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SODA ASH (SODIUM CARBONATE)

Sodium carbonate (also known as washing soda, soda ash and soda crystals, and in the monohydrate form as crystal carbonate), Na2CO3, is the water-soluble sodium salt of carbonic acid.

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. Sodium carbonate is well known domestically for its everyday use as a water softener. When companies process and produce soda ash, a number of other sodium compounds are made as co-products, including sodium bicarbonate (also known as baking soda), sodium sulfite, sodium tripolyphosphate, and chemical caustic soda.

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.

There are basically three grades of soda ash that are produced, namely:

  • Dense soda ash, which is an anhydrous substance. It forms an important industrial chemical, and is widely used in the manufacture of different products.

  • Light soda ash, which is widely used as a pH regulator/ buffering agent in multiple industrial processes.

  • Washing soda, which is also an anhydrous substance that’s produced by combining light soda ash along with additional molecules of water. It’s mostly used in soaps and washing detergents to improve their cleaning properties.

Soda ash also is used to clean the air and soften water. As environmental concerns grow, demand increases for soda ash used in the removal of sulfur dioxide and hydrochloric acid from stack gases. Chemical producers use soda ash as an intermediate to manufacture products that sweeten soft drinks (corn sweeteners), relieve physical discomfort (sodium bicarbonate) and improve foods and toiletries (phosphates). Household detergents and paper products are a few other common examples of readily identifiable products using soda ash.

What is Soda Ash?

Sodium carbonate is an inorganic intense alkaline compound with the formula Na2CO3. Sodium carbonate is also known as soda ash or Soda Crystals or washing soda.

Na2CO3 exists naturally and artificially. Ashes of trees grown in sodium-rich fields are excellent sources of Sodium carbonate. The natural method produces a limited amount; hence it is commonly produced through Synthetic processes including the Solvay process. To produce Sodium carbonate with the Solvay method, raw materials such as pure salt and limestone are necessary. All forms are white solid humidity absorbent powder.

Sodium carbonate has a varied range of applications in different industries, including cleaning and hygiene products, glass making and some cosmetics and personal care products.

What happens in the Solvay Process?

Producing soda ash through the Solvay method requires salt and trona ore; as a result, the factories are in the regions with trona ore mines. This process generates a lower waste product; therefore, it is more economical. After mining the trona ore, it is heated in rotary calciners which leads to the production of sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) and ammonium chloride. Then the sodium bicarbonate is heated and the final product, Sodium carbonate, emerges.

The final produced soda ash is available in dense and light; accordingly, they are chemically identical. Albeit, they vary in density, granule size, and application.

What is Soda Ash Dense?

After getting soda ash light in the Solvay process, the dehydration continues to obtain a product with higher density. Additionally, by proceeding dehydration, the sodium carbonate crystals’ size grows larger.

Larger granules mean less dust and impurities and untroubled transportation, as the particles are heavier and scattering possibility decreases.

Soda Ash Applications

Soda ash is a vital raw material in the glass industry, but glass manufacturing is not the only use. Nevertheless, you cannot neglect the vast application of soda ash dense in glassmaking. In 2018, 53% of the 60 million tons of produced Na2CO3 consumed in the glassmaking industry.

Here you can see some of the application:

– Both light and dense types are useful for the chemical industry. ‌Various chemicals such as sodium bicarbonate, sodium Silicate, etc. need Na2CO3 in their production procedures.

– Furthermore, in paper and pulp production, it acts as a type of pH regulator. Moreover, it decolorizes waste paper.

– Cleaning products, precisely environmentally-friendly types, contain sodium carbonate due to its antiseptic and fats permeability and breakdown. You may find it in laundry detergents, dishwasher detergents, multi-purpose cleaners, glass cleaners, stain removers, and laundry conditioners.

– Sodium carbonate is a profound stain remover and bleacher; consequently, it is popular in the textile industry. It adjusts the pH of the procedure, additionally, in silk production, performs as an anti-acid.

The extensive application of heavy sodium carbonate is in the glass manufacturing industry, where it accelerates the melting of silica (sand).

The density of heavy sodium carbonate is about 1000 Kilogram per cubic meter, and the granule size is nearly 300 to 500 micrometers. In the picture, you can see some information on  Gemini Productions soda ash dense specifications.