Product Name: Sodium Lactate
Chemical Formula: C3H5NaO3
Synonyms: Sodium 2-hydroxypropanoate, Lactic acid sodium salt
CAS Number: 72-17-3
Intended Use: Used in food preservation, cosmetics, and pharmaceutical formulas, often added for its buffering or humectant properties in various products.
Manufacturer: Information supplied by local or national distributor.
Emergency Contact: Reach out to the local Poison Control Center or emergency responders in the event of major exposure or accident.
Hazard Classification: Not classified as hazardous according to OSHA; generally regarded as safe in typical commercial quantities and conditions.
Signal Word: Not applicable
Hazard Statements: May cause mild eye or skin irritation in concentrated or large amounts; swallowing large amounts might upset the stomach.
Precautionary Statements: Avoid unnecessary contact with eyes or skin; keep away from children; handle containers with care to avoid spills.
Potential Health Effects: Eyes may water or redden from splashes; hands could get mildly irritated after handling uncured powder or concentrated solution; effects subside with washing.
Component: Sodium Lactate — concentration typically ranges from 60% solution to pure form.
Impurities: Trace levels of water, unreacted lactic acid, sodium hydroxide.
Other Additives: Commercial preparations may include stabilizers or pH adjusters, but most bulk supplies remain unblended.
Eye Contact: Immediately flush with plenty of water, keeping eyelids lifted; rinse for fifteen minutes and seek care if stinging persists.
Skin Contact: Wash thoroughly with soap and water; remove contaminated clothing.
Inhalation: Move to fresh air if mist or dust causes a tickle; no major respiratory hazard under standard use.
Ingestion: Rinse mouth thoroughly, offer water to dilute; medical advice recommended if large amount is swallowed or symptoms occur.
Long-Term Exposure: No evidence of severe health effects from long-term contact reported in literature, given its food-grade profile.
Flammability: Not flammable; substance resists burning in normal scenarios.
Suitable Extinguishing Media: Use carbon dioxide, dry chemical powder, foam, or water spray as needed in a fire setting.
Special Hazards: On intense heating or combustion, might produce carbon monoxide and other simple organic vapors.
Protective Equipment: Standard firefighter turnout gear and self-contained breathing apparatus are always a safe bet, especially in confined or smoky conditions.
Explosive Limits: Not relevant for sodium lactate as a solid or concentrated solution.
Personal Precautions: Use gloves and safety glasses to avoid irritation; do not touch spilled material with bare hands in large quantities.
Environmental Precautions: Keep material out of sewers or waterways; sodium content can disrupt aquatic ecosystems if discharged in excess.
Cleanup Methods: Small spills — soak up with paper or absorbent, wash site with water; large spills — shovel into containers for reuse or disposal, then rinse thoroughly.
Disposal: Collect in a way that avoids dust or slurry running into main drains; follow local disposal requirements to prevent contamination.
Safe Handling Advice: Wear chemical-resistant gloves if contact is regular or in case of splashes; protective eye gear helps avoid mishaps; make sure containers are closed tightly after use to minimize moisture uptake from air.
Storage Conditions: Store away from direct sunlight and sources of heat; dry, cool locations with good ventilation work best; keep containers off ground to limit contamination; use only original packaging or compatible, labeled drums.
Incompatibilities: Avoid mixing with strong acids or oxidizers, as this can trigger breakdown or release of fumes.
Shelf-Life: Remains stable for months in sealed containers when kept dry and cool.
Occupational Exposure Limits: None established by NIOSH or OSHA for sodium lactate.
Engineering Controls: Use local exhaust or general ventilation to avoid dust buildup in processing settings; splash guards or closed systems help in large-scale production sites.
Personal Protective Equipment: Basic nitrile or latex gloves; safety goggles for splash prevention; dust mask or respirator not normally required unless powder is handled in bulk.
Hygiene Measures: Never eat, drink, or smoke near work areas to avoid accidental digestion; wash hands thoroughly before leaving the workspace; keep contaminated clothing apart from regular laundry.
Physical State: Clear, nearly colorless liquid in solutions; white, crystalline powder as purified solid.
Odor: Faint, slightly sweet; odorless at low concentrations.
pH: Mildly alkaline in solution, typically 6.5-9.0 depending on concentration.
Melting Point: About 17°C for 60% aqueous solution; solid sodium lactate has a melting point near 160°C.
Boiling Point: Does not boil without decomposition.
Solubility: Readily dissolves in water; sparingly soluble in ethanol; insoluble in non-polar solvents.
Vapor Pressure: Low under ambient conditions.
Density: 1.3 g/cm³ (60% solution).
Other Properties: Hygroscopic — absorbs moisture from the air if exposed.
Chemical Stability: Remains stable in standard storage and use; does not break down at room temperature.
Possibility of Hazardous Reactions: No violent polymerization or decomposition under regular handling.
Incompatible Materials: Strong acids cause lactic acid formation and bubbling; reactive with strong oxidizers.
Conditions to Avoid: Avoid excessive heat, direct sunlight, and long exposure to open air, as material can clump or absorb water.
Hazardous Decomposition Products: Burning or strong acidification can produce carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, and possibly minor organic acids.
Routes of Exposure: Inhalation, skin or eye contact, accidental ingestion.
Acute Toxicity: Very low toxicity; large oral doses may cause mild digestive upset, such as nausea or loose stool.
Skin Corrosion/Irritation: Not corrosive; mild and temporary irritation possible in concentrated form.
Eye Damage/Irritation: Uncomfortable, potential temporary redness with direct splashes.
Respiratory Sensitization: Not reported in occupational settings.
Carcinogenicity/Mutagenicity: No evidence of carcinogenic or mutagenic risks according to IARC, NTP, or OSHA.
Chronic Effects: None reported with exposure at levels found in food and workplace.
Ecotoxicity: Not known to pose significant risk in small concentrations; as a sodium salt, large discharges can increase aquatic salinity and disrupt local fauna.
Persistence and Degradability: Biodegradable, breaks down quickly in soil and water.
Bioaccumulative Potential: Does not build up in aquatic or terrestrial organisms.
Mobility in Soil: Moves freely due to water solubility.
Other Adverse Effects: Lactic acid content supports microbial activity — beneficial in wastewater treatment, less so in natural waterways overwhelmed by runoff.
Waste Disposal Methods: Small quantities diluted with plenty of water can go to sanitary sewer as per local regulations; larger amounts need controlled disposal at permitted chemical waste facilities.
Container Disposal: Triple-rinse containers and recycle or dispose in accordance with national and regional guidelines.
Precautions: Do not dump in local soil, storm drains, or surface water; always check municipal or state-level restrictions or best practices.
UN Number: Not classified as dangerous for transport under ADR, IATA, or IMDG codes.
Proper Shipping Name: Sodium Lactate solution or Sodium Lactate, depending on form.
Hazard Class: Not regulated.
Packing Group: Not applicable.
Labeling: Ordinary labeling for chemical transport applies — chemical name, hazards if any, and supplier information.
Special Precautions: Keep containers sealed; pad shipments to avoid punctures or leaks.
OSHA Status: Not considered a hazardous material.
SARA Title III: Not regulated under Sections 302, 304, or 313.
TSCA: Listed on the US Toxic Substances Control Act inventory.
FDA: Approved for use as food additive, preservative, and hydration agent.
REACH/CLP: Registered and used in compliance with current REACH standards.
Other Regulatory Info: Meets EPA and EU purity or usage guidelines for food and cosmetic applications; not subject to international export or environmental controls unless mixed with regulated chemicals.
