Other Applications

Sodium methylate is a versatile intermediate used in a variety of organic syntheses. It can be made by reacting elemental sodium with methyl alcohol, It is also commercially produced from sodium chloride and methanol in an electrolytic process. Aside from biodiesel, sodium methylate solution is commercially used in the Food Processing, Petrochemical, Plastics, Chemical, and Pharmaceutical Industries as an intermediary for a variety of products. Sodium methylate solution provides the safety and ease of handling that are an advantage over solid forms of this product, which have been difficult and costly to use. Firms who have found it necessary to produce sodium methylate on site, due to the instability of the dry product, may consider the use of solution to be an economical alternative. The catalytic properties of sodium methylate in ester interchange reactions are used in processing lards, animal and vegetable fats, and oils. For example, lard reacted with sodium methylate yields shortening fats with improved consistency, reduced melting point, and superior baking properties. Blending of vegetable oils, followed by catalytic ester rearrangement with sodium methylate, produces oil formulations for various specific applications. Surfactants production represents a major sodium methylate use. Sodium methylate has received acceptance in the Petroleum Industry for improved stability and color as well as deodorization of solvents, fuel oils, motor fuels, and middle distillates. Sodium methylate will react with unstable organic compounds containing sulfur, nitrogen, and oxygen, chemically rendering these components inert. Hydrogen sulfide and mercaptan removal can be accomplished with sodium methylate. Sodium methylate has been utilized as a catalyst in the polymerization of a variety of compounds such as acrylonitrile, propylene ethylene oxide, esters, etc. An important industrial use of sodium methylate solution has been in the removal of catalyst from polyethylene and polypropylene reaction products. In this application, the sodium methylate deactivates the polymerization catalyst with the methanol used as a wash agent to yield a noncorrosive polymer product. Sodium methylate solution is also used in the manufacture of polyisoprene rubber and in silicones based on polysiloxane. Hydrolysis of polyvinyl acetate with sodium methylate is used in polyvinyl alcohol manufacture. The electrolytic process has been proven to be a dependable source of high purity sodium methylate in a methyl alcohol solution. This eliminates the difficulties in handling either elemental sodium or highly reactive dry sodium methylate.

Sodium methylate solution (nominally 25% sodium methylate, 75% methanol) is supplied in 425-pound drums, 1 MT totes Stoltz totes, and 21 MT isotanks by Eastar Chemical Corporation. Sodium methylate solution is used in industrial processes to produce acetoacetic esters such as methyl acetoacetate and ethyl sodium oxalacetate, titanium dioxide pigments via the chloride process, metallic soaps, and borohydrides. Proprietary insecticides and herbicides use sodium methylate as a methylation agent. Pharmaceuticals, such as ascorbic acid, barbiturates, and sulfa drugs, are based on sodium methylate reactions. Sodium methylate can be utilized in a wide variety of organic syntheses as a catalyst, condensation medium, reduction agent, and for ring closure, methylation, and acetylation. A Sales Representative of Eastar Chemical Corporation will be happy to discuss specific applications, use, and handling of sodium methylate solution with you. For long term supply synergies please contact Gao Peng, our team leader for biodiesel: