Sodium Butyrate CAS 156-54-7

What Sodium Butyrate Is

Sodium butyrate is the sodium salt of butyric acid, a short-chain fatty acid, sold as a white crystalline powder or as coated granules. Butyrate is the preferred fuel of the cells that line the colon, so adding it to feed helps the gut wall grow and repair itself and keeps unwanted bacteria in check. It has become one of the standard ingredients in antibiotic-free feeding programs for young pigs, poultry and farmed fish, and it also does duty as a mold inhibitor and a fine chemical intermediate.

Plain Powder or Coated Granules?

This choice decides most of the quote. Plain 98% powder is the low-cost workhorse: it dissolves quickly in the upper gut, but it carries the sharp butyric odor and can be partly absorbed before reaching the hindgut. Coated granules wrap the butyrate in a lipid layer so it survives the stomach and opens in the intestine, where it is needed most. The coating also removes most of the smell from the plant and the feed, and it is the usual pick for piglets, chicks and aquafeed. Coated grades are sold by active butyrate content, commonly 30%, 50% and 70%.

Where It Is Used

• Swine. Supports villi growth, steadies the gut after weaning and reduces post-weaning diarrhea and growth checks in piglets.
• Poultry and aquaculture. Added to broiler, layer and fish or shrimp feed to support the gut wall, improve nutrient uptake and lift feed conversion.
• Feed preservation. Holds back mold and spoilage bacteria in feed, silage and pet food and extends shelf life.
• Fine chemicals. Serves as an intermediate for butyric acid derivatives and as a modifier in resin and polymer work.

Technical Specifications

Storage, Handling and Ordering

• Unlike enzymes, sodium butyrate needs no cold chain. Keep bags sealed in a cool, dry place at 5 to 30 °C and away from strong acids and oxidizers; it picks up moisture easily, and open bags should be used up quickly.
• The plain grade has a noticeable butyric smell, so good ventilation and a dust mask and goggles are worth using when tipping bags. Classified Non-DG for normal transport.
• Packed in 25 kg PE-lined woven bags and 500 kg jumbo bags, with coated grades and custom packing on request; COA, TDS and SDS accompany every order. It often goes into premix alongside Betaine Anhydrous CAS 107-43-7 and digestive enzymes such as Keratinase (Subtilisin) CAS 9014-01-1.

FAQ

Q: Plain powder or coated granules?

A: Plain powder releases fast and costs less; coated granules reach the hindgut with less odor.

Q: How much goes into piglet feed?

A: Roughly 1 to 3 kg per tonne of feed for plain powder; dose coated grades by active content.

Q: Does caking mean it has gone off?

A: Soft lumps crush away harmlessly; hard caking with a rancid smell means moisture has got in.