Technical Data Sheet

Sodium Nitrate grades

M 1934 e
May 2002 (Diet)

Supersedes edition of September 1996

Sodium Nitrate Techn. RW

Sodium Nitrate Techn. U
Sodium Nitrate Food Grade (E 251)
Auxiliaries for many sectors of industry e. g. the construction, chemical,
industrial chemical, glass, food, metal, petrochemical, pharmaceutical,
pyrotechnics and explosives industries.

Chemicals

Sodium Nitrate Techn. RW

Sodium Nitrate Techn. U
Sodium Nitrate Food Grade (E 251)
Chemical name

Sodium nitrate

Chemical formula

NaNO 3

Molecular weight

84.995 g/mol

CAS no.

7631-99-4

EINECS no.

231-554-3

Forms supplied and packaging

Sodium Nitrate Technical can be supplied in 25- and 50-kg PE bags.
Sodium Nitrate Techn. RW can also be supplied in FIBCs (so called Big
Bags) holding up to 1 t as well as loose in bulk road tankers. Sodium
Nitrate FOOD GRADE (E 251) is only supplied in 25-kg PE bags

Properties
Sodium Nitrate Techn. RW and Techn. U and Sodium Nitrate Food Grade
(E 251) are fine crystalline, white, slightly hygroscopic, odourless powders
with a bulk density of 1.1 1.3 kg/l. Sodium Nitrate Techn. RW is a freeflowing grade treated with an anti-caking agent. Sodium Nitrate Techn. U
and Sodium Nitrate Food Grade (E 251) are untreated and tend to cake
without undergoing any change in chemical properties. The melting point
is about 306 C.

Temperature in C

The crystallisation temperatures for solutions of various concentrations are

shown in Fig. 1.
110
Solubility of sodium nitrate water
100
90
80
70
Solution

60
50
40
30
20
10

Salt

0
Ice

10
20

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

50

55

60

65

Concentration in g NaNO3/100 g solution

Fig. 1

Crystallisation temperatures of sodium nitrate in solutions of various concentrations

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Density in kg/m3

1400
Densities of sodium nitrate solutions
1350
1300
1250
1200
1150
1100
1050
1000
950

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

50

Concentration in g NaNO3/100 g solution

Residue on sieve in g/100 g

Fig. 2

Density of aqueous sodium nitrate solutions

100
90

Average particle size distribution

of sodium nitrate

80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0

0.5

0.355

0.25

0.18

0.12

0.09

0.06

Particle size in mm
Fig. 3

Particle size distribution of sodium nitrate

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Product specifications
The values and test methods given in the following product specifications
correspond to those that are valid at the time the technical data sheet is
produced. If interested, please ask for the current product specifications
because some changes may have occurred. Only the values in the relevant
specification sheets supplied are then binding.
Sodium Nitrate Techn. RW (product with anti-caking agent based on naphthalenesulphonate)
Characteristic

Unit

Average
value

Specification

Test method

Sodium nitrate

g/100 g

99.6

min. 99.2

Titrimetry

Water

g/100 g

0.1

max. 0.2

Gravimetry

Sodium nitrite

mg/kg

20

max. 50

Titrimetry

Sodium carbonate

mg/kg

150

max. 400

Titrimetry

Sodium chloride

mg/kg

150

max. 250

Titrimetry

Sodium sulphate

mg/kg

200

max. 300

Ion chromatography

Residue

mg/kg

20

max. 50

Gravimetry

Sodium Nitrate Techn. U (product without added anti-caking agent)

Characteristic

Unit

Average
value

Specification

Test method

Sodium nitrate

g/100 g

99.6

min. 99.2

Titrimetry

Water

g/100 g

0.1

max. 0.2

Gravimetry

Sodium nitrite

mg/kg

20

max. 50

Titrimetry

Sodium carbonate

mg/kg

150

max. 400

Titrimetry

Sodium chloride

mg/kg

150

max. 250

Titrimetry

Sodium sulphate

mg/kg

40

max. 50

Ion chromatography

Water-insoluble residue

mg/kg

20

max. 50

Gravimetry

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Sodium Nitrate Food Grade (E 251) (product without added anti-caking agent)
Characteristic

Unit

Average
value

Specification

Test method

Sodium nitrate

g/100 g

99.6

min. 99.2

Titrimetry

Water (loss on drying)

g/100 g

0.1

max. 0.2

Gravimetry

Sodium nitrite

mg/kg

20

max. 30

Titrimetry

Sodium carbonate

mg/kg

150

max. 400

Titrimetry

Sodium chloride

mg/kg

150

max. 250

Titrimetry

Sodium sulphate

mg/kg

40

max. 50

Ion chromatography

Water-insoluble residue

mg/kg

20

max. 50

Gravimetry

Total heavy metals (as Pb)

mg/kg

max. 10

FCC IV method*

Lead

mg/kg

< 0.5

max. 5

Atomic absorption spectrometry

Arsenic

mg/kg

< 0.01

max. 1

Atomic absorption spectrometry

Mercury

mg/kg

< 0.01

max. 0.05

Atomic absorption spectrometry

* FCC IV = Food Chemicals Codex

Approvals
Of the sodium nitrate grades only Sodium Nitrate Food Grade (E 251) is
permitted for use as a food additive subject to special conditions. This
product meets the limit values for a food additive and those of the European Pharmacopoeia. The product is produced, filled and despatched in
accordance with HACCP guidelines.
Chemical characteristics

Iron and steel are practically immune to attack by sodium nitrate and its
solutions. Chromium-nickel steels (e. g. material 1.4541) are resistant.
Aluminium and many of its alloys are practically immune to attack by
sodium nitrate; aqueous solutions, on the other hand, are corrosive.
Other materials that are resistant to sodium nitrate and its solutions are
rubber, glass, porcelain, ceramics, and plastics such as polyethylene, polypropylene and polyvinyl chloride. Exhaustive information on the resistance
of materials is given in the DECHEMA material tables.
If porous or absorbent organic materials such as wood, cotton and wool
are impregnated with solutions of sodium nitrate and then dried, they
burn very readily on ignition. Sodium nitrate reacts with readily oxidisable
substances such as sodium and potassium bisulphite and sodium
hydrosulphite with considerable evolution of heat.

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Use
Food industry

(only Sodium Nitrate Food Grade E 251):

For pickling and improving the colour of meat. For producing pickled
salted herrings and sprats. In the tobacco industry as ash-bleaching
agents.

Technical applications

Sodium Nitrate Techn. U is intended primarily for applications where

problems arise due to foaming caused by the anti-caking agent or to
burning on melting.

In the construction industry

As a concrete additive for achieving special properties.

In the chemical and

pharmaceutical industries

As an oxidising agent. For the manufacture of dyes, pharmaceuticals,

nitrates etc.

In the industrial chemical

industry

For the manufacture of corrosion inhibitors. As a component of heat

transfer salts (e. g. tempering and quenching salts) in many industrial
sectors.

In the glass and enamel industry

For refining the glass/enamel melt in the manufacture of high-quality

glasses and enamel products.

In the metal industry

In electrolytic deburring. As a constituent of melts for descaling steel. In

the pickling of aluminium. For the production of baths for burnishing steel.
As an accelerator in phosphating. For cleaning and decolourising in
enamelling. For refining lead (HARRIS process). As a flux.

In the explosives and

pyrotechnics industries

For the manufacture of explosives, black powders, flares, etc. Sodium

nitrate is also used as a lighting fuel for charcoal.

Safety
Physiological effects

If dusts are swallowed or inhaled, there is a risk of methaemoglobin formation and cyanosis. It is therefore essential to avoid inhaling and swallowing
dusts.
The product is classified as slightly water-polluting. No impairment of the
activated sludge is likely if the product is discharged in accordance with
the regulations in low concentrations into biological sewage treatment
plants adapted for it.

Labelling

The substance is labelled in accordance with EU Directives with the hazard

symbol O (oxidising), R phrase 8 (contact with combustible material may
cause fire) and S phrase 41 (in case of fire and/or explosion do not
breathe fumes). Further details can be found in the corresponding safety
data sheet.

Transport and storage

Sodium nitrate is oxidising. The storeroom must be suitable for this type of
product. The local building regulations must be observed. The hazardous
substance classification for transport can be found in the corresponding
safety data sheet.
Sodium Nitrate Food Grade E 251 must be transported and stored in
accordance with the guidelines for food additives.
Sodium nitrate can be kept for years if stored in a cool dry place. However,
the untreated product becomes hard after 1 2 weeks as a result of caking
without undergoing any change in chemical properties. The free-flowing
properties of Sodium Nitrate Techn. RW depend very greatly on external
influences. If the product is stored at a low and as constant a temperature
as possible and is subject to minimal pressure, e. g. by not stacking pallets
on top of each other, it can retain its free-flowing properties for up to 6
months.

Safety data sheet

Further safety information can be found in the relevant safety data sheets.

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Note
The information submitted in this publication is based on our current
knowledge and experience. In view of the many factors that may affect
processing and application, these data do not relieve processors from the
responsibility of carrying out their own tests and experiments; neither do
they imply any legally binding assurance of certain properties or of suitability for a specific purpose. It is the responsibility of those to whom we
supply our products to ensure that any proprietary rights and existing laws
and legislation are observed.

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Printed in Germany

BASF Aktiengesellschaft
Marketing Inorganic Chemicals Europe
67056 Ludwigshafen, Germany