Sodium Formate

Sodium Formate for Professional Leather Tanning, Advanced Oilfield Drilling Fluids, and Environmentally-Safe Airport De-Icing

Technical Specifications and Physical Properties

Sodium Formate (CAS No. 141-53-7) is the sodium salt of formic acid, appearing as a white, deliquescent crystalline powder or as a clear aqueous solution. It is technically valued for its high solubility in water and its role as a potent buffering agent and reducing agent. With a molecular weight of 68.01 and a melting point of 253°C, it remains stable under standard conditions but is slightly hygroscopic. As a versatile chemical intermediate, it provides a non-corrosive source of formate ions, making it an essential reagent for high-precision industrial processes and pH stabilization in complex chemical environments.

Leather Processing and Agricultural Applications

In the leather processing industry, Sodium Formate is a critical masking agent used in chrome tanning to ensure uniform penetration and consistent finish across hides. It is also a staple in the textile sector for fabric dyeing and printing procedures to maintain optimal acidity levels. Within the agricultural industry, it serves as an EU-approved additive for organic farming and animal nutrition, acting as an electrolyte balancer and preservative that improves dietary quality while remaining safe for machinery.

Industrial Utility and Environmental Engineering

In the oil and gas sector, this compound is used to create high-density, solids-free drilling brines and completion fluids that protect wellbores and optimize extraction. It is also a preferred, eco-friendly de-icing agent for airport runways, rapidly melting ice without the corrosive effects of traditional chloride salts on aircraft and infrastructure. Additionally, it finds use in construction as a cement additive to accelerate setting times and in flue gas desulfurization to neutralize sulfur oxides, supporting environmental compliance in heavy industry.

Key Product Features

• Precision Tanning: Essential masking agent for uniform chrome distribution in leather.
• Oilfield Brines: High-density, solids-free reagent for advanced drilling and fracking.
• Eco-De-Icer: Rapid, non-corrosive ice removal for runways and sensitive infrastructure.
• Industrial Buffer: Superior pH stabilization for textile dyeing and chemical synthesis.
• Flexible Supply: Available in 25kg bags, bulk loads, and custom liquid dilutions.