Sodium Sulfate

Harm score: 2 (Derivatives of natural substances)

Sodium salt (Na2SO4), better known as sodium sulfate or by other names such as Quillaja, soapbark, soap tree, murillo bark, Panama bark or China bark, is a colourless, volatile, water-soluble substance that occurs naturally in minerals such as thenardite. Its industrial production is from salt and sulfuric acid. Sodium sulphate is in the form of a decahydrate known as mirabilite, which occurs naturally in areas with high salt concentrations.

Sodium sulphate is a highly exploited chemical and finds application in a number of industries. It is widely used in industry, particularly in the paper, glass and chemical industries, where it serves as a raw material for the production of other chemicals. It is also used as an aid in washing and cleaning, for example as an ingredient in washing powders and soaps, where it helps to neutralise hard water and increase cleaning efficiency. Sodium sulphate is also used in the food industry as a salt substitute. In addition, it is used in cosmetics, for example in shampoos and other skin and hair care products. Occasionally, it can also be found in some pharmaceuticals as an excipient. However, its use is regulated because it can be harmful to humans in larger doses.