Profile on Sodium sulphite

SECTION - I
PRODUCT CHARACTERISTICS
1.1.General details
Sodium sulphite is white crystal or powder or saline
Molecular formula

Na2SO3

Elemental constituents

Na 36.49%
O 38.08%
S 25.44%

Physical appearance

Small crystals or powder

Molecular weight

126.06

Solubility

Soluble in water, sparingly soluble in alcohol

Specific gravity

2.63

Decomposition

Decomposed by dilute mineral acids with the

evolution of sulphur dioxide.

Stability

It is stable in dry air at ambient temperature or

at 100 deg.C, but in moist air it undergoes
rapid oxidation to sodium sulphate.
On heating to 600 deg.C , sodium sulphite
disproportionates to sodium sulphate and
sodium sulphide.
Above 900 deg.C, the decomposition products
are sodium oxide and sulphur dioxide.
At 600 deg.C, it forms sodium sulphide upon
reduction with carbon.

Chemical reaction

Sodium sulphite undergoes addition of sulphur

to form sodium thio sulphate.
It can be reduced in the dry state by carbon to
the sulphide.
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Profile on Sodium sulphite

1.2.

Grades and specifications

The commercial grades of Sodium sulphite available in the United States are the following.
Photographic grade

White crystalline material

Typically 97.0% wt.
Minimum Na2SO3 assay,
0.5 % wt max. insoluble matter,
0.15% wt max. alkalinity as Na2CO3,
20 ppm max. iron,
20 ppm max. heavy metals (as Pb),
0.01 wt % max. thiosulphate (as S2O32- );
Anhydrous technical grade

White granular material,

typically 95.0-97.5 % wt Na2SO3 minimum assay;
Anhydrous food chemicals grade

95% wt minimum (typically 98.6 wt %) Na2SO3 assay,

3 pp m mixture arsenic,
10 ppm maximum heavy metals (as Pb),
30 ppm maximum selenium;
Anhydrous technical (by-product) grade

Pink to red-brown powder,

89 wt % Na2SO3 minimum,
5 wt % sodium sulphate and ca 3 wt % sodium carbonate (This grade is used in sulphite pulping
and oxygen scavenging from boiler and process water)
Aqueous solution

22 wt % minimum Na2SO3,
pH 8.8,
specific gravity (25 deg.C/25 deg.C) 1.27.
The aqueous solution is a convenient form for use under conditions where there are no
facilities for handling and dissolving the solid salt.

Profile on Sodium sulphite

SECTION - II
PRODUCT APPLICATIONS
Sodium sulphite is used in the following sector
*

As a mild bleaching agent for silken and woolen fabrics

As an antichlor after bleaching of yarns, textiles and paper

In the preparation of photographic developers

As a preservative for foodstuffs and in the explosives and artificial silk industries

As a deoxidiser in boiler feed water

In the preparation of organic chemicals

As a mild detergent for tin coated equipment

In gas analysis for the removal of nitric oxide.

As a starting raw material for the preparation of sodium thiosulphate.

To prevent raw sugar solution from colouring upon evaporation

As an antiseptic and antizymotic in the field of medicine

To prevent corrosion and scale formation.

Profile on Sodium sulphite

SECTION III
TRADE ANALYSIS

Quantity in tonnes
12000
10000
8000
6000
4000
2000
0
Import

Apr '11 to Mar '12

Apr '12 to Mar '13

Apr '13 to Mar '14

8682

9,160

10,862

Import quantity during the period April to October 2014 - 6553

Source Government of India Ministry of Commerce and Industry Department of Commerce

Countrywise import Period April 2013 to March 2014 1740

Portwise import Period April 2013 to March 2014

Profile on Sodium sulphite

CALCUTTA 5%

CHENNAI 4%

VISAKHAP 6%
DELHI ICD 1%

NHAVA 84%

2.2.

Indian export details

Annual export

Quantity in tonnes
25000
20000
15000
10000
5000
0
Export

Apr '11 to Mar '12

Apr '12 to Mar '13

Apr '13 to Mar '14

9031

17771

21482

Export quantity during the period April to October 2014 - 16827

Source Government of India Ministry of Commerce and Industry Department of Commerce

Profile on Sodium sulphite

SECTION IV
INDIAN PRODUCERS
5.1.

Indian producers

There are number of manufacturers of Sodium sulphite in the country including many
in the unorganised sector.

Indian Manufacturers of Sodium Sulphite include the following

*

Eastern Naphtha-Chem Ltd.,

Regd. Office : SNEH Milan,
Telephone Exchange Road,
Dhanbad-826 001
135, Biplabi Rash Behari Basu Road
Calcutta-700 001

Atul Limited
Corporate Office :
Agrochemicals Division
P.O. Atul 396 020, Dist. Valsad
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Profile on Sodium sulphite

Registered Office:
Ashoka Chambers
Rasala Marg, Ahmedabad-380 006
Factory : 297, GIDC Industrial Estate, Ankleshwar-393 002
*

Appar Chemicals
507, Sarvodaya Commercial Centre,
Near G.P.O., Ahmedabad- 380 001.

Beta Naphthol Ltd.

World Trade Centre Arcade, Unit No.6, Ground Floor,
Cuffe Parade, Mumbai-400 005.
Factory : 1. Vapi, Gujarat.
2. Madhya Pradesh.

Crystal Quinone Pvt. Ltd.,

Plot No.143,GIDC Phase II,
Vatva, Ahmedabad-382 445.

Dinesh Chemicals
Odhav Road,
Ahmedabad - 382 415.

Link Pharma Chem Ltd.,

B2, Floor, Ramakrishna Road Chamber
Productivity Road, Alkapure,
Baroda-390 001
Factory Add: Plot No. 7112/7213
GIDC Indl Estate, Dist. Bharuch
Ankleshwar-393 002

Paushak Limited
(A member of Alembic Chemical Works Co.Ltd.)
Regd. Office : Alembic Road, Vadodara-390 003.

Paras Industries
Mahavir Estate, B/H. Shah Chambers
Amraiwadi, Ahmedabad-380 026

Rama Industrial Chemical

295, II Phase, GIDC, Vapi-396 195
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Profile on Sodium sulphite

*

Rahul Inter Dyes Pvt. Ltd.

A-509, Fair Deal House,Swastik Char Rasta,
Navrangpura, Ahmedabad-380 009.

Sunitee Chemicals Ltd.,

Dist. Mehsana,
Gujarat.

Uday Chemicals
2nd Floor, Century Bazar,
Ambawadi, Ahmedabad-380 006
Works :

Plot No.110/2/C, Opp. Ambica Nagar,

GIDC, Odhav, Ahmedabad-382 415.

Gwalior Chemical Industries Ltd.,

Birlagram-456 331,Nagda,
Madhya Pradesh

Anshul Chemicals Limited

Excel Estate, S.V. Road,
Goregoan(W), Mumbai 400 062
Factory Add: Plot No. 65/A, MIDC,
Dhatav, Roha, Raigad-402 116

Eureka Chemicals
8, Riddhi House, 2nd Floor,
88, Yusuf Meherali Road,
Masjid, Bombay-400 009

Heranba Industries Ltd.,

101/102, Kanchanganga, Factory Lane,
Near M.K.High School,
Borivli (W), Mumbai-400 092.

Multi Organics Ltd.

Associate : Abhideep Chemicals Pvt Limited
503, Keshava, Bhandra-Kurla Complex,
Bandra(E), Mumbai-400 051
Factory: A-1, M.I.D.C., Chandrapur-442401
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Profile on Sodium sulphite

*

Mehta Sulfites (India) P. Ltd.

215/216, Swastik Chambers,
CST Road, Chembur, Mumbai-400 071.
Factory
: MIDC, Tarapur, Dist. Thane, Maharashtra.

Mercers Chemical Industries

MAG-Pharma Industries
231, Samuel Street, Masjid Bunder (W),
Mumbai-400 003.

Kota Chemicals,
10-A, Industrial Estate,
Kota-324 007,
Rajasthan

Ganga Chemicals,
113(124), Nainiappa Naicken Street,
Chennai-600 003.
Factory : G.S.T. Road, Vandalur
Chennai-600 048

Magna Intermediates/Magna Chemical Manufacturers (P) Ltd.,

A-4/3, SIPCOT Industrial Complex,
Pachiankuppam,
Village Cuddalore-607 005

Profile on Sodium sulphite

SECTION V
INDIAN DEMAND ANALYSIS

5.2.

Indian demand level

5.3.

Sample of consumers

Around 40000 tonnes per annum

High Explosives Factories, Pune

Tamil Nadu Newsprint and Papers Ltd.,
The Fertiliser Corpn. Of India
Hindustan Zinc Ltd.,Udaipur
Rashtriya Chemicals & Fertilisers
ONGC, Assam

Region
Western Europe
Central Europe
Former USSR
Africa
North America
Latin America
Middle East
South & East Asia
Oceania

Production
7301
3289
5268
7083
21563
2654
4262
12487
317

Consumption
7089
1748
4654
6227
15910
4293
1471
15309
688

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Profile on Sodium sulphite

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