<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0203</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2010-08-02</periodOfReport>

    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000090185</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>SIGMA ALDRICH CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>SIAL</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001210653</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>PORWOLL JOE</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>1001 WEST SAINT PAUL AVE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>MILWAUKEE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>WI</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>53233</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>1</isOther>
            <otherText>VP-Supply Chain-Global</otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock, $1 Par Value</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>10240</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>ISO Stock Option, Right to Buy</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>25.315</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2003-05-07</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2012-05-07</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock, $1 Par Value</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>4100</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>ISO Stock Option, Right to Buy</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>25.86</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2004-05-06</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2013-05-06</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock, $1 Par Value</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>7600</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>NQ Stock Option, Right to Buy</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>25.86</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2004-05-06</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2013-05-06</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock, $1 Par Value</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>7400</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>ISO Stock Option, Right to Buy</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>28.66</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2005-05-04</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2014-05-04</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock, $1 Par Value</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>3400</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>NQ Stock Option, Right to Buy</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>28.66</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2005-05-04</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2014-05-04</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock, $1 Par Value</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>11600</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>ISO Stock Option, Right to Buy</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>28.825</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2006-07-08</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2015-07-08</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock, $1 Par Value</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>2500</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>NQ Stock Option, Right to Buy</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>28.825</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2006-07-08</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2015-07-08</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock, $1 Par Value</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>5000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>ISO Stock Option, Right to Buy</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>34.03</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2007-05-01</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2016-05-01</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock, $1 Par Value</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>2500</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>NQ Stock Option, Right to Buy</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>34.03</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2007-05-01</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2016-05-01</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock, $1 Par Value</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>5000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>ISO Stock Option, Right to Buy</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>41.62</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2008-02-16</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2017-02-16</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock, $1 Par Value</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>3400</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>NQ Stock Option, Right to Buy</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>41.62</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2008-02-16</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2017-02-16</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock, $1 Par Value</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>4100</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>NQ Stock Option, Right to Buy</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>52.76</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2009-02-15</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2018-02-15</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock, $1 Par Value</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>4050</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>ISO Stock Option, Right to Buy</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>52.76</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2009-02-15</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2018-02-15</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock, $1 Par Value</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>1850</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>ISO Stock Option, Right to Buy</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>37.56</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2010-02-17</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2019-02-17</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock, $1 Par Value</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>2032</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>NQ Stock Option, Right to Buy</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>37.56</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2010-02-17</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2019-02-17</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock, $1 Par Value</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>3868</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>ISO Stock Option, Right to Buy</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>48.61</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2011-02-16</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2020-02-16</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock, $1 Par Value</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>2204</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>NQ Stock Option, Right to Buy</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>48.61</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2011-02-16</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2020-02-16</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock, $1 Par Value</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>2796</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
    </derivativeTable>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Carrie Fields, Attorney in Fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2010-08-04</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
