Sodium metabisulfites

One final thought. Strike found that there are a lot of companies that do not sell sodium bisulfite (NaHSOa). In fact, a lot of companies list sodium bisulfite in their catalogs but tell the reader to see sodium metabisulfite instead because that is the only form of this compound they carry. In other words, a lot of companies sell sodium metabisulfite (NaaSaOs) as an acceptable alternative to the other. The Merck Index even says about sodium bisulfite that the [sodium] bisulfite of commerce consists chiefly of sodium metabisulfite, Nd2S20s, and for all practical purposes possesses the same properties as the true bisulfite". What this meant to Strike was that metabisulfite would work just as well. So some was purchased and tried. And it really does work just the samel... 

Sulfur Dioxide and Sulfites. Sulfur dioxide [7446-09-5], SO2, sodium bisulfite [15181-46-1], NaHSO, and sodium metabisulfite [23134-05-6] ate effective against molds, bacteria, and certain strains of yeast. The wine industry represents the largest user of sulfites, because the compounds do not affect the yeast needed for fermentation. Other appHcations include dehydrated fmits and vegetables, fmit juices, symps and concentrates, and fresh shrimp (79). Sulfites ate destmctive to thiamin, and cannot be used in foods, such as certain baked goods, that ate important sources of this vitamin. 

Table 4. Sample Fields for Sodium Metabisulfite in Gmelin ...

TSR L, TSR L is a color-specified mbber, and the light amber color is produced by selecting clones with a low carotenoid content. After collection, the field latex is preserved with a mixture of ammonia and boric acid and subsequendy treated using 0.05% sodium metabisulfite to inhibit... 

Sodium Bisulfite. Sodium bisulfite, NaHSO, exists in solution but is not a stable compound in the soHd state. The anhydrous sodium bisulfite of commerce consists of sodium metabisulfite, Na2S20. Aqueous sodium bisulfite solution, having specific gravity 1.36 and containing the equivalent of 26—27 wt % SO2, is a commercial product. 

Physical Properties. Sodium metabisulfite (sodium pyrosulfite, sodium bisulfite (a misnomer)), Na2S20, is a white granular or powdered salt (specific gravity 1.48) and is storable when kept dry and protected from air. In the presence of traces of water it develops an odor of sulfur dioxide and in moist air it decomposes with loss of part of its SO2 content and by oxidation to sodium sulfate. Dry sodium metabisulfite is more stable to oxidation than dry sodium sulfite. At low temperatures, sodium metabisulfite forms hydrates with 6 and 7 moles of water. The solubiHty of sodium metabisulfite in water is 39.5 wt % at 20°C, 41.6 wt % at 40°C, and 44.6 wt % at 60°C (340). Sodium metabisulfite is fairly soluble in glycerol and slightly soluble in alcohol. 

Chemical Properties. The chemistry of sodium metabisulfite is essentially that of the sulfite—bisulfite—metabisulfite—sulfurous acid system. The relative proportions of each species depend on the pH. The pH of a sodium bisulfite solution obtained by dissolving 10 wt % sodium metabisulfite in water at 20°C is 4.9 at 30 wt %, the pH is 4.4. 

Manufacture. Aqueous sodium hydroxide, sodium bicarbonate, sodium carbonate, or sodium sulfite solution are treated with sulfur dioxide to produce sodium metabisulfite solution. In one operation, the mother Hquor from the previous batch is reinforced with additional sodium carbonate, which need not be totally in solution, and then is treated with sulfur dioxide (341,342). In some plants, the reaction is conducted in a series of two or more stainless steel vessels or columns in which the sulfur dioxide is passed countercurrent to the alkaH. The solution is cooled and the sodium metabisulfite is removed by centrifuging or filtration. Rapid drying, eg, in a stream-heated shelf dryer or a flash dryer, avoids excessive decomposition or oxidation to which moist sodium metabisulfite is susceptible. 

Shipment and Storage. Sodium metabisulfite can be stored under air at ambient temperatures, but under humid conditions the product cakes... 

Economic Aspects. U.S. production of sodium metabisulfite is estimated to be well ia excess of 45,000 t, but statistics are confused by some commingling with sodium sulfite. The principal U.S. producers are Rhc ne-Poulenc and General Chemical. The price ia mid-1995 was 0.63/kg for anhydrous sodium bisulfite. 

Health and Safety Factors. Sodium metabisulfite is nonflammable, but when strongly heated it releases sulfur dioxide. The oral acute toxicity is slight and the LD q (rat, oral) is 2 g/kg. Sodium bisulfite appears to be weakly mutagenic to some bacteria, ia rodent embryos, and ia a human lymphocyte test. There is iaadequate evidence for carciaogenicity (183,343). 

The sohd product and its aqueous solutions are mildly acidic and irritate the skin, eyes, and mucous membranes. The soHd material when moist generates the pungent, irritating odor of sulfur dioxide. Food-grade sodium metabisulfite is permitted ia those foods that are not recognized as sources of vitamin B, with which sulfur dioxide reacts (316) (see Vitamins,THIAMINE). 

Sodium Metabisulfite, SolidSO, Technical Information sheet, Rhtjane-Poulenc Basic Chemicals Co., Shelton, Conn., 1991. 

When bleaching is requited, a reductive bleach with sodium hydrosulfite and sodium metabisulfite is used. Cotton blends may requite a hydrogen peroxide bleach at pH 9.0—9.5 prior to or iastead of the normal reductive bleach. Chlorine-type bleaches which damage elastomeric fibers are avoided. 

SODIUM HYDROXIDE SODIUM HYPOCHLORITE SODIUM HYPOCHLORITE SODIUM METABISULFITE SODIUM METHOXIDE... 

The AMAPs (2-[ arylmethyl amino]-l,3-propanediols) are a class of planar polycyclic aromatic derivatives, which contain polar side-chains. They are known to be DNA intercalators and possess broad spectrum antitumour activity. An approach to C-radiolabelled AMAP derivative 40 used the Bucherer reaction as an initial starting reaction. 2-Naphthol was reacted with 4-bromophenylhydrazine 38 in the presence of sodium metabisulfite and HCl to afford 39. Subsequent derivatisation of 39 afforded 40. 

In a recently published paper6, on the investigation of AN copolymerization with the quartemary salt of l,2-dimethyl-5-vinylpyridinium sulfate (DMVPS) in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) with 2,2 -azoisobutyronitrile as initiator, and in aqueous medium in the presence of the potassium persulfate/sodium metabisulfite oxidation-reduction system at 60 °C, the authors found the reactivity of the monomers, especially that of MVPS (methylvinylpyridin sulfate) to depend significantly on the polarity of the medium. 

Sodium hypochlorite, 16, 4 Sodium metabisulfite, 13, 29 Sodium methylate, 17, 34 Sodium nitrite, see Diazotization, Nitro-sation... 

The stoichiometric relationship for 100% sodium metabisulfite with oxygen (02) is 4.44 1.0. Typically, 5 1 is used. 

Other reducing agents such as sodium thiosulfate or sodium metabisulfite may be used as well. 

Epinephrine is an inherently unstable chemical in aqueous solution, even at a low pH and in the presence of an antioxidant such as sodium metabisulfite, up to 1 mg/ ml. With the passage of time, the epinephrine dose gradually decreases due to degradation into inactive compounds. If the expiry date has passed, the epinephrine dose correlates inversely with the number of months or years past that date, and will likely be lower than the dose stated on the label even if the solution appears clear and colorless. Nevertheless, if this is the only source of epinephrine available for injection, it should be used in preference to not administering epinephrine at all [32]. 

The selection of an appropriate antioxidant depends on factors such as stability, toxicity, efficiency, odor, taste, compatibility with other ingredients, and distribution phenomena between the two phases. Antioxidants that give protection primarily in the aqueous phase include sodium metabisulfite, ascorbic acid, thioglycerol, and cysteine hydrochloride. Oil-soluble antioxidants include lecithin, propyl gal-late, ascorbyl palmitate, and butylated hydroxytoluene. Vitamin E has also been used, but its virtue as a natural antioxidant has been the subject of some controversy. 

Strong reducing agents such as sulfur dioxide, sodium bisulfite, sodium metabisulfite, and ferrous sulfate are used in the iron and steel finishing sites to reduce hexavalent chromium to the triva-lent form, which allows the metal to be removed from solution by chemical precipitation.21 23 Metal-containing wastewaters may also be treated by chemical precipitation or ion-exchange. 

Sulfur dioxide (S02), sodium bisulfite (NaHS03), and sodium metabisulfite (Na2S205) are commonly used as reducing agents.15 50 All these compounds react to produce sulfurous acid when added to water, according to the following reactions ... 

In addition to the sulfuric acid required for pH adjustment, some amount of acid is consumed by the reduction reaction (Equation 8.15). If sulfur dioxide is used as the reducing agent, it will provide all the acid consumed by this reaction, and additional acid will not be required. However, if sodium bisulfite or sodium metabisulfite is used, additional acid must be supplied to satisfy the acid demand. This acid requirement is stoichiometric and can be calculated from Equations 6.19 to 6.22. 

Liquid flowing into the chromium treatment module [T-21] is monitored by a pH instrument that controls a feed pump to add the required amount of sulfuric acid from a storage tank. The sulfuric acid is needed to lower the pH to 2.0 to 2.5 for the desired reduction reaction to occur. An ORP instrument controls the injection rate of sodium metabisulfite solution from a metering pump to reduce hexavalent chromium (Cr6+) to the trivalent state (Cr3+). 

Hexavalent chromium reduction through the use of sulfur dioxide and sodium metabisulfite has found the widest application in the metal finishing industry. It is not truly a treatment step, but a conversion process in which the hexavalent chromium is converted to trivalent chromium. The hexavalent chromium is reduced through the addition of the reductant at a pH in the range of 2.5-3 with a retention time of approximately 30-40 min (Figure 9.7). 

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