Chemicals that form from reaction between nitrate and sodium thiosulfate

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I need help to know how i can know the product (what equipment should i use) that produced from the reaction between nitrate that contaminate the water and sodium thiosulfate.

I want to know whether these chemicals are harmful to human beings or not.

Thank you

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2 Answers

  1. Adel,

    What is your overall project or problem?

    I'm a chemist with 30yrs experience in water treatment.

    Nitrate is easily removed by ion exchange resin, or by biological means, we can assist.

    paul.savage@aquasol.com.au

     

    1 Comment

    1. Thanks Paul for your interest

      I prove by experiment that sodium thiosulphate can remove almost 72% of nitrate present in drinking water but iam not sure about what chemicals are produced during this process so i need technique to know exactly what are the chemicals produced and their health effect.

      I know that sodium thiosulfate by itself is not harmful to human being, this is approved by many articles in the literature, and even it is used to treat certain diseases.

       

  2. I am not a chemist, but in general thiosulphate (a strong reducing agent) will react with an oxidizing agent.  Nitrate is not generally an oxidizing agent, and it can be expected that the thiosulphate could react with the cation associated with the nitrate (e.g. iron Fe).  The resultant products will tend to be the reduced form of the cation, together with a sulphate or sulphite.  Nitrate at greater than say 20 mg/l in drinking water is harmful to human beings - especially babies and toddlers.   thiosulphate being a strong reducing agent will be reactive to compounds that can be reduced, which may not be good for the environment.  Under some conditions (usually requiring heat) the nitrate itself can be reduced to nitrogen dioxide which is a noxious gas and hence should be in a well ventilated area.