Soda Ash Description
Soda ash also known as sodium carbonate is an alkali chemical refined from trona ore and a weak base. Soda ash occurs in many kinds of mineral waters and in mineral deposits of certain springs and lake brines.
It most commonly occurs as a crystalline decahydrate, which readily effloresces to form a white powder, the monohydrate.
Pure sodium carbonate is a white, odorless powder that is hygroscopic (absorbs moisture from the air). It has a strongly alkaline taste and forms a moderately basic solution in water.
Soda ash has a number of diversified uses that touch our lives every day.
Glass manufacturing is the largest application for soda ash whether it is in the production of containers, fiberglass insulation, or flat glass for the housing, commercial building, and automotive industries.
It is also an important ingredient in the food and pharmaceutical industries.
Sodium carbonate is used in glassmaking, in the production of sodium chemicals (sodium chromates, phosphates, and silicates), in the wood pulp industry, manufacturing soaps and detergents, in water softening and refining of oils and nonferrous metals.
Its hydrous crystallized form is known as soda crystals, sal soda, or washing soda. Soda ash (Na2CO3) should not be confused with baking soda (sodium hydrogen carbonate or sodium bicarbonate, NaHCO3).
The safety specifications for sodium carbonate can be considered less demanding than those for the related bicarbonates, due to its lower alkalinity.
There are two types of soda ash: light, dense.
Chemical properties are the same for all three only physical characteristics are different.
Dense soda ash is mostly used in the manufacturing of industrial chemicals, light soda ash is used as a pH regulator in various industrial processes and washing soda is utilized in washing detergents and soaps to upgrade their cleaning abilities.
Dense Soda Ash from Turkey and UAE
Soda Ash Dense is a stable powder used in alkaline powder blends where a heavier bulk density is required.
commonly known as sodium carbonate is a white powder designed for use in powdered detergents and cleaners, chemical processes, pool pH adjustment, industrial cleaning and textile preparation.
Soda Ash Dense Uses
The manufacturing of glass
is one of the most important uses of Soda Ash Dense. When it is combined with silica (SiO2) and calcium carbonate (CaCO3) and heated to very high temperatures, then cooled very rapidly, glass is produced. This type of glass is known as soda lime glass.
Soda Ash Dense is also used as a relatively strong base in various settings. For example, Sodium carbonate Dense is used as a pH regulator to maintain stable alkaline conditions necessary for the action of the majority of developing agents.
It is a common additive in municipal pools used to neutralize the acidic effects of chlorine and raise pH.
In cooking
it is sometimes used in place of sodium hydroxide for lying, especially with German pretzels and lye rolls. These dishes are treated with a solution of an alkaline substance in order to change the pH of the surface of the food and thus improve browning.
In taxidermy
Sodium carbonate Dense added to boiling water will remove flesh from the skull or bones of trophies to create the “European skull mount” or for educational display in biological and historical studies.
In chemistry
it is often used as an electrolyte. This is because electrolytes are usually salt-based, and Sodium carbonate Dense acts as a very good conductor in the process of electrolysis. Additionally, unlike chloride ions which form chlorine gas, carbonate ions are not corrosive to the anodes. It is also used as a primary standard for acid-base titrations because it is solid and air-stable, making it easy to weigh accurately.
In domestic use
it is used as a water softener during laundry. It competes with the ions magnesium and calcium in hard water and prevents them from bonding with the detergent being used. Without using washing soda, additional detergent is needed to soak up the magnesium and calcium ions. Called Washing Soda, Soda crystals or Sal Soda in the detergent section of stores, it effectively removes oil, grease, and alcohol stains. Sodium carbonate is also used as a descaling agent in boilers such as found in coffee pots, espresso machines, etc.
In dyeing with fiber-reactive dyes
Sodium carbonate Dense is used to ensure proper chemical bonding of the dye with the fibers, typically before dyeing (for tie dyes), mixed with the dye (for dye painting), or after dyeing (for immersion dyeing).
Sodium carbonate Dense is used by the brick industry as a wetting agent to reduce the amount of water needed to extrude the clay.
In casting
it is referred to as “bonding agent” and is used to allow wet alginate to adhere to gelled alginate.
Soda Ash Dense is used in toothpastes
where it acts as a foaming agent, an abrasive, and to temporarily increase mouth pH.
Soda Ash Dense is used to create the photo process known as reticulation.
CHEMICAL SPECIFICATIONS of Soda Ash
| Na₂CO₃ | % | 99.5 min |
| Na₂O | % | 58.2 min |
| NaCl | % | 0.1 max |
| Na2SO4 | % | 0.1 max |
| Total Fe | µg/g | 10 max |
| Water Insolubles | % | 0.05 max |
| As / Arsenic | ppm | 1 max |
| Pb / Lead | ppm | 1 max |
| Hg / Mercury | ppm | 1 max |
| Solubility | g/100 ml water | 45.5 (100°C) 49.5 (35.37 °C) 7 (0 °C) |
| pH | 1 % solution | 11.4 |
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES of Dense Sodium carbonate
| Bulk Density | g/cm³ | 0.95-1.15 |
| Whiteness | % | L*= 95 min. (CIE Lab) |
| Appearance | Visual | Colourless crystals or white, granular or crystalline powder |
| Solubility | Soluble in water. Insoluble in ethanol. | |
| Particle Size | ||
| +600 micron (µm) | % | 5 max |
| +150 micron (µm) | % | 88 min |
| -75 micron (µm) | % | 5 max |
Light Soda Ash from Turkey and UAE
Soda Ash Light is used for production of detergents, chemicals, soaps, textile, paper, food, and other sodium compounds and for the casting industry, oil refineries.
Uses of Light Soda Ash
Sodium carbonate has extensive applications in multiple industry fields around the world. One of the essential utilizations is in the manufacturing of glass—about half of the total production of Sodium carbonate is applied in this branch.
As a strong chemical base, it is used in the manufacturing of pulp and paper, drinking water, textiles, soaps, detergents, and as a drain cleaner.
In addition, it can also be used for tissue digestion, in dissolving amphoteric metals and compounds, as well as a cleaning agent.
Consumer use
Sodium carbonate is used in food preparation as a food additive, anticaking agent, raising agent, pH balancer, and stabilizer. It is used in the production of sherbet powder, and as a vital component in Chinese and German traditional cuisine.
Toxicity and handling
Bioassay information is available upon request. Handle as an industrial chemical, wearing protective equipment and observing the precautions described on the transportation and safety data sheet.
Soda ash is an alkaline material that can cause irritation to eyes, skin, or respiratory tract. Sodium carbonate should be added slowly to the mud system either by mixing through the hopper or chemical barrel.
Do not mix soda ash with other chemicals, especially caustic soda or lime. When using a chemical barrel, mix soda ash into a full barrel of freshwater and provide adequate agitation.
Packaging and storage of Soda Ash
Soda ash is a globally available commercial chemical and is packaged in
- 25 or 50 kg (PE) bag
- 1000 kg (PP) bigbag
- 1250 kg (PP) bigbag
Store in a dry area away from water or acids.
READ ABOUT SODA ASH DENSE
READ ABOUT SODA ASH LIGHT
