Sodium chlorite

Sodium chlorite (CAS 7758-19-2) is an inorganic oxidizing salt used industrially as a precursor to chlorine dioxide generation and as a direct bleaching and antimicrobial agent.

Where is Sodium chlorite used?

• Water treatment: activated with acid or chlorine to generate chlorine dioxide on-site for disinfection of municipal and industrial water systems and cooling towers
• Wastewater treatment: color removal, odor control and oxidation of pollutants.
• Textile and pulp processing: bleaching of fibers and paper stock without the fiber degradation associated with hypochlorite-based systems
• Food processing: approved dilute solutions for surface sanitation of equipment and antimicrobial treatment of fresh produce and poultry processing lines
• Leather processing: applied during hide preparation for uniform whitening and microbial load control in tannery wet processing
• Metal surface treatment: metal cleaning and passivation.
• Chemical synthesis: reagent in the Pinnick oxidation reaction to obtain carboxylic acids from aldehydes.
• Bleaching of fats and oils.
• It delivers controlled oxidative action where conventional chlorine-based treatments are unsuitable or regulated.

Good to know: Food-grade and water treatment grades must meet applicable regulatory standards for the intended application.

Formulation notes

• Reacts violently with acids, ammonium compounds, phosphorus, sulfur and sodium dithionite.
• Incompatible with cellulose-based absorbents.
• Becomes shock-sensitive when contaminated with organic materials.

Typical specification

• The 31% solution contains 31 ± 0.5% sodium chlorite.
• The solid form has a sodium chlorite content of ≥78-82%.

Regulatory status

• Classified under UN transport Class 5.1 with packing group II.
• Assigned UN number 1496.
• Registered under the REACH Regulation and manufactured and/or imported in the European Economic Area in annual volumes of ≥ 1,000 to < 10,000 tonnes.

Storage, packaging and handling

• Should be stored separately from combustible substances, reducing agents, acids, and incompatible materials, in a cool, dry, well-ventilated room.

Frequently asked questions about Sodium chlorite

In what physical form is the solid supplied?

It is supplied as white crystals or flakes that are slightly hygroscopic.

What is the water hazard classification in Germany?

It is classified as WGK Germany 3 for water hazard.

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