Sodium Humate, Sodium Humic Acid, 68131-04-4

Sodium Humate, Sodium Humic Acid, 68131-04-4

Sodium Humate (Sodium Humic Acid)

CAS Number: 68131-04-4
Chemical Formula: C₉H₈Na₂O₄ (representative formula for the repeating unit)
Molecular Weight: 226.14 g/mol
EC Number: 268-608-0
Synonyms: Sodium Humic Acid, Humic Acid Sodium Salt, Natrium-Humat, Sodium Huminate, Dolaflux, Disodium bicyclo[2.2.1]hept-5-ene-2,3-dicarboxylate

1. CHEMICAL IDENTITY

2. PHYSICAL PROPERTIES

3. SOLUBILITY PROPERTIES

Key Advantage: Unlike humic acid (which requires alkaline pH to dissolve), sodium humate is directly water-soluble at neutral pH, making it easier to handle and formulate .

4. CHEMICAL PROPERTIES

5. COMPARISON: SODIUM HUMATE vs. HUMIC ACID vs. POTASSIUM HUMATE

Key Advantage of Sodium Humate: It is the most cost-effective water-soluble humate form, making it ideal for large-scale agricultural and animal feed applications .

6. TYPICAL PRODUCT SPECIFICATIONS (Technical Grade)

7. FUNCTIONAL PROPERTIES

8. PRODUCTION PROCESS

Simplified Reaction:
Humic Acid (insoluble) + NaOH → Sodium Humate (soluble) + H₂O

9. APPLICATIONS – AGRICULTURE (Soil and Foliar)

Key Agricultural Benefits:

• Increases nutrient use efficiency (NPK uptake by 15-25%)

• Reduces nitrogen fertilizer requirement by up to 50% 

• Increases crop yield by 15-20% 

• Improves soil structure and water retention

• Enhances stress tolerance (drought, salinity)

• Stabilizes soil pH 

10. APPLICATIONS – ANIMAL FEED (Livestock and Poultry)

Key Benefits in Animal Nutrition :

• Binds mycotoxins (aflatoxin, ochratoxin, zearalenone)

• Binds heavy metals (Pb, Cd, Hg)

• Improves gut health and intestinal morphology (increased villus height, reduced crypt depth)

• Enhances antioxidant capacity (reduces oxidative stress)

• Improves feed conversion ratio (FCR)

• Reduces ammonia in manure 

Broiler Study Results (Neutral Sodium Humate at 0.3% of feed) :

• Increased body weight

• Improved leg muscle yield

• Improved meat quality

• Reduced serum total cholesterol

• Enhanced intestinal barrier integrity

Honey Bee Study Results (10 mL sodium humate per liter sugar syrup) :

• 29.8% higher honey yield compared to control

• Improved brood production

• High doses (50 mL) negatively affected production

11. APPLICATIONS – AQUACULTURE (Fish and Shrimp)

Key Benefits for Aquaculture:

• Absorbs ammonia (NH₃) and hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) 

• Stabilizes pH (buffering effect)

• Improves water quality

• Reduces stress in aquatic animals

12. APPLICATIONS – INDUSTRIAL AND TECHNICAL

13. APPLICATIONS – COSMETICS

Key Cosmetic Benefits :

• Humectant (moisture retention)

• Antioxidant (anti-aging)

• pH stabilizing

14. COMPARISON: SODIUM HUMATE vs. OTHER FEED ADDITIVES

15. REGULATORY STATUS

16. SAFETY AND TOXICOLOGICAL PROFILE

GHS Classification: Xi – Irritant (R36/37/38) 
Risk Phrases: R36/37/38 – Irritating to eyes, respiratory system, and skin 
Safety Phrases: S26-36 – In case of contact with eyes, rinse immediately; wear suitable protective clothing 

PPE Requirements:

• Dust mask (N95) 

• Safety glasses

• Gloves

17. STORAGE AND HANDLING

18. TYPICAL APPLICATION RATES (Summary Table)

19. ALTERNATIVES TO SODIUM HUMATE

20. SUMMARY AND CRITICAL INFORMATION

Description: Sodium Humate (CAS 68131-04-4) is the sodium salt of humic acid, produced by alkaline extraction of leonardite (oxidized lignite), lignite, or peat with sodium hydroxide (NaOH). It is a black to dark brown powder, flakes, or granules that is fully water-soluble (unlike humic acid). It has a high cation exchange capacity (200-400 meq/100g), strong chelating ability, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties. Sodium humate is widely used in agriculture (soil conditioner, foliar spray), animal feed (mycotoxin binder, gut health), aquaculture (water treatment), and industrial applications (heavy metal removal, drilling fluids) .

Key Advantages:

• Fully water-soluble (easy to handle and formulate) 

• Strong mycotoxin and heavy metal binder 

• Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties 

• Improves soil structure, CEC, and water retention

• Reduces fertilizer requirements (up to 50% nitrogen reduction) 

• Increases crop yield (15-20%) 

• Improves animal gut health and feed conversion 

• Increases honey yield (29.8% in honey bees) 

• Non-toxic, biodegradable, and environmentally safe

• Low cost (most economical water-soluble humate form)

Key Limitations/Precautions:

• Alkaline pH (9.0-11.0) – may require pH adjustment for sensitive applications

• Hygroscopic (absorbs moisture – requires dry storage)

• Dust may cause mild respiratory/eye irritation (use PPE)

• Variable quality depends on source (leonardite quality)

Major Applications Summary:

Comparison to Other Humates:

Safety Summary:

• Very low acute toxicity (LD₅₀ >5,000 mg/kg)

• GHS: Xi – Irritant (R36/37/38) 

• PPE: Dust mask (N95), safety glasses, gloves 

• Storage: Cool, dry, sealed containers; 24-36 months shelf life

Conclusion: Sodium Humate is the most cost-effective, water-soluble form of humic substances, widely used in agriculture (soil conditioner, foliar spray), animal feed (mycotoxin binder, gut health promoter), aquaculture (water treatment), and industrial applications (heavy metal removal, drilling fluids). In animal feed, it improves growth performance, gut health, antioxidant capacity, and meat quality (broilers at 0.15-0.3% inclusion) . In agriculture, it increases crop yield by 15-20% and reduces nitrogen fertilizer requirements by up to 50% . With a strong safety profile, low cost, and broad efficacy, sodium humate is an essential input for sustainable agriculture and animal production.