Caustic Soda
Caustic Soda
Caustic Soda is the chemical Sodium Hydroxide (Chemical Formula), also known as lye. In its purest form, the caustic, highly toxic, crystalline solid is an inorganic compound that is soluble in water and insoluble in ether and other non-polar solvents. Caustic soda has many industrial applications that include the manufacture of pulp and paper, textiles, drinking water, soaps, detergents, and drain cleaner.
Categories All Products, Mining
Description
Caustic Soda is a white, crystalline, odorless solid with the chemical formula NaOH and CAS 1310-73-2. It is a highly caustic base and alkali that decomposes proteins at ambient temperatures and can cause severe chemical burns to exposed skin.
According to the Kurt C, Bittner J; Ullmann’s Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry 7th ed. (1999-2011), caustic soda is manufactured by evaporating sodium hydroxide solution until the water content is < 0.5 – 1.5 wt%. The most efficient utilization of energy is achieved with multistage equipment.
Solid caustic soda is sold in the form of flakes, prills, cast blocks, and less commonly as tablets, briquettes, and granules.
Worldwide production according to the latest statistics from the International Statistical Index is approximately 60 million tons per year.
Industrial Uses include:
- Adhesives and sealant chemicals
- Adsorbents and absorbents
- Agricultural chemicals (non-pesticidal)
- Bleaching agents
- CBI
- Corrosion inhibitors and anti-scaling agents
- Defoamer
- Finishing agents
- Flame retardants
- Food and Beverage Sanitation Chemicals
- Fuels and fuel additives
- Functional fluids (closed systems)
- Intermediates
- Ion exchange agents
- Lubricants and lubricant additives
Not known or reasonably ascertainable - Oxidizing/reducing agents
- Paint additives and coating additives not described by other categories
- Pigments
- Plasticizers