Thiocyanate - RSCN

Akzo Nobel is a major producer of inorganic thiocyanates, also called rhodanides. The product range includes ammonium, sodium and potassium thiocyanates. The ammonium and sodium thiocyanates can be delivered both as crystalline solids and as concentrated aqueous solutions. The potassium thiocyanate is available as a crystalline solid only.

Major Applications

Thiocyanates can be used in different applications in the textile and fibre industry, in agriculture, in metal and steel industry, in construction industry and each thiocyanate has its own specific applications.

In a number of applications either ammonium, sodium or potassium thiocyanate can be used. Among them are:

• in agriculture, as raw material for the production of a number of herbicides and fungicides;
• in the oil field industry, as a tracer of chemicals (?),  because of the intense red colour of the ferric-thiocyanate complex;
• as an intermediate for metal thiocyanates, e.g. CuSCN, which is used as an anti-fouling agent in ship paints;
• as a starting agent in the synthesis of certain medicines and dye;
• as an additive in the production of peroxodisulphates.

Ammonium Thiocyanate (NH₄SCN)

 The major outlets specific to ammonium thiocyanate (NH4SCN) are:

• in the textile industry, for various printing, dyeing and finishing operations;
• in the photographic industry as an acceleration in fixing baths;
• in agriculture, to stabilize various herbicides.

Further uses are:

• in the steel industry, for coating and as a corrosion inhibitor against acidic gases;
• in the metal industry, as an additive for silver and tin plating baths and for the etching of aluminium;
• in the nuclear power industry, as an extraction agent in the separation of hafnium and zirconium.

Sodium Thiocyanate (NaSCN)

The main applications specific to sodium thiocyanate (NaSCN) are found:

• in the fibre industry, as a spinning solvent for polyacrylonitrile;
• in the construction industry, as a hardening accelerator for cement and concrete mixes.

Further uses are:

• in the production of solid-cell batteries;
• in the production of ink for ink-jet printers;
• in hair dying, to reduce the duration of treatment;
• in combination with sodium percarbonate peroxhydrate
  (2 Na₂Co₃ x 3 H₂O₂) and lactoperoxidase as a natural preservative.

Potassium Thiocyanate (KSCN)

Potassium thiocyanate is used:

• as an analytical reagent;
• in the synthesis of antibiotics and other pharmaceutical products.