Product Overview
Sodium Chlorite Flakes 80% – Technical Grade is a solid oxidant supplied in flake form, used across water treatment, textile bleaching and chlorine dioxide generation operations. The 80% concentration delivers the active oxidizing compound in a dry, stable solid that dissolves on demand — eliminating the handling complexity of liquid oxidizers while giving operators direct control over dosing at the point of use.
This Technical Grade product (CAS 7758-19-2) is classified as a Class 5.1 oxidizer under DOT regulations (per 49 CFR 172.101), which means every shipment is packed, labeled and documented by our hazmat-trained warehouse crew in Taylor, TX. An SDS, TDS and lot-specific COA are available with every order.
Why This Concentration
At 80%, these flakes concentrate a large amount of active sodium chlorite into a compact solid form. For facilities that generate chlorine dioxide on-site — by acidifying sodium chlorite in a controlled reactor — this concentration means fewer pounds of raw material per batch and less storage footprint compared to dilute liquid alternatives. The flake form also resists caking better than fine powders during warehousing.
Technical Grade is the standard choice for industrial process work: water treatment systems, pulp and textile bleaching lines and general oxidation reactions where the application itself does not call for analytical-grade documentation. If your process requires tighter purity specifications — for example, analytical technical work or quality-controlled synthesis — considerSodium Chlorite Flakes 80% – ACS Reagent Grade, which is offered at the same 80% concentration with the Technical grade designation.
The trade-off is straightforward: Technical Grade serves production-scale demand at a lower cost basis, while the Technical Grade option exists for workflows that specify it.
Chemical Profile
Sodium chlorite has the molecular formula ClNaO₂ and a molecular weight of 90.44 g/mol (CAS 7758-19-2). It is the sodium salt of chlorous acid — a strong oxidant that releases chlorine dioxide (ClO₂) when activated by an acid. The 80% designation in this product's name refers to the sodium chlorite content of the flakes. As a Class 5.1 oxidizer (per 49 CFR 172.101), it is incompatible with reducing agents, acids and combustible materials and must be segregated accordingly in storage and transport.
Industrial Applications
Sodium chlorite's value across industries traces to a single property: its ability to generate chlorine dioxide under controlled conditions. That makes it a feedstock, not just a standalone oxidant.
-
Water Treatment— Municipal and industrial water systems use sodium chlorite as the precursor for on-site ClO₂ generation. Chlorine dioxide controls taste, odor and biological contaminants in potable water, cooling towers and process water loops without forming the halogenated byproducts associated with elemental chlorine.
-
Chlorine Dioxide Generation— Chemical manufacturers and water treatment facilities dissolve sodium chlorite flakes and react them with an acid (typically hydrochloric or sulfuric) in a dedicated generator to produce ClO₂ gas. The 80% solid form is the preferred feedstock because it ships and stores as a stable solid, then converts to the active gas only at the point of use.
-
Textile Bleaching— Bleaching operations in textile mills use sodium chlorite to whiten fabrics. As an oxidant, it breaks down color bodies in the fiber without the fiber degradation that stronger bleaching agents can cause, making it particularly suited for delicate or synthetic textiles.
-
Industrial Oxidation— Process applications that require a controlled oxidant — pulp bleaching, chemical synthesis intermediates, surface treatment — draw on sodium chlorite where the reaction conditions favor a moderate, sustained release of oxidizing power rather than a single rapid burst.
-
Technical Technical— Research and analytical labs use sodium chlorite in synthesis and wet-chemistry procedures that call for a solid-form oxidant with a known molecular weight and predictable stoichiometry.
Handling & Storage
Sodium chlorite is classified with aDangersignal word (per the product's GHS classification). The full hazard profile is serious and demands respect:
- H271 — May cause fire or explosion; strong oxidizer (per the product's GHS classification)
- H272 — May intensify fire; oxidizer (per the product's GHS classification)
- H301 — Toxic if swallowed (per the product's GHS classification)
- H310 — Fatal in contact with skin (per the product's GHS classification)
- H314 — Causes severe skin burns and eye damage (per the product's GHS classification)
- H318 — Causes serious eye damage (per the product's GHS classification)
- H373 — May cause damage to organs through prolonged or repeated exposure (per the product's GHS classification)
- H400 — Very toxic to aquatic life (per the product's GHS classification)
- H410 — Very toxic to aquatic life with long-lasting effects (per the product's GHS classification)
- H412 — Harmful to aquatic life with long-lasting effects (per the product's GHS classification)
PPE:Chemical-resistant gloves, splash-proof safety goggles or a face shield and a technical coat or chemical-resistant apron are the minimum. Work in a well-ventilated area or under local exhaust ventilation to minimize inhalation exposure. A respirator rated for particulates may be required if dust is generated during handling.
Storage:Keep in a cool, dry, well-ventilated location. Use HDPE or glass containers — sodium chlorite is a strong oxidizer and will react with metals and organic materials. Segregate from acids, reducing agents and combustible materials. Contact with acids releases chlorine dioxide gas, which is toxic; inadvertent mixing must be prevented by physical separation in storage. Avoid direct sunlight and heat sources. Keep containers tightly sealed to exclude moisture.
Incompatibilities:Acids (generates ClO₂ gas), reducing agents, organic materials, finely divided metals and combustible substances. This is a Class 5.1 oxidizer — it will intensify any fire it contacts and can cause ignition of combustible materials.
Hazmat & Shipping
Sodium chlorite is a regulated hazardous material for transport. Every shipment from our Taylor, TX warehouse is classified, packaged, marked and documented by DOT-trained personnel.
-
UN Number:UN1496 (per 49 CFR 172.101)
-
Hazard Class:5.1 — Oxidizer (per 49 CFR 172.101)
-
Packing Group:II (per 49 CFR 172.101)
-
Proper Shipping Name:SODIUM CHLORITE (per 49 CFR 172.101)
Class 5.1 / PG II shipments require oxidizer labels, UN-rated packaging and a properly prepared shipping paper. Our warehouse team handles this classification daily — the documentation and packaging are built into every order.
Documentation
An SDS (Safety Data Sheet) in English ships with every order. A lot-specific Certificate of Analysis (COA) is available on request, documenting the assay and quality data for the specific production lot you receive. A Technical Data Sheet (TDS) is also available, covering product specifications and recommended handling procedures.
Why Buy from Alliance Chemical
Sodium Chlorite Flakes 80% is a Class 5.1 oxidizer that ships under UN1496 / PG II — and that's exactly the kind of shipment our Taylor, TX warehouse handles every day. Our team packs, labels and documents oxidizer shipments to DOT requirements as part of normal operations, not as a special accommodation.
Alliance Chemical has served over 50,000 customers since 1998, operating under USDOT registration #2188383. Shipping and handling guidance for this product is reviewed by Andre Taki, DOT Hazmat Specialist.