Sodium Bisulfite Solution, Sodium Metabisulfite, and Sodium Sulfite

Sodium Bisulfite Solution

Sodium bisulfite solution is very closely related to sodium metabisulfite, and as such it is used in similar applications. Solvay Chemicals produces both Food and Technical grades of sodium bisulfite solution.

Sodium Metabisulfite

Solvay Chemicals’ plant in Green River, Wyoming began production in April 1997, with a production capacity of 12,000 tons per year. Sodium metabisulfite is produced by reacting sodium carbonate with sulfur dioxide, beginning with the burning of sulfur to produce sulfur dioxide gas, SO₂. Excess SO₂ gas is reacted with sodium carbonate liquor in the absorber-contactor, and the resulting metabisulfite solution is sent to a crystallizer.

Sodium metabisulfite crystals are formed in the crystallizer, and then dried with heated air. The resulting sodium metabisulfite product is pneumatically transported to one of four storage silos for bagging. The product is bagged in 25-kilogram, 50-pound, 100-pound, and 2000-pound super sacks in a state-of-the-art bagging facility.

Solvay Chemicals produces three grades of sodium metabisulfite: Technical, Food and Photographic. Its product is certified kosher.

Sodium Sulfite

Solvay Chemicals produces sodium sulfite by reacting sodium carbonate solution with sulfur dioxide. The Green River, Wyoming plant is one of just a few sodium sulfite facilities operating in the U.S. The plant began production in early 1991 and has a capacity of 55,000 tons per year.

Production of sodium sulfite begins with the burning of sulfur to form sulfur dioxide, or SO₂ gas. Generated SO₂ gas is introduced to sodium carbonate liquor in the absorber. By controlling the pH and the operating mode of the crystallizer, sodium sulfite is produced. The resulting product is transported to one of three 500-ton storage silos for hopper car and truck load-out or bagging. A dedicated fleet of hopper cars is maintained to service customer accounts.

Sodium sulfite is primarily used as a pulping agent and dechlorination agent by the paper industry. Other applications include its use to remove oxygen in boiler water and as an antioxidant in film processing. Sodium sulfite also serves to remove chlorine after bleaching of wood pulp.

Click here to access our sodium sulfites literature.