Caustic Soda (Sodium Hydroxide)
Caustic soda, also known as lye or caustic alkali, is one of the chemical substances widely used in various industries. This material has the chemical formula NaOH. This substance is produced and supplied in various forms such as flakes, granules, and liquid. Solid caustic soda, in the form of flakes, has a melting point of 318 ℃ and a density of 2.13 gr/cm3. The chlor-alkali process is one of the methods used to produce caustic soda to meet market demands. Caustic soda is widely used to modify the pH of solutions because of its strong alkaline properties. It is used in many different industries, including as the food, paper, textile, aluminum, and water purification industries.
Sodium hydroxide dissolves well in water, and this dissolution process is accompanied by heat release. On the other hand, caustic soda does not dissolve in ether or other non-polar solvents and has a decreased solubility in ethanol and methanol. In many different industries, including soap, detergent, and water purification, caustic soda is a highly versatile chemical. The high alkalinity of caustic soda is one of its greatest qualities, as it functions well as a pH regulator.
For more accurate information regarding prices or purchasing the product, it is better to contact the sales department of Petro Nour Mehr Company.
Analysis of Caustic Soda
The analysis of Caustic Soda is provided in the table below:
Caustic Soda Manufacturers Worldwide:
Large-scale producers of sodium hydroxide include prominent companies in the chemical and petrochemical industries. Numerous petrochemical corporations, including the Dow Chemical Company in the United States and BASF SE in Germany, rank among the top manufacturers of caustic soda globally.
Indeed, besides producing caustic soda, these companies may also manufacture various other chemical products and engage in supplying chemical materials to the global market.
Advantages:
Versatility : Caustic soda (sodium hydroxide) is a highly versatile chemical used in various industries, including manufacturing, water treatment, and cleaning products.
Strong Alkalinity : It is a powerful alkali, capable of neutralizing acids and reacting with various substances, making it useful for many industrial processes.
Effective Cleaning Agent : Caustic soda is an effective cleaning agent for removing grease, oil, and other contaminants from surfaces and equipment.
Water Treatment : It is commonly used in water treatment processes to adjust pH levels, remove heavy metals, and treat wastewater.
Manufacturing : Caustic soda is a key ingredient in the production of various chemicals, including paper, textiles, soaps, and detergents.
Disadvantages:
Corrosive : Caustic soda is highly corrosive and can cause severe burns if it comes into contact with the skin or eyes.
Environmental Impact : Improper disposal of caustic soda can harm the environment, as it can contaminate water sources and soil.
Health Risks : Inhalation or ingestion of caustic soda can lead to respiratory issues, gastrointestinal problems, and other health hazards.
Reactivity : Caustic soda reacts violently with certain substances, such as acids and organic materials, posing safety risks in handling and storage.
Cost : While widely used, caustic soda can be expensive, especially in large quantities, adding to production costs for businesses.
Types of caustic soda:
Caustic soda, also known as sodium hydroxide, is available in various forms, each tailored to specific industrial applications. Some common types include:
Solid Caustic Soda :
- Solid caustic soda is typically available in the form of white, translucent pellets, flakes, or granules.
- It is widely used in industries such as pulp and paper, textiles, and cleaning products.
Liquid Caustic Soda :
- Liquid caustic soda is a concentrated aqueous solution of sodium hydroxide.
- It is commonly used in water treatment, chemical manufacturing, and petroleum refining.
Caustic Soda Pearls :
- Caustic soda pearls are spherical beads of sodium hydroxide.
- They are preferred for applications requiring precise dosing and easy handling.
Caustic Soda Flakes :
- Caustic soda flakes are small, thin pieces of sodium hydroxide.
- They dissolve rapidly in water and are often used in soap making and detergent production.
Caustic Soda Lye :
- Caustic soda lye is a highly concentrated solution of sodium hydroxide in water.
- It is commonly used in industrial processes requiring high alkalinity, such as metal cleaning and food processing.
These different forms of caustic soda offer flexibility and suitability for various industrial processes, depending on factors such as concentration, handling requirements, and application specificity.
Physical and chemical properties of Caustic soda:
Sodium hydroxide, a white crystalline solid, is odorless and soluble in water, glycerol, and ethanol. Its dissolution in water is highly exothermic. With a viscosity higher than water, about 78 mPas, it can form various hydrates including heptahydrate, pentahydrate, tetrahydrate, trihemihydrate, trihydrate, dihydrate, and monohydrate. Sodium hydroxide can crystallize into orthorhombic structures with its monohydrate. Additionally, it rapidly absorbs carbon dioxide and water from the air and can exist in liquid form. Sodium hydroxide reacts with protic acids to produce water and salts and has a high acidity level of 13. It’s commonly utilized as a base for leaching amphoteric hydroxides or oxides. Additionally, the hydroxide ion contains a covalent bond between oxygen and hydrogen.
To view information about other chemical products, you can click here.
Bandar Imam Petrochemical and other domestic factories are producers of Caustic soda in Iran.
These units are among the largest Caustic Soda producers in Iran and play a significant role in supplying domestic needs and exporting this material to global markets.
This chemical substance serves as a fundamental material with wide-ranging applications across various industries. Some of its primary uses include:
1. Tissue Dissolution: This material, known as a corrosive substance, is utilized for decomposing tissues of animals and plants. Typically used for the disposal of animal carcasses, the technique entails placing the carcass in a wax-sealed container and adding a mixture of NaOH and water, which causes tissue disintegration.
2. Cleaning Agents: This material combines with fats (oils or animal fats) in a process known as saponification, resulting in glycerin and soap emulsion. It also acts as a pH regulator in soap manufacture, maintaining an alkaline pH level.
3. Chemical Processes: This material, a strong alkaline chemical, effectively dissolves lipids. When caustic soda comes into touch with water or moisture, it dissolves and produces significant heat, which melts fats. Hence, its use in various industries, especially in food, slaughterhouses, and dairy industries, for degreasing equipment, is crucial.
4. Water Treatment: This material’s high alkalinity aids in pH regulation and water corrosion reduction. It is used after chlorination to balance the pH and avoid corrosion.
5. Textile Industries: Its strong alkaline property and high fat-removal capability make caustic soda a key substance in the textile industry, improving dyeing processes and fiber production. It helps remove fats present in the dyeing process that may compromise color quality.
6. Aluminum Production: In aluminum production, the purification of bauxite ore from impurities is essential for enhancing the final product’s quality. Sodium hydroxide, used in aluminum manufacturing, eliminates silicon and aluminum oxides from bauxite rocks, enhancing the quality of the resulting aluminum.
7. Chemical and Petrochemical Industries: It is used as a base ingredient to make soaps, detergents, dyes, resins, polymers, and chemical additives.
8. Petroleum Refining Industries: This material is used in the petrochemical industry to modify the pH of oil and gas streams and remove acids.
9. Water and Wastewater Treatment: This material is used to soften water and regulate pH in the water and wastewater treatment sectors.
10. Paper Industries: In paper production, This material is used as an alkaline agent to balance the pH of cellulose solutions and create favorable conditions for paper production.
11. Food Production: In the food industry, it is used to regulate the pH of products and in production processes such as vegetable oil production and bread dough preparation.
12. Pharmaceutical Production: This material is used in the pharmaceutical industry to regulate pH and in the manufacturing of pharmaceuticals and medical substances.
Caustic soda also has a wide range of applications in various industries, including textiles, rubber, apparel, and mining.
Sodium hydroxide is a strong chemical molecule that serves as a base in a variety of sectors, including petrochemicals, oil refining, paper making, water treatment, detergent manufacturing, and many more. To safely store this substance, the following requirements must be met.
1. The storage environment for NaOH should be dry, cool (25 degrees Celsius), and away from direct sunlight. It is advisable to use chemical-resistant plastic or metal containers.
2. To avoid the accumulation of dangerous fumes, the caustic soda storage room should be well ventilated. Adequate ventilation is also required in the area of application.
3. This material reacts with water and moisture, producing heat while cooling the atmosphere. Therefore, direct contact with water should be avoided.
4. It interacts with oxidizing agents like acids and hydrogen peroxide. Therefore, direct contact with such substances should be avoided.
5. To decrease the risk of direct contact with the skin or eyes, this chemical should be treated using safety equipment such as gloves, goggles, face shields, and protective clothes.
6. Proper safety labels and warning signs should be placed on containers and packaging containing this material to educate workers and individuals handling it.
- This material is exported in 25-kg bags packed in jumbo bag.
- This material, as a strong and hazardous chemical ingredient, must be carefully packaged to avoid leaks or contamination and guarantee user safety. This is often stored in high-quality containers that are resistant to chemicals, physical impacts, and sunlight.- When using barrels or large tanks for transporting caustic soda, place them on pallets and package them securely with cartons or specialized protectors for safe transportation.
- The packaging has to include danger warning labels and safety information about caustic soda, such as the product name, manufacturer’s name, hazard code, instructions for use and storage, and emergency contact number.
- Packaging should provide scientific information about the product, such as purity, chemical composition, and physical/chemical qualities. Due to its hazardous nature, it should always be handled with personal protection equipment such as gloves, goggles, masks, and protective clothes.
- NaOH packaging should adhere to relevant safety and environmental regulations in order to eliminate any safety or health concerns. It can be purchased from Petro Nour Mehr Trading Company, a supplier of chemical and polymer raw materials.
- Buy from a reputable and authorized supplier that holds necessary certifications and guarantees quality.
- Compare the prices of these materials in different markets and compare them with the global market price.
- Examine the sales conditions regarding quantity, delivery time, packaging, transportation methods, and payment terms.
- If you intend to import Caustic soda from foreign countries, investigate customs and legal regulations and comply with export and import regulations.
- Contact Petro Nour Mehr Company to obtain the most suitable export price based on your conditions.
- After signing the contract, you can place your order.
- Secure and suitable payment methods according to customer preferences are provided by the company.
- Then, the loading stage is completed by selecting and introducing a transport company.
- Necessary documents for customs clearance at the destination city are also provided to customers by Petro Nour Mehr Company.