• APPLICATION
• SPECIFICATION
• MSDS

Food additive
As a food additive, it serves a dual purpose in the food industry since it both alters the color of preserved fish and meats and also prevents growth of Clostridium botulinum, the bacteria which causes botulism. In the European Union it may be used only as a mixture with salt containing at most 0.6% sodium nitrite. It has the E number E250. Potassium nitrite (E249) is used in the same way.

While this chemical will prevent the growth of bacteria, it is also toxic for mammals. (LD50 in rats is 180 mg/kg.)Various dangers of using this as a food additive have been suggested and researched by scientists. A principal concern is the formation of carcinogenic N-nitrosamines by the reaction of sodium nitrite with amino acids in the presence of heat in an acidic environment.

Disease treatment
Recently, sodium nitrite has been found to be an effective means to increase blood flow by dilating blood vessels, acting as a vasodilator. Research is ongoing to investigate its applicability towards treatments for sickle cell anemia, cyanide poisoning, heart attacks, brain aneurysms, and pulmonary hypertension in infants.

OTHER USE
In the chemical and pharmaceutical industry:
For the production of azo dyes, diazo compounds, nitroso and isonitroso (oxime) compounds. As a component for heat transfer salts.

In textile dyeing and printing:
For diazotization. Oxidation of colorings and prints containing leuco-vat dyestuffs. To protect against excessive reduction when coloring and printing using certain vat dyes. To accelerate oxidation of vat dyes which are difficult to reoxidize.

In the metal industry:
Accelerator in phosphatizing. Production of blueing baths for steel. Descaling steel and cast iron. Additive for alkaline pickle-salt of aluminum and aluminum alloys. Neutral cleaner and passivation baths.

In the petroleum industry: In cutting oils. In hydraulic fluids and lubricants.

In the chemical and allied industries:
The production of solid and liquid anticorrosion agents and rust prevention paper. Additive in enamel frits. The production of anticorrosion agents for fuel oil storage tanks. In water circulation systems for cooling.