Contact Us
Chengguan District, Lanzhou, Gansu, China
© 2025 Jeifer Pharmaceutical, All Right
Reserved.
Sodium nitrate walks a long road in human history, showing up in everything from ancient Egyptian tombs to modern medicine cabinets. Centuries ago, natural saltpeter fields in Chile and Peru helped shape industries and economies, giving this modest white powder a key role in explosives, preservation, and, eventually, sophisticated life sciences. Early uses leaned heavily on saltpeter’s ability to keep food edible in tough times, but the shift began with the rise of chemistry as a discipline. By the time the 19th century rolled around, scientists cracked the synthetic route, removing some pressure from South America's mineral deposits. This change not only drove global markets but also refined the product to higher pharmaceutical standards, laying the groundwork for the tight regulations and lab-based advances seen today.
Sodium nitrate, known to chemists as NaNO3, carries several hats in the pharmaceutical world, meeting British, European, and United States Pharmacopeia standards. What shows up in a drug factory today differs a lot from the raw stuff carted out of Chile, both in purity and purpose. As a pharma-grade compound, it gets a careful review for contaminants, ensuring it lands below strict thresholds for heavy metals and organic traces. Demand for such assurance isn’t going away, so the process gets checked, rechecked, and regulated at every stage. The certified product moves straight into precise roles like dialysis solutions or lab reagents, where certainty matters far more than scale or price.
The compound shows up as a colorless, crystalline salt with a melting point above 300°C, making it tough enough for process conditions without breaking down. It mixes smoothly in water, and has a slight, salty-sweet taste—though nobody recommends testing that directly. Commercial samples look dry and free-flowing, since moisture spells trouble for accurate weighing and dosing. One point worth noting: sodium nitrate’s strong oxidizing nature sets it apart from table salt, giving it power in redox reactions but also creating a set of handling challenges unique to oxidizers. This key trait underlies its value, as well as the safety rules that follow it from plant to hospital.
Any pharma-grade product needs labeling to match its high standards. Every container should list batch numbers, expiry dates, storage conditions, and the certifying pharmacopeia—BP, EP, or USP. Specs stretch much further than just name and date; they draw tight boundaries around purity, pH, solubility, water content, chloride traces, sulfur compounds, and heavy metals. Compliance testing often uses ion chromatography and titrimetry for quantitation, with modern labs turning to spectrophotometers for even sharper accuracy. If the tag says USP or EP, end users look for solid documentation, complete with certificates of analysis and proof of storage within controlled temperature ranges. No skip in the chain—otherwise, the batch heads for rejection or reprocessing, not the hospital shelf.
Manufacturers today build sodium nitrate either by mining Chilean caliche ore or, more commonly, through a laboratory route that mixes sodium carbonate or hydroxide with nitric acid. The latter method gives tighter reins on contaminants, an edge that appeals to pharmaceutical buyers. In practice, the method calls for running these starting chemicals together in a sealed reactor, controlling temperature and pressure to push the yield close to the theoretical maximum. After filtration, crystallization, and drying, the solid gets screened for particle size and packed in moisture-tight containers. The real trick comes in scaling the process without letting up on purity—largely a question of engineering, but also of relentless testing and record-keeping.
In labs and factories, sodium nitrate doesn't sit still. As a powerful oxidizer, it lends itself to a range of transformations. Mixing with reducing agents releases nitrogen oxide gases, while careful heating gives up oxygen to drive reactions from explosives manufacturing to advanced synthesis of active pharmaceutical ingredients. Some researchers work on tweaking the nitrate group or swapping out the sodium ion for other cations, looking for ways to tune solubility profiles or reaction rates. Chemists have used nitrate’s reactivity to craft specialized intermediates for dyes, antibiotics, and even radiopharmaceuticals. At every step, one eye stays on stability, because stray reactions lead to yield loss—or, worse, factory hazards.
In different corners of the world, sodium nitrate might show up under names like Chile saltpeter, soda niter, or nitratine. For regulatory and procurement purposes, identifiers like E251, CAS Number 7631-99-4, and even legacy trade names appear on documents. Pharmacists look for these codes as much as the plain English to avoid confusion, since any mix-up at the point of entry can cause expensive recalls or regulatory headaches. Digital records now link each synonym to a single quality-assurance profile, reducing the odds of any slip up from supplier to patient bedside.
Handling any nitrate in bulk means strict protocols. Open flames or sparks have no place near a sodium nitrate barrel—its oxidizing strength makes accidental mixing with flammable materials a recipe for disaster. Standard operation requires gloves, goggles, dust masks, and well-marked emergency showers. Pharmaceuticals add layers of control, segmenting alkali metal nitrates away from acids and organics. Workers train not just for compliance, but for habit, because even minor lapses get costly when fine powders could drift into machinery or onto clothing. Waste disposal and spill response follow government rules, with environmental officers tracking every kilogram sent for neutralization or landfill.
Modern medicine keeps finding new ways to use sodium nitrate, almost all requiring the purest forms available. Dialysis solutions, blood volume expanders, and some cardiovascular treatments depend on it to tune chemical balance in fluids. Outside the clinical setting, its role expands to analytical labs, where it stabilizes media or acts as a standard for nitrogen compound quantitation. Its reach stretches into food science and water treatment as well, always trailing documentation and audits wherever it travels. Each use reminds producers that low-level contamination or simple label errors could have direct impacts on public health—a level of trust hard-won and easily lost.
Academic chemists and commercial labs continue to probe sodium nitrate’s medical effects, especially as new evidence emerges around nitric oxide biology and cardiovascular health. Some teams explore its connection to cell signaling, vascular relaxation, and metabolic disorders, feeding research that could open fresh indications or delivery methods. To stay ahead, companies invest in analytical improvements, tightening specs and inventing new test kits to pick out trace byproducts. In my own discussions with lab peers, there’s always buzz about regulatory updates, as authorities push for lower impurity thresholds and clearer traceability. Staying updated grants companies early mover status in both regulatory compliance and next-gen product launches.
Toxicologists worry about every compound entering the body, and sodium nitrate proves no exception. Most flagged concerns track to nitrate’s conversion to nitrite and, under some conditions, onward to N-nitroso compounds—structures linked to potential cancer risk. Decades of toxicology studies set safe daily intake levels, with regulators calibrating pharmaceutical dosages to leave a wide buffer. Chronic exposure studies in lab animals underpin most modern guidelines, revealing that problems arise only with sustained, high-level intake. Still, safety agencies search for edge cases and marginal populations, requiring pharmaceutical companies to supply ongoing data even for long-established ingredients like sodium nitrate.
Reading the industry tea leaves, sodium nitrate’s story isn’t winding down. Growth in global healthcare, new dialysis techniques, and precision medicine all point to rising demand for top-tier oxides and salts. At the same time, emerging environmental regulations and patient safety pushes mean the days of cheap, dirty bulk chemicals fade into memory. Producers who double down on traceability, ultra-low impurity, and seamless regulatory reporting will find wider markets. Long-term, deeper understanding of nitrate metabolism and nitric oxide’s role in health looks set to spark new drugs or therapies, tying a simple nitrate’s journey from ancient tombs to 21st-century innovation.
Most people won’t recognize sodium nitrate unless they’ve spent time with chemistry sets or seen it listed on the back of food packaging. Inside pharmaceutical labs, it gets treated with a lot more respect. The pharma grade means the compound meets strict standards set by British, European, and United States Pharmacopeias. Those rulebooks set hurdles for purity and consistency, and not just for show. Quality makes a real difference when patients depend on medications for their lives.
Hospitals and patients rely on precise drug formulations. Pharma manufacturers look at sodium nitrate as more than a simple raw material. It acts as an oxidizing agent in some chemical reactions. That might sound like a technical footnote, but without it, manufacturing certain drugs could stall or become unreliable. In my experience on the floor of a generic manufacturing plant, inconsistencies in active ingredients can slow down or even halt production. Pharma grade sodium nitrate ensures every batch delivers the expected result, each time.
Another place sodium nitrate comes up is in topical medications. Creams and ointments sometimes need preservatives that protect against bacterial growth, and sodium nitrate helps maintain the stability of these products. When compounding chemists create ointments for wound care, especially in settings where sterility keeps infections at bay, they can count on sodium nitrate that’s been tested for pharmaceutical use.
It’s easy to get overwhelmed by talk of purity standards. In practice, these standards stand between patients and contaminants that could do harm. One thing every pharmacist or processor learns early on: contaminants may slip past routine checks unless the supply chain starts with trustworthy materials. Many of the cheap, industrial versions of sodium nitrate would never pass pharma-grade scrutiny. The BP EP USP certifications mean the product arrives without heavy metals, toxic residues, or other unwelcome guests. Patients end up with treatments where every ingredient has a traceable, transparent origin.
Security of supply always sits on everyone’s minds. Factories must verify that each batch can be traced, tested, and confirmed fit for use. In cases where global supply chains get shaken up—like during health crises—the pharma grade stockpile allows essential drug manufacturing to carry on. Shortcuts using lower-grade materials never deliver the same peace of mind.
Regulatory agencies require documentation at every stage, and each supplier faces audits. While some see this as red tape, most in the know regard it as insurance against tragedy. Companies that invest in robust quality control and regular supplier audits build trust with healthcare systems. As the pharmaceutical field leans toward even stricter regulations, there’s more reason than ever to expect the industry will demand transparency, test results, and proof of ethical sourcing for sodium nitrate and every other ingredient.
The future depends on more than science. Real progress comes from people demanding quality, and companies stepping up. Better training for staff, more advanced lab techniques, and open lines between manufacturers and regulators make the difference. If you’re working anywhere from the lab bench to the pharmacy counter, recognizing the silent value of pharma grade sodium nitrate can help you make smarter, safer choices for patients today and tomorrow.
Pharmaceutical-grade sodium nitrate isn’t just a bag of salt, and you notice the difference the moment strict testing comes into play. Chemists in the industry have to chase impurity levels so low that any trace of lead, arsenic, or even moisture can ruin a batch—or risk patient health. The three main standards—BP (British Pharmacopoeia), EP (European Pharmacopoeia), and USP (United States Pharmacopeia)—lay down the law about what belongs in the package and which impurities cross the red line.
There’s a simple reason hospitals and drug manufacturers don’t trust basic industrial sodium nitrate: the devil’s in the decimals. In pharma grade, purity usually clocks in at over 99%. The BP, EP, and USP all set minimum purity thresholds, often at 99.0% or higher by dry basis, and cap the amount of water content and unwanted chemical stowaways.
Take water—moisture levels top out around 0.5% for USP, often getting checked with loss on drying tests. Chloride and sulfate could sneak in from the manufacturing process, so strict limits get placed, like a max of 0.02% for chloride or 0.1% for sulfate. You won’t find much in the way of potassium, iron, or calcium either; these can disrupt the sensitive chemical reactions expected in pharmaceuticals, so they stay on the blacklist.
These standards don’t leave room for “close enough,” and it’s personal for anyone who’s read a recall notice. Toxic metals like lead or arsenic each need to stay under 2 parts per million, often less, because once they slip into a medicinal ingredient, there’s no way to take them back. If heavy metals show up above the limit, regulators and patients alike have lost trust.
Nitrate and nitrite levels themselves get constant attention; nitrate is the core ingredient, so assay tests need to hit the mark within a fraction of a percent, proving that you’re not buying a sack of unknowns. Nitrite, on the other hand, remains a potential contaminant, so its presence must not exceed 0.1% by BP and even stricter by EP and USP.
People expect their medicines to perform every single time. That expectation trickles down to every beaker and batch of raw material. One time, I watched a batch of sodium nitrate get rejected on a production line simply because the water content ticked just above spec. The entire team started trailing the error, and it became clear: the smallest deviation can set off a chain reaction. Regulatory authorities make unscheduled inspections, ensuring companies follow Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP), because lives literally hang in the balance.
Pharma suppliers keep full documentation and transparency on their processes, lab results, and sources. Every shipment includes a certificate of analysis listing measured values for every critical impurity. If sodium nitrate’s going into intravenous solutions or rare, sensitive treatments, nobody’s rolling the dice.
If something seems off in the product, manufacturers can’t just wait for a recall—they need tighter quality control measures and better supplier audits. Techniques like ion chromatography or atomic absorption spectrometry now form routine checkpoints across the world’s major labs. Teams keep their equipment calibrated, and if a shipment doesn’t meet every line of the pharmacopeia, it finds a different use—or none at all.
The safety of finished medicines always starts with the raw materials. For sodium nitrate pharma grade, real-world trust comes from sticking to hard numbers, constant vigilance, and a willingness to scrap a whole shipment to protect the end user. That’s not optional. Care happens at every level—or not at all.
Pharma grade isn’t just a fancy label. People trust medicines to preserve health and save lives, so every compound in a drug recipe matters. That’s why sodium nitrate made for pharmaceutical applications goes through a much stricter journey than industrial grades. Let’s talk, with both feet on the ground, about what sets real pharma-grade sodium nitrate apart—and why it might not be as straightforward as a purity percentage on a certificate.
BP, EP, and USP monographs set out precise chemical specifications. These standards were created because, years ago, people suffered from drugs containing impure or poorly sourced chemicals. It's not enough for sodium nitrate to claim 99% purity—potentially harmful trace impurities like heavy metals or residual solvents can cause harm far out of proportion to their tiny quantities.
I’ve worked in a lab, checking incoming raw materials for visible particles, testing for contaminants, and matching every result to global pharmacopoeial limits. Reputable suppliers give more than a certificate—they stand behind their claims with validated labs, clear traceability, and process documentation. Without that, trust slips away, and patient risks rise.
Medical regulators want real proof of pharma-grade sourcing. In every supply chain meeting I’ve attended, auditors want to see complete documentation. Certificates of Analysis are checked line by line. People check batch records for anomalies. They don’t just look for “BP/EP/USP” on a drum. They need consistency, and proof the sodium nitrate spent its lifetime in clean, controlled environments.
Recognized pharmaceutical-grade sodium nitrate comes from sources that comply with Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP). Cleanrooms, stringent control over raw materials, careful handling and transport—these parts of the process show care and respect for patient safety, not just adherence to laws.
Industrial sodium nitrate can sometimes look identical to pharma grade. But dig deeper—industrial grades aren’t always tested as thoroughly for microbial load, or for tricky impurities like volatile organics or trace allergens. In my own experience, one batch that looked perfect on the outside failed quality controls and could have put a production run at risk.
It doesn't take much contamination—such as a bit of lead, cadmium, or residual solvent—to fail the BP, EP, or USP specifications. Suppliers who are open and transparent send detailed impurity profiles and make those audit trails available. Reliable ones even send samples for third-party verification.
Demand greater transparency from suppliers—ask for complete et al purity data, impurity profiles, and details about facility certification. Encourage your teams to source only from vendors with GMP or even ISO certifications. Foster a culture where refusing sub-par batches is expected, not considered fussy. Good habits in sourcing defend both patient safety and your company’s reputation.
Working with pharma-grade sodium nitrate invites particular responsibility. My years in pharmaceuticals taught me that regulators, clinicians, and especially patients deserve rigorous care from everyone in the supply chain. There are no shortcuts here—a legitimate pharma-grade compound is proven safe, with nothing more and nothing less than what the medicine demands.
Pharmaceutical manufacturers work with sodium nitrate BP EP USP grade because they need top-quality, high-purity material for medication and diagnostics. The way this chemical is packaged speaks volumes about the safety and reliability of the end product. In my years dealing with supply chains for raw pharmaceutical ingredients, I’ve noticed issues always pop up on the dock—not in the lab, not in the textbook, but right where storage and transport converge. Too many stories end with wasted product or, even worse, compromised medicines.
Sodium nitrate reacts to moisture and light more than people expect. Producers usually use thick polyethylene or laminated bags, sealed tight, then slip those into either fiber drums or rigid HDPE containers. This two-layer approach shields the chemical from accidental water vapor, oxygen, or leaks. I once saw a shipment stored in single-layer bags at a warehouse in the summer heat—half of that batch had to be tossed because clumping turned the fine powder into hard chunks.
Pharma suppliers know that keeping things clean isn’t just a cliché. Pharmacopoeia standards call for materials meeting BP (British Pharmacopoeia), EP (European Pharmacopoeia), or USP (United States Pharmacopeia) specs, which means very low levels of heavy metals and organics. If the packaging sweats or leaks, contaminants get inside fast. That’s why most producers invest in food-grade liners and tamper-evident seals. These sound small, but any outside dust or even the glue from poor-quality tape can bring a whole batch below spec.
Labeling hits another level too—clear marking with batch numbers, expiry, and handling instructions. For someone working in procurement or auditing, this information instantly answers questions about traceability and accountability. It’s not just about keeping regulators happy; it’s about building trust up and down the supply chain.
There’s often an urge to see sodium nitrate as just another white powder, stashed until needed. In practice, the rules are strict for a reason. Warehouses keep the drums and bags off the floor. Palletizing the stock means less risk of accidental tears and less chance that floor spills or leaks reach the raw material. Temperature controls help ward off condensation, which in my experience accounts for more caking problems than any other error. Sunlight isn’t just about heat; UV rays can spur breakdown in some packaging films, leading to yellowed powder that nobody wants to explain to a quality assurance manager.
Segregation matters: sodium nitrate doesn’t like sharing shelf space with organics, acids, or reducers. A spark or a chemical spill nearby puts the entire facility at risk. Years ago, I saw the aftermath of sodium nitrate stored next to containers of methanol. A small leak, a careless stack, and suddenly you have a dangerous situation that could have been avoided by simple separation and basic staff training.
Active processes matter as much as hardware. Periodic inspections, keeping packaging tightly closed, logging temperatures, and rotating stock do more for product safety than expensive alarms and fancy barcoding. Training the team to spot early signs of damage—swollen bags, loose seals, or off-spec material—stops problems before they spread. That sense of ownership at the warehouse level is something that software can’t fully automate.
It’s easy for people outside the industry to shrug off packaging and storage as afterthoughts. But as someone who has seen product recalls, QA headaches, and wasted shipments, I know that the little things make the difference. Every time sodium nitrate gets handled right—from packaging all the way to shelf—it means safer medicines, smoother audits, and less stress for everyone in the business.
Walk into any lab or production room dealing with chemicals and you spot the thick binders or digital folders labeled MSDS—Material Safety Data Sheets. They’re not red tape; they’re lifelines. Sodium nitrate, found in everything from medications to food production, sits in those sheets. It’s not enough to know its name or that it meets BP, EP, or USP pharma standards. A common belief holds that pharma-grade means extra safe, yet sodium nitrate presents unique risks from storage to disposal.
Sodium nitrate, a white crystalline powder, blends into compounds, preservatives, and even fertilizer. Exposure sneaks up, whether dust is floating in the air or it has settled on a bench. Accidentally getting this powder on your hands can irritate skin. Breathing it in is much worse—it can trigger throat and lung irritation, headaches, and in some cases, more serious effects if handled recklessly. Reports on chemical incidents show that most mishaps happen where safety sheets get ignored or misunderstood.
The safety data sheet for this chemical gives direct steps for what to do if it spills, catches fire, or someone comes into contact with it. For instance, sodium nitrate, in the presence of organic material or heat, acts as a strong oxidizer. Fires involving sodium nitrate burn hotter and faster, so putting such a fire out with water makes sense, but never with foam or dry chemicals. Storage details jump out on the MSDS; sodium nitrate needs its own sealed, dry space, away from any flammable substances. I learned early on from seasoned technicians: storing it next to solvents is just asking for trouble.
No MSDS, no safe handling—that’s how serious the rules run in responsible labs and factories. Goggles, gloves, and full skin protection keep accidents to a minimum. Inhalation risks push teams to use fume hoods and proper ventilation, especially during weighing or mixing. Spills happen, even in the best-run facilities. The right MSDS explains not just how to clean up sodium nitrate safely with a damp mop or vacuum fitted with a HEPA filter, but also where the contaminated materials go for disposal—usually as hazardous waste, never down the drain.
Too often, pages of MSDS end up unread, filed away to meet inspection requirements. Real safety comes from experience and attention. Factories that run regular training and drills cut down on injuries and chemical exposures. No one should handle sodium nitrate without reading and understanding its MSDS. I’ve seen situations where a single skip in training led to rushed cleanup with bare hands—sometimes embarrassment hurts less than real burns.
Sodium nitrate touches many lives before it ends up in medicine or processed food. Trust grows when every worker down the chain can easily get and understand the MSDS. Accessibility matters, digitally or on paper. Internal audits often uncover gaps between policy and practice—companies that fill these gaps strengthen both safety and public confidence.
As regulations and accountability grow, organizations that go beyond compliance—publishing full MSDS with clear language, keeping emergency response front and center—set the standard for everyone else. Looking at the facts, the MSDS isn’t just a formality. It’s the difference between informed, safe practice and careless risk. In a field where mistakes can injure or kill, that’s as real as it gets.
| Names | |
| Preferred IUPAC name | sodium nitrate |
| Other names |
Chile Saltpeter Sodium Saltpeter Nitrate of Soda Soda Niter Sodium Nitrate (Pharmaceutical Grade) |
| Pronunciation | /ˈsəʊdiəm ˈnaɪ.treɪt biː piː iː piː juː ɛs piː ˈfɑː.mə ɡreɪd/ |
| Identifiers | |
| CAS Number | 7631-99-4 |
| Beilstein Reference | BCFCDR |
| ChEBI | CHEBI:76235 |
| ChEMBL | CHEMBL1351 |
| ChemSpider | 10213 |
| DrugBank | DB09467 |
| ECHA InfoCard | ECHA InfoCard: 026-041-00-8 |
| EC Number | 231-554-3 |
| Gmelin Reference | 48947 |
| KEGG | C00244 |
| MeSH | D015751 |
| PubChem CID | 24268 |
| RTECS number | WV0800000 |
| UNII | 6M3K49BMOU |
| UN number | UN1498 |
| Properties | |
| Chemical formula | NaNO3 |
| Molar mass | 85.00 g/mol |
| Appearance | White, crystalline powder |
| Odor | Odorless |
| Density | 2.26 g/cm³ |
| Solubility in water | Very soluble in water |
| log P | -3.0 |
| Vapor pressure | 0.0133 kPa (25°C) |
| Basicity (pKb) | pKb ≈ 7 |
| Magnetic susceptibility (χ) | '−17.0 × 10⁻⁶ cm³/mol' |
| Refractive index (nD) | 1.334 |
| Dipole moment | 0 D |
| Thermochemistry | |
| Std molar entropy (S⦵298) | 116.5 J·mol⁻¹·K⁻¹ |
| Std enthalpy of formation (ΔfH⦵298) | −467.85 kJ·mol⁻¹ |
| Std enthalpy of combustion (ΔcH⦵298) | -466.6 kJ/mol |
| Pharmacology | |
| ATC code | B05XA |
| Hazards | |
| GHS labelling | GHS02, GHS07, GHS09 |
| Pictograms | GHS07,GHS09 |
| Signal word | Warning |
| Hazard statements | H272, H319 |
| Precautionary statements | P264, P270, P273, P280, P301+P312, P305+P351+P338, P330, P337+P313, P370+P378, P403+P233, P501 |
| NFPA 704 (fire diamond) | Health: 2, Flammability: 0, Instability: 3, Special: OX |
| Flash point | No flash point |
| Autoignition temperature | > 600 °C |
| Lethal dose or concentration | LD50 (oral, rat): 3750 mg/kg |
| LD50 (median dose) | LD50 (median dose): 1267 mg/kg (oral, rat) |
| NIOSH | Not Listed |
| PEL (Permissible) | PEL (Permissible Exposure Limit) for Sodium Nitrate BP EP USP Pharma Grade: "No specific OSHA PEL has been established for sodium nitrate. |
| REL (Recommended) | 30-40 mg/kg bw |
| IDLH (Immediate danger) | Immediate danger IDLH: 2500 mg/m³ |
| Related compounds | |
| Related compounds |
Potassium Nitrate Sodium Nitrite Calcium Nitrate Ammonium Nitrate Magnesium Nitrate |
Chengguan District, Lanzhou, Gansu, China
