Sodium Acetate

Synonyms: Acetic acid, sodium salt; E262; natrii acetas trihydricus; sodium ethanoate.

Description: Sodium acetate occurs as colorless, transparent crystals or a granular crystalline powder with a slight acetic acid odor.

Chemical Name: Sodium acetate anhydrous 
Sodium acetate trihydrate 

Antimicrobial preservative; buffering agent; flavoring agent, stabilizing agent.

• Sodium acetate is used as part of a buffer system when combined with acetic acid in various intramuscular, intravenous, topical, ophthalmic, nasal, oral, otic, and subcutaneous formulations.

• It may be used to reduce the bitterness of oral pharmaceuticals.

• It can be used to enhance the antimicrobial properties of formulations; it has been shown to inhibit the growth of S. aureus and E. coli, but not C.

• albicans in protein hydrolysate solutions.

• It is widely used in the food industry as a preservative.

• Sodium acetate has also been used therapeutically for the treatment of metabolic acidosis in premature infants, and in hemodialysis solutions.

Sodium acetate reacts with acidic and basic components. It will react violently with fluorine, potassium nitrate, and diketene.

Sodium acetate is widely used in cosmetics, foods, and pharmaceutical formulations, and is generally regarded as a nontoxic and nonirritant material.

Observe normal precautions appropriate to the circumstances and quantity of material handled. Sodium acetate is a mild skin and eye irritant; gloves and eye protection are recommended. On exposure, wash eyes and skin with large amounts of water. Inhalation of dust may cause pulmonary tract problems. When heated to decomposition, sodium acetate emits toxic fumes of NaO2.