CAUSTIC SODA

PRODUCT IDENTIFICATION

H.S. CODE

CLASSIFICATION

EXTRA NOTES

GENERAL DESCRIPTION

Sodium Hydroxide,  commonly known as caustic soda, lye, or sodium hydrate, is a caustic compound which attacks organic matter. (caustic soda is sodium hydroxide, caustic potash is potassium hydroxide and silver nitrate is lunar caustic.) Caustic soda is available commercially in various white solid forms and as a solutions of various concentrations in water. It is very soluble in water, alcohol, and glycerin and absorbs carbon dioxide and moisture from the air. Sodium hydroxide is prepared by the reaction of sodium carbonate (soda) in concentrated solution form with calcium hydroxide (slaked lime).  But the principal method for its manufacture is by the electrolysis of brine. (the two current technologies are the diaphragm and the membrane). The electrolyte is saturated brine (about 25% aqueous sodium chloride). The chloride ion is oxidized at the anode to chlorine gas. chlorine gas is a coproduct. Sodium hydroxide is a strong base and inexpensive which find many applications in the chemical industry. Sodium hydroxide provides fuctions of neutralisation of acids, hydrolysis, condensation. saponification and replacement of other groups in organic compounds of hydroxyl ions. The major use of sodium hydroxide is as a chemical and in the manufacture of other chemicals. It is used in textile industry. Sodium hydroxide is used mainly for two processes in textile manufacture. Mercerizing of fibre with sodium and hydroxide solution enables greater tensional strength and consistent lustre. It also removes waxes and oils from fibre to make the fibre more receptive to bleaching and dying. Sodium hydroxide is also used in the production of viscose rayon. Cellulose is extracted from pulp using sodium hydroxide and subsequently treated with high purity sodium hydroxide  to produce soda cellulose. Further chemical treatment results in a rayon fibre. This is a declining market due to the competition from synthetic (ie petrochemical) fibres. It is used in making paper and pulp.Sodium hydroxide aids separation of cellulose fibres from lignin; this breaks down wood into pulp. Sodium hydroxide also helps bleach paper to required whiteness and brightness. In alumina production industry, a strong alkali solution separates pure alumina from bauxite ore. Alumina is then recovered through precipitation and finally, calcination. Sodium hydroxide is also widely used in in making soaps and detergents, Sodium hydroxide was originally used for soap manufacture, but now has a wider variety of functions. As well as an extractant and refining agent for certain oils, sodium hydroxide is used to produce active agents, or builders in modern synthetic detergents. Sodium Hydroxide is used for sodium hypochlorite which is used as a household bleach and disinfectant and for sodium phenolate used in antiseptics and for the manufacture of Aspirin.

PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL PROPERTIES

318 C

AUTOIGNITION

NFPA RATINGS

REFRACTIVE INDEX

GENERAL DESCRIPTION & EXTERNAL LINKS

Direct application,(pulp and paper, soaps and detergents, aluminia, petroleum, textiles, water treatment,); organic chemicals, (propylene oxide, polycarbonate, ethyleneamines, epoxy resins,); inorganic chemicals, (sodium/calcium hypochlorite, sulfur-containing compounds, sodium cyanide, )

Wikipedia Linking: http://en.wikipedia.org/

Material Safety Data Sheet: http://www.inchem.org/

Google Scholar Search: http://scholar.google.com/

SIDS Initial Assessment Report: http://www.inchem.org/

Caustic soda, or sodium hydroxide, is a strong base soluble in water. Produced by the electrolysis of salt brine, it is available on a wide industrial scale. Caustic soda is used in the manufacture of products which form part of our daily lives and in applications or uses as varied as the pulp & paper, detergents, the chemical, building and car industries, packaging, agriculture, environmental protection, water treatment, foodstuffs, health and textiles, and so on. Solvay produces and supplies caustic soda in liquid form (aqueous solution) and solid form (anhydrous), under the main quality international standards, in order to provide efficient services to industry.... www.solvaychemicals.com

Caustic Soda Lye is one of the most widely used chemicals in the industry. Caustic soda is a solution of Sodium hydroxide (NaOH) in water. It is a strong base with a wide range of applications in different industries. We produce caustic soda together with chlorine and hydrogen from the electrolysis of salt brine. With our production in five plants in Europe and our quality commitment, we guarantee a high service level towards our customers. Worldwide, the major users of caustic soda are the aluminum industry, pulp & paper and the chemical industry. The main applications are water treatment and water purification, as cleaning agent, or a wide range of uses in chemical industry like starch production or for the desulphurization in the petrochemical industry..... www.akzonobel.com

APPEARANCE

White, Free-flowing, Fast Dissolving Flakes

NaOH

99.0% min

Na₂O

76.0% min

Na₂CO₃

0.5% max

NaCl

0.1% max

NaSO₄

0.1% max

Fe₂O₃

0.004% max

HEAVY METALS

20ppm max

TRANSPORTATION