Industry grade Sodium thiocyanate CAS 540-72-7

1. Product Overview

Sodium thiocyanate (NaSCN) is an inorganic salt of the thiocyanate pseudohalide, supplied as white, hygroscopic crystals or powder. Its linear thiocyanate anion (SCN⁻) combines halide-like coordination chemistry with the reactivity of a sulfur–nitrogen group, making it one of the most versatile building blocks in organic synthesis, hydrometallurgy and specialty chemical manufacturing.

Beyond synthesis, NaSCN is the established spinning solvent for acrylic (PAN) fibers, an efficient lixiviant for gold and silver leaching, and a classic analytical reagent for iron(III) detection.

A single compound, four core value propositions:

• Chemical Synthesis:

the preferred thiocyanation reagent for alkyl and aryl thiocyanates, isothiocyanates ;

• Textile & Acrylic Fiber:

spinning solvent for PAN fiber production and dyeing/printing assistant in textile processing;

• Gold & Silver Extraction:

thiocyanate-based lixiviant for precious-metal recovery as an alternative or complement to cyanide;

• Analytical & Specialty Applications:

iron(III) detection reagent, aircraft de-icing fluid additive and concrete hardening accelerator.

2. Product Information (Quick Facts)

3. Chemistry & Grades

Sodium thiocyanate belongs to the thiocyanate family of pseudohalides. The linear SCN⁻ ion coordinates strongly to transition metals and reacts with alkyl halides to form organothiocyanates; the same anion produces the classic blood-red iron(III) thiocyanate complex used in analytical chemistry. Because the S–C–N skeleton can rearrange, thiocyanate chemistry bridges sulfur and nitrogen chemistry — enabling practical routes to thioureas, isothiocyanates and heterocyclic pharmaceuticals.

Commercial NaSCN is supplied as white crystals or powder at ≥ 99.0% assay  with tight control of chloride, sulfate, iron and moisture.

4. Key Features & Benefits

• High assay with low impurities: consistent thiocyanation yields in batch and continuous processes.

• Excellent water solubility: up to ≈ 139 g/100 mL at 21 °C

• Pseudohalide versatility: reliable coordination chemistry for hydrometallurgy, electroplating and analytical detection.

• Established acrylic fiber solvent: proven solvent for PAN spinning with uniform fiber morphology.

• Efficient gold and silver lixiviant: thiocyanate leaching recovers precious metals under milder, less hazardous conditions than classical cyanidation.

• Full traceability: COA with every batch documenting assay, chloride, sulfate, iron and moisture.

5. Main Applications

5.1 Chemical Synthesis (Core Application)

• Thiocyanation reagent: converts alkyl and aryl halides into the corresponding organic thiocyanates;

• Isothiocyanate building blocks: precursor for mustard-oil type intermediates used in agrochemical and pharmaceutical synthesis;

• Polymer and rubber additives: intermediate for accelerators and specialty polymer modifiers.

5.2 Textile & Acrylic Fiber

• PAN fiber spinning: solvent for wet- and dry-spinning of acrylic fibers;

• Dyeing assistant: improves dye penetration in acrylic and nylon dyeing;

• Textile printing: auxiliary in pigment and reactive printing pastes.

5.3 Gold & Silver Extraction (Hydrometallurgy)

• Thiocyanate leaching: dissolves gold as a stable gold–thiocyanate complex under oxidizing conditions;

• Alternative to cyanide: lower toxicity profile suitable for constrained and small-scale sites;

• Silver recovery: complexing agent in silver-bearing ore and scrap processing.

5.4 Analytical & Specialty Applications

• Iron(III) detection: the blood-red Fe(SCN) complex is a classic qualitative and photometric test;

• Aircraft de-icing fluids: increases the melting performance of runway and aircraft de-icing liquids;

• Concrete admixtures: hardening accelerator for construction and shotcrete;

• Photography: component of rapid fixer formulations.

5.5 Agriculture

• Defoliant: cotton defoliation agent that prepares crops for mechanical harvesting;

• Weed and pest control: thiocyanate-based active ingredient in formulated agricultural products.

6. Packaging, Storage

Packaging (customizable):

• 25 kg PP woven bag with PE liner, 25 kg HDPE drum, 500 kg / 1,000 kg jumbo bags; liquid solution in 200 kg drums and 1,000 L IBC.

Storage:

• Keep in a cool, dry, well-ventilated area away from direct sunlight and moisture;

• Sodium thiocyanate is hygroscopic — keep containers tightly closed to prevent caking;

• Store separately from acids and strong oxidizing agents (acid contact can release toxic hydrogen cyanide gas);

• Recommended storage temperature: 5 °C – 35 °C in original sealed packaging.

7. Why Choose Jinan Future Chemical Co., Ltd.?

• Factory-direct supply: own production capacity, transparent pricing, no middleman markup;

• Stable quality: strict internal control, every batch tested, COA with every shipment;small trial orders accepted.

• Export experience: familiar with sea/air shipping documentation for chemical commodities, complete paperwork support;

8. FAQ

Q1: What is sodium thiocyanate (NaSCN) used for?

NaSCN is a versatile thiocyanate salt: it is the standard thiocyanation reagent in organic synthesis, the spinning solvent for acrylic (PAN) fibers, a lixiviant for gold and silver extraction, an iron(III) detection reagent in analytical chemistry, and an additive in aircraft de-icing fluids and concrete. It also serves as an intermediate for  agrochemicals.

Q2: How does sodium thiocyanate leach gold?

In acidic oxidative leaching, SCN⁻ complexes gold(I) to form a stable gold–thiocyanate complex. An oxidant such as ferric ion or hydrogen peroxide drives dissolution, so gold can be recovered from ores, concentrates and e-waste under milder and less hazardous conditions than classical cyanidation. Process parameters are tuned to the ore type.

Q3: Why is sodium thiocyanate used in acrylic fiber production?

Concentrated aqueous NaSCN is an excellent solvent for polyacrylonitrile (PAN). It plasticizes the polymer so the spinning dope can be extruded and coagulated into uniform fibers — the basis of the thiocyanate route used by major acrylic fiber producers worldwide.