Sodium Borohydride Powder CAS 16940-66-2

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October 28th, 2025

Sodium borohydride powder is an inorganic compound with the chemical formula of NaBH4. It is a white to grayish white crystalline powder with strong hygroscopicity. Its alkaline solution is brownish yellow. It is one of the most commonly used reducing agents. Soluble in water, liquid ammonia and amine, soluble in methanol, slightly soluble in ethanol, tetrahydrofuran, insoluble in ether, benzene and hydrocarbon. It is stable in dry air, decomposes in wet air, and also decomposes when heated at 500 ℃. Normally, sodium borohydride cannot reduce esters, amides, carboxylic acids and nitriles, but when the carbonyl group of esters α The ester can be reduced in the presence of heteroatoms. It is usually used as reducing agent for aldehydes, ketones and acyl chlorides, foaming agent for plastic industry, bleach for paper making, and hydrogenation agent for manufacturing dihydrostreptomycin in pharmaceutical industry.

It can be prepared in two ways.

Wet process: boric acid reacts with methanol to methyl borate; Metal sodium reacts with hydrogen to sodium hydride; Metal sodium reacts with methyl borate to obtain sodium borohydride:

H₃BO₃+3CH₃OH → B(OCH₃)₃+3H₂O+2Na+H₂ → 2NaH₄NaH+B(OCH₃) ₃ → NaBH₄+3CH₃ONa

Dry method: Borax and quartz sand react under high temperature melting to generate sodium borosilicate, and hydrogen and metal sodium are introduced under high temperature and pressure to generate sodium borohydride and sodium silicate.

► Antiviral Drug Production During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Sodium borohydride played a critical role in the rapid synthesis of Paxlovid™ (nirmatrelvir/ritonavir), Pfizer's antiviral cocktail for COVID-19. The drug's active ingredient, nirmatrelvir, requires a selective reduction step to convert a ketone group into a secondary alcohol-a reaction facilitated by NaBH₄ under controlled conditions. This step was optimized to achieve >99% yield, enabling Pfizer to scale production to millions of doses within months.

Key Insights:

Selectivity: NaBH₄'s mild reducing power allowed it to target the ketone without affecting other functional groups in the molecule.

Scalability: The reaction's simplicity and high yield made it suitable for industrial-scale manufacturing.

Cost-Effectiveness: Compared to alternative reductants like lithium aluminum hydride, NaBH₄ reduced raw material costs by 40% while minimizing safety risks.

► Cholesterol-Lowering Statins

Atorvastatin (Lipitor®), the best-selling statin globally, relies on NaBH₄ to reduce a conjugated aldehyde intermediate to a saturated alcohol. This step is pivotal in constructing the drug's lactone ring, which enhances its bioavailability. Merck & Co. optimized the process by using NaBH₄ in a methanol/water solvent system, achieving a 95% yield and reducing reaction time from 12 hours to 3 hours.

Impact:

Efficiency: The streamlined synthesis cut production costs by $20 million annually for Merck.

Sustainability: The solvent recovery system reduced waste by 75%, aligning with green chemistry principles.

► Eco-Friendly Pulp Bleaching at Stora Enso

Stora Enso, a global leader in sustainable forestry, replaced chlorine-based bleaching agents with NaBH₄ at its Finnish mill in 2022. The compound selectively reduces lignin-derived chromophores without degrading cellulose, achieving a brightness level of 90 ISO while cutting water consumption by 30%.

Technical Breakthroughs:

pH Control: By maintaining a pH of 9–10, NaBH₄ maximized lignin reduction while minimizing cellulose hydrolysis.

Cost Comparison: Although NaBH₄ is 20% more expensive than chlorine, the reduced need for effluent treatment offset costs by 15%.

► Textile Wastewater Treatment in Bangladesh

The Bangladeshi textile industry, a major contributor to the national economy, faced stringent EU regulations on dye effluents. In 2023, a pilot project at a Dhaka-based dyehouse demonstrated that NaBH₄ could remove 98% of azo dyes from wastewater in under 30 minutes. The reaction also neutralized residual hydrogen peroxide, a common byproduct of dyeing processes.

Environmental Benefits:

Toxicity Reduction: Treated water met WHO standards for heavy metals and organic pollutants.

Resource Recovery: The precipitated dyes were repurposed as pigments for low-cost paints, creating a circular economy model.

► Case Study 1: Fuel Cell Prototypes by Toyota

Toyota's 2023 fuel cell vehicle prototype integrated NaBH₄ as a solid-state hydrogen carrier. The system used a cobalt-based catalyst to hydrolyze NaBH₄, releasing hydrogen gas with 95% purity. A 10 kg NaBH₄ tank provided a range of 500 km-equivalent to gasoline vehicles-while emitting only water vapor.

Challenges Addressed:

Safety: The solid form eliminated risks associated with compressed hydrogen tanks.

Efficiency: The reaction's exothermic nature was harnessed to preheat the fuel cell, improving cold-start performance by 40%.

► Case Study 2: Off-Grid Power in Remote Alaska

In 2024, a NaBH₄-based hydrogen generator was installed in a remote Alaskan village to power a community center. The system used locally sourced seawater and NaBH₄ pellets to produce 5 kW of electricity, replacing diesel generators and cutting fuel costs by $15,000 annually.

Sustainability Metrics:

Carbon Footprint: CO₂ emissions dropped by 90% compared to diesel.

Reliability: The system operated for 18 months without maintenance, despite temperatures as low as -40°C.

1.Reduction of carbonyl compounds

• It can reduce aldehydes to primary alcohols and ketones to secondary alcohols.
• Ester compounds can also be reduced in alcohol solvents.
• In alcohol solvents, it can also reduce ester compounds.
• Sodium borohydride also has a reducing effect on amide bonds, similar to the degradation of polypeptide chains.

2.Selective Reduction:

Although this substance has strong reducibility, it exhibits reduction selectivity under certain conditions. For example, it can selectively reduce aldehydes to alcohols in the presence of ketones.

3.Reduction of double and triple bonds:

It can reduce carbon nitrogen double bonds or alkynes. For example, alkyne compounds are reduced to olefins under the action of sodium borohydride, and the resulting olefins are not further reduced by sodium borohydride.

4.Reaction with halogenated hydrocarbons:

In the presence of transition metal catalysts, halogenated hydrocarbons can be converted into alkanes. This reaction may have undergone a free radical process.

5.The generation of hydrogen:

It can efficiently produce hydrogen through catalytic hydrolysis in aqueous solution, providing a controlled and safe method for hydrogen release, which is crucial for portable and fixed power applications.

6.Reaction with acid:

Its acid hydrolysis usually involves gradually adding acid from an aqueous solution to a solid powder. This method has several advantages, including generating dry hydrogen gas, easy control of hydrogen gas production, and environmentally friendly by-products generated by the reaction.

7.Reduction of organic mercury compounds:

This substance is also widely used to reduce organic mercury compounds to produce corresponding hydrocarbons.

Sodium borohydride powder is a chemical substance with significant hazards, and its hazards and storage methods are as follows：

1.Dangerousness

(1)Health hazards:

• Strongly irritate mucous membranes, upper respiratory tract, eyes, and skin. After inhalation, it can be fatal due to inflammation, edema, spasms of the larynx and bronchi, chemical pneumonia, or pulmonary edema. Oral administration can corrode the digestive tract.
• After contact with it, symptoms such as sore throat, cough, shortness of breath, headache, abdominal pain, diarrhea, dizziness, conjunctival congestion, and pain may occur.

(2)Explosive hazard:

• Flammable when wet, toxic, and highly irritating. Exposure to water, humid air, acids, oxidants, high heat, and open flames can cause combustion. The combustion (decomposition) products include boron oxide and hydrogen gas.
• At room temperature, it rapidly reacts with methanol to generate hydrogen gas, and the reaction is intense.

2.Storage method

(1)Environment

• Store in a cool, dry, and well ventilated warehouse.
• Stay away from sources of fire and heat. The storage temperature should not exceed 25 ℃ (some say it should not exceed 30 ℃), and the relative humidity should not exceed 75%.

(2)Containers and packaging

• Keep the container sealed.
• It should be stored separately from oxidants, acids, bases, alcohols, and edible chemicals, and avoid mixing storage.

(3)Facilities and equipment

• Adopt explosion-proof lighting and ventilation facilities.
• Prohibit the use of mechanical equipment and tools that are prone to generating sparks.
• The storage room should be equipped with suitable materials to contain leaked materials.

(4)Operation and protection

• Operators must undergo specialized training and strictly adhere to operating procedures.
• It is recommended that operators wear dust masks (full face shields), rubber protective clothing, and rubber gloves.
• Implement pre employment and regular medical examinations.
• Equip with corresponding types and quantities of fire-fighting equipment and emergency response equipment for leaks.

(5)Emergency Management

• Isolate the contaminated area and restrict access. Cut off the fire source.
• It is recommended that emergency responders wear self-contained positive pressure respirators and protective clothing. Mix with sand, dry lime or soda ash, carefully sweep and transfer to a safe place.
• If there is a large amount of leakage, cover it with plastic cloth or canvas, collect and recycle it, or transport it to a waste disposal site for disposal.

The sodium borohydride market is segmented based on product type, application, and geography.

Product Type: The market is divided into powder, pellets, solution, and granules. Sodium borohydride powder dominates the market due to its widespread use in chemical and medicinal applications, ease of handling, and reaction flexibility.

Application: Key application areas include pulp and paper, pharmaceuticals, metal reduction, fuel cells, and reducing agents. The pharmaceutical and pulp and paper industries are the largest consumers of sodium borohydride, accounting for a significant share of the market.

Geography: The market is geographically segmented into North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East and Africa. Asia-Pacific is expected to witness the highest growth rate due to rapid industrialization and increasing demand from emerging economies like China and India.

Sodium borohydride powder's exceptional reductive power has revolutionized chemistry and industry. While its benefits are profound, responsible handling and environmental stewardship are imperative. By embracing sustainable synthesis methods, advanced safety protocols, and innovative technologies, its future applications can be expanded while mitigating risks. As research evolves, NaBH4 will likely remain a cornerstone in scientific advancements, driving progress in fields ranging from medicine to clean energy.

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