under an exemption permit according to § 68 of the Food and Feed Code (LFGB).
• All substances added to table salt to prevent caking and improve free-flowing properties must be approved additives.

Storage, packaging and handling

• Contact with moisture can cause caking and reduce flowability.
• Store at a temperature not exceeding 25°C.

Technical content is compiled and updated by the SoleChem product team from public technical sources; the certificate of analysis (COA) governs product-specific specifications.