Sodium thioglycolate has been used:
- as a growth supplement in enrichment media and to study its effect on Arcobacter
- in influenza hemagglutinin formulation in order to reduce disulfide-mediated cross-linking and early potency loss
- in electron microscopy
dipilatory, irritant, chelating agent
In cold-waving of hair; as depilatory; in bacteriology for the preparation of thioglycolate media; as analytical reagent, see Thioglycolic Acid.
The sodium salt of thioglycolic acid.
White powder with a slight odor. Used in cold-waving of hair and as a dipilatory.
Hygroscopic. Discolors on exposure to air. Water soluble.
Sodium thioglycolate is hygroscopic and sensitive to air. Discolors if exposed to iron . May generate flammable and toxic hydrogen sulfide with strong reducing agents.
Yields toxic hydrogen sulfide on decompo-
sition, may be toxic by skin absorption.
Flash point data for Sodium thioglycolate are not available. Sodium thioglycolate is probably combustible.
Flammability and Explosibility
Non flammable
Sodium thioglycolate is a commonly used reagent for bacteriological research to maintain reducing conditions in media. Thioglycolate can also protect enzymes against inactivation by maintaining protein thiol groups in the reduced state. Thioglycolate medium is frequently used in inflammation research to elicit a neutrophil and macrophage response in vivo.
Poison by intravenous and intraperitoneal routes. Moderately toxic by ingestion. A human skin irritant. This material yields hydrogen sulfide on decomposition. A death has been attributed to the absorption of toxic decomposition products from the use of this material in a hair permanent-waving solution. When heated to decomposition it emits toxic fumes of SOx and Na2O. See also SULFIDES and MERCAPTANS.
It crystallises from 60% EtOH (charcoal). It is hygroscopic.[Beilstein 3 IV 600.]
