caustic soda application
caustic soda application
Caustic soda is a basic feedstock in the manufacture of a wide range of chemicals. It is used as an intermediate and a reactant in processes that produce solvents, plastics, synthetic fibres, bleach, adhesives, coatings, herbicides, dyes, inks and pharmaceuticals. It is also used to neutralise acidic waste streams and the scrubbing of acidic components from off-gases.
Other uses include the saponification or conversion of fat, tallow and vegetable oils in soap manufacture, and in the manufacture of surfactants for detergents. It is used in the petroleum and natural gas industries to remove acidic materials from hydrocarbons and off-gases. In the textile sector, it is used in the chemical processing of cotton and the dying of synthetic fibres.
Main Caustic Soda Application
Aluminum Production
Used to dissolve bauxite ore, the raw material for aluminum production.
Soap and Detergent
Used in saponification, the chemical process that converts fat, tallow and vegetable oils into soap. It also is used to manufacture anionic surfactants, a crucial component in most detergents and cleaning products.
Textiles
Used to process cotton and dye synthetic fibers, such as nylon and polyester.
Bleach Manufacturing
Used to make bleach, which has industrial and consumer applications such as mold and mildew control around the home.
Petroleum Products
Used to explore, produce and process petroleum and natural gas.
Pulp and Paper
The largest application for caustic soda worldwide. Uses include in pulping and bleaching processes, the deinking of waste paper and water treatment.
Pharmaceuticals and Medicine
Sodium hydroxide is used to help manufacture a variety of medicines and pharmaceutical products, from common pain relievers like aspirin, to anticoagulants that can help to prevent blood clots, to cholesterol-reducing medications.
Energy
In the energy sector, sodium hydroxide is used in fuel cell production. Fuel cells work like batteries to cleanly and efficiently produce electricity for a range of applications, including transportation; materials handling; and stationary, portable and emergency backup power applications. Epoxy resins, manufactured with sodium hydroxide, are used in wind turbines.
Water treatment
Municipal water treatment facilities use caustic soda to control water acidity and to help remove heavy metals from water. Sodium hydroxide is also used to produce sodium hypochlorite, a water disinfectant
