Sodium Metabisulphite

Sodium Metabisulphite (SMBS), white/creamy in color & with a pungent sulphur odour and dissolvable in water. The chemical formula for it is Na2S2O5, an inorganic compound made up of sodium, sulfur and oxygen, and used in many industries such as Food, Leather, Textile, Mining, Water Treatment, Construction Chemicals and Paper.

·        It is used in Leather Processing.

·        It is used in Textile for Colour Fixative.

·        It is used in photography.

·        It is used as a bleaching agent in the production of coconut cream.

·        It is used for preserving (prevent browning) of fruit & vegetables. It is also known as anti-browning agent.

·        It is used as a solvent in the extraction of starch from tubers, fruit, and cereal crops.

·        It is used in chips to help keep freshly cut chips dry and white, preventing browning or discolouration. 

·        Owing to its antimicrobial properties, sodium metabisulfite can be used as a preservative, reducing agent, antioxidant, disinfectant, color fixative, leavening agent and bleaching agent in alcoholic beverages such as wine, cocktail mixes, wine coolers, etc., pastries including cookies, quiche crust, pizza crust, crackers, mixes with dried fruits and juices, etc.

·        It is also being used as an important additive in the sea food processing majorly shrimps.

·        It is used as a pickling agent to treat high pressure reverse osmosis and nanofiltration water desalination membranes for extended storage periods between uses.

·        It is used also be used as a cost-effective solution for the water treatment and removal of free chlorine.

·        It is used as a reducing agent to break sulfide bonds in shrunken items of clothing made of natural fibres, thus allowing the garment to go back to its original shape after washing

·        It is also used as an excipient in some tablets, such as paracetamol.

·        It is an alternative to sulphur dioxide which is used in sterilization of equipment.

·        In combination with sodium hydrosulfite it is used as a rust-stain remover

·        Concentrated sodium metabisulfite can be used to remove tree stumps. Some brands contain 98% sodium metabisulfite, and cause degradation of lignin in the stumps, facilitating removal.