Glyoxylic Acid → Disodium

Participants

Reaction Steps

The reaction of 358 g of commercially available sodium hydrosulfite in 800 ml of water with 268 g of 50% strength glyoxylic acid and 285 g of 50% sodium hydroxide solution gave the 2-hydroxy-2-sulfinatoacetic acid, disodium salt in a yield of 95%. The solid crude product contained 43% of sulfinic acid (without water of hydration). Crystallization from a methanol/ethanol/water mixture gave the hydrate of the sulfinic acid in nice crystals. The sulfur-containing constituents were determined using iodometry. The sulfinic acid shows a reaction with indanthrene paper at about 75° C.

Provenance & Evidence