Ammonium bisulfite is a reductive bleaching agent. It reduces carbonyl and alcohol groups, which function as colorants of the substances.
It is used in bleaching mechanical paper pulp, cotton, wool and kaolin clay.
Additional applications include as a preservative (antioxidant) and a hair waving agent.
Ammonium bisulfite is used in industries concerned with leather processing, food and beverage processing, gas purification, water treatment to remove excess chlorine, textiles and pulp processing, and many others.
It is used as a reducing agent in chemical manufacturing.
It is an alternative to sulfur dioxide which is used in sterlization of equipment.
