From clean energy to dirty countertops, Caustic Soda has an amazing variety of uses.
In use long before it was ever formally identified, dating back to the ancient Egyptians and the Babylonians where they would percolate vegetable ashes with water. Ancient clay tablets have been discovered depicting mixtures that date around 4800 years old. However, clear identification of the nature of the substance had to wait for Humphrey Davy’s discovery of the element sodium, which he produced by electrolysing molten sodium hydroxide in 1807.
With this breakthrough discovery, its application and demand quickly rose. By 2004, world production was estimated at 60 million dry tonnes of sodium hydroxide, and demand was estimated at 51 million tonnes.
Caustic Soda (NaOH) is an incredibly versatile alkali. Its main uses are in the manufacture of:
• Pulp and paper – Caustic Soda bleaches and renders pulp, removes ink from recycled paper and treats the water used during the paper manufacturing process. At the beginning of processing wood into paper, Caustic Soda is combined with Sodium Sulphide to dissolve all but cellulose, which is the main component of creating paper.
• Soap and detergents – Cleansers and disinfectants are often components of caustic soda. Chlorine bleach, for instance, combines chlorine and sodium hydroxide to create a powerful disinfectant. Its ability to ‘saponify’ fats and greases allows for quick clean up.
• Petroleum products – Caustic Soda is used in the petroleum and natural gas industries to remove acidic materials from hydrocarbons and off-gases.
• Chemical production – As a basic feedstock for chemicals and an intermediate and reactant in the production of solvents, synthetic fibres, adhesives, herbicides, dyes, plastics, and pharmaceutical products, caustic soda is an undeniably important chemical.
• Energy Sector – In the energy sector, Caustic Soda 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.
Other applications include water treatment, food, textiles, metal processing, mining, glass making and others.
Redox offers Caustic Soda in a variety of products and volumes:
• Caustic Soda Liquid we can customise supply in various strengths, packing and delivery sizes. Strengths range from 10% to 50% and pack sizes include 20L, 200L, and 1000L packages up to 25,000L bulk tankers. We also offer an IBC pump out service in Sydney and Melbourne for those users with smaller holding tanks which can be more cost-effective than doing small drops using a large road tanker.
• Caustic Soda Pearl qualities of Technical Grade, Food Grade and Pharmaceutical Grade available in packages of 25kg bags or bulk bags.
• Caustic Soda Prill / Beads (US market) qualities of Technical grade pack sizes are 55lb (25kg) bags and 2200lb (1000kg) bulk bags.
To find out more about Caustic Soda, contact one of our industry specialists today.