Supplier of High-quality caustic soda flakes from Dubai-UAE
Introduction of Caustic soda flakes
Caustic soda flakes (Sodium hydroxide flakes) are among the most usable and very strong alkaline chemical mixtures that use the NaOH formula. It is in white solid, flat, crystalline flakes, notably hygroscopic. Caustic soda flakes are prepared by the electrolysis of salt or sodium chloride in a chloro-alkali process, producing chlorine gas and sodium hydroxide.
What is Caustic Soda Flake?
A caustic soda flake is a white, odorless solid highly soluble in water. It is produced through the electrolysis of sodium chloride (table salt) and is commonly available as flakes, pearls, or granular solids. This compound is hygroscopic, meaning it can absorb moisture from the air, so it is often packaged in airtight containers.
Key Properties of Caustic Soda Flakes
- Appearance:
- White, solid flakes or crystals.
- Odorless.
- Chemical Formula: NaOH
- Solubility:
- Highly soluble in water, with an exothermic reaction (releases heat).
- Forms a strongly alkaline aqueous solution.
- pH:
- Solutions are extremely alkaline, typically with a pH between 12 and 14.
- Melting Point:
- Approximately 318°C (604°F).
- Boiling Point:
- 1,388°C (2,530°F) in its molten state.
- Density:
- About 2.13 g/cm³ (solid form).
- Corrosiveness:
- Highly corrosive to metals, organic materials, and living tissue.
- Can cause severe burns and damage to skin and eyes.
- Reactivity:
- Reacts violently with water, releasing heat.
- Reacts with acids, fats, oils, and many other substances.
- Reacts with CO₂ to form sodium carbonate.
- Hygroscopic:
- Absorbs moisture from the air, causing clumping and degradation of the dry form if not stored properly.
- Viscosity (in aqueous solution):
- Solutions vary in viscosity depending on the concentration of caustic soda.
Product Process for Caustic Soda Flakes (Sodium Hydroxide)
The production of caustic soda flakes (sodium hydroxide) involves a series of key steps, typically through an electrolysis process. Here’s an overview of the process:
- Electrolysis of Brine: This is the procedure that starts the process in an electrolytic cell in which an electric current is passed through sodium chloride-salt dissolved in water-brine. This quickly separates the salt into three products: chlorine gas, hydrogen gas, and sodium hydroxide.
- Concentration and Purification: The sodium hydroxide solution is concentrated by removing excess water. Impurities are also removed to ensure high purity.
- Cooling and Crystallization: The concentrated sodium hydroxide solution is then cooled to form solid flakes. These flakes are dried to remove any remaining moisture.
- Packaging: The final caustic soda flakes are packed in moisture-proof bags or containers to prevent them from absorbing moisture from the air.
Caustic soda flakes are widely used in industries such as soap manufacturing, water treatment, paper production, and chemical synthesis due to their strong alkaline properties.
various grades of caustic soda flakes
Technical Grade
- Purity: Typically around 96-98%.
- Applications: In general, it is utilized in industrial sectors where ultra-high purity is not demanded. It is applied in the textile, paper, and aluminum industries for specific processes such as pulp bleaching, metal cleaning, and water treatment.
Industrial Grade
- Purity: Generally 98-99%.
- Applications: This grade is suitable for more stringent industrial use, such as petroleum processing, manufacture of chemicals, and water treatment. This would, therefore, be ideal for industries requiring high caustic activity but not pharmaceutical-level purity.
Food Grade
- Purity: Generally 99% or higher.
- Applications: Food-grade caustic soda under rigid conditions may be considered suitable for use in food manufacturing. The applications include peeling fruits and vegetables, defeating cocoa and chocolate processing, and caramel color production. This grade should fulfill stringent regulatory requirements laid down for safety while in contact with food.
Pharmaceutical Grade
- Purity: 99% or higher, often meeting specific standards for chemical purity.
- Applications: It is used for the manufacture of drugs, and cosmetics, and in laboratory and pharmaceutical preparations. This category needs to follow all standards at work, governing the pharmaceutical industries to ensure the best quality to avoid contamination that can affect health.
Reagent Grade / Analytical Grade
- Purity: Very high, up to 99.5% or above.
- Applications: Commonly used in laboratories for chemical analysis and in research settings. Reagent-grade caustic soda must be highly pure and free of contaminants that could affect scientific results.
Applications and Uses Caustic Soda Flake
1. Chemical Manufacturing and Industrial Applications
Caustic soda flakes also find their main application in the manufacture of chemicals such as soaps, detergents, and industrial cleaners. It acts as a strong alkali by neutralizing acids and degrading oils and fats in the process of manufacturing many chemicals. Other vital usages of caustic flakes include its application in the manufacturing of sodium hypochlorite, which serves as an active disinfectant.
2. Petroleum Refining
The use of caustic soda flakes in petroleum refining neutralizes impurities of sulfur and hydrogen sulfide by washing out from crude oil and natural gas. This will ensure refined products of better quality.
3. Water Treatment
The caustic soda flakes have wide applications in water treatment plants for pH adjustment and neutralization of the acidic compounds present. They are also very important in the removal of heavy metals, which makes the water suitable for various industrial and municipal purposes. Its application in water purification contributes to cleaner, safer drinking water and wastewater treatment.
4. Textile Industry
Caustic soda flakes find their application in scouring, bleaching, and dyeing in the textile industry. It is mainly used to clean raw fibers by removing impurities, which include waxes, oils, and other impurities. Caustic soda flakes ensure efficient processing with higher-quality finished textiles.
5. Paper and Pulp Industry
Caustic soda flakes in paper manufacturing provide pulping action on the wood chips and therefore result in pulp. It is also employed in the deinking of recycled paper. With all these applications, caustic soda is an indispensable factor in the sustainable manufacture of paper.
6. Food Processing
Caustic soda flakes have applications in food processing: mainly fruit and vegetable peeling, especially tomatoes and citrus. Specific uses are also made in adjusting pH values in certain food manufacturing processes to provide safe and quality food products.
7. Soap and Detergent Manufacturing
The manufacture of soap remains one of the most common uses for caustic soda flakes. The caustic soda reacts with fats and oils during saponification to produce soap and glycerin. It is, therefore, one of the vital raw materials in the manufacture of household and industrial soaps and detergents.
8. Biodiesel Production
Caustic soda flakes in biodiesel production work as a catalyst for the transesterification process, whereby the oils and fats get converted into biodiesel and glycerin. This helps in creating one more renewable source of energy with less environmental impact.
9. Aluminum Production
Caustic soda flakes are used in the extraction of aluminum from bauxite ore. They work by helping dissolve aluminum oxide, therefore separating it from other impurities during refining, which is a very important step in aluminum production.
10. Industrial Cleaning and Degreasing
The caustic soda flakes have wide applications in industrial cleaning, like degreasing and cleaning machinery, tools, and equipment. In this respect, it does a great job of dissolving oils, greases, and other organic residues for smooth operations within manufacturing plants and factories.
Advantages of Caustic Soda Flakes (Sodium Hydroxide Flakes)
Caustic soda flakes, or sodium hydroxide flakes, have to be one of the most versatile and highly used chemicals throughout industries globally. This very strong alkaline compound offers an array of advantages that render it irreplaceable for many uses. The following are the key benefits of caustic soda flakes in industrial and commercial applications:
Highly Effective Cleaning Agent
- Caustic Soda Flakes have a strong reputation for cleaning and degreasing. They dissociate oils, fats, and grease successfully. Applications range across industrial cleaning in the food-processing, textile-manufacturing, and chemical sectors because of their high efficiency. This helps in hygiene and efficiency in equipment and workplaces.
Strong Alkaline Properties for pH Control
- Caustic soda flakes are effective in neutralizing acids, with a high pH of 12-14, thus being imperative in industries that require a very accurate pH. Applications are immense in water treatment plants, manufacturing of chemicals, and paper production to control acidity and maintain balanced conditions for operations.
Versatile in Chemical Synthesis
- Caustic soda flakes serve as a strong base that contributes to chemical synthesis. Being basic, they find their application in soaps, detergents, the production of biodiesel, and synthetic fibers; hence, they are very important during various industrial chemical processes.
Effective in Water Treatment
- Caustic soda flakes are highly utilized in water treatment applications, like neutralizing acidic water, adjusting pH levels, and removing heavy metals from wastewater. They improve water quality in industries such as municipal water treatment and wastewater management.
Cost-Effective Solution
- Caustic soda flakes are fairly cheap and available compared to other alkaline chemicals. This cost-effectiveness makes them attractive for large-scale industrial operations such as the manufacture of chemicals, the refining of oil, and the production of soap.
High Reactivity for Diverse Applications
- Because of the strong reactivity, caustic soda flakes have great applications in many industries requiring fast and effective reactions with acids, oils, fats, and other products. That explains why they are vital in the manufacture of biodiesel, and petrochemical refining, among other high-demand industrial processes.
Food Processing Applications
- Caustic soda flakes are permitted for use in certain food processing applications, including peeling fruits (such as olives) and cleaning food-processing equipment in controlled environments. Caustic soda flakes play an integral role in the cleaning and processing systems of the food industry when proper application procedures are followed.
Safety Tips for Caustic Soda Flakes
- Wear PPE: Gloves, goggles, protective clothing, and respirators.
- Store Safely: Keep in airtight containers in a cool, dry area.
- Avoid Water Contact: Always add flakes to water, not vice versa.
- Skin Contact: Rinse with water for 15-20 minutes and seek medical help.
- Eye Contact: Flush eyes for 15 minutes, and get medical attention.
- Inhalation: Work in well-ventilated areas; seek fresh air if inhaled.
- Disposal: Neutralize with dilute acid and follow local disposal regulations.
- Spill Response: Evacuate, contain, and neutralize spills.
- Avoid Incompatibles: Keep away from acids and reactive metals.
Packing of Caustic Soda Flakes
Caustic soda flakes are carefully packed to ensure safety and quality. Common packaging includes 25 kg and 50 kg HDPE bags with inner LDPE linings to protect against moisture. For bulk needs, 1-ton jumbo bags with moisture-proof layers are used.
Each bag is securely sealed and labeled with product details, purity, safety warnings, and manufacturing information. For export, additional measures like laminated bags and palletized shipping ensure safe transit.
ZÜMRÜT International Kimya Co. guarantees reliable and secure packaging solutions for all your caustic soda needs.
Conclusion
Caustic soda flake is one of those indispensable chemicals across many industries, serving a wide range of uses from manufacturing to environmental management. The properties of this chemical compound, its uses, and safety precautions will be paramount for any business when the need to make use of it arises. Safe use of this compound may be ensured with proper handling and being aware of its hazards, rendering caustic soda flakes appropriate and quite reliable for so many types of industrial processes.
TECHNICAL DATA SHEET OF SODIUM HYDROXIDE FLAKE SOLID (CAUSTIC SODA)
| NO | PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL PROPERTIES |
ISIRI COMPLIANT RANGE |
CCPC PRODUCT RANGE |
STANDARD REFERENCE |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Purity of Sodium Hydroxide (NaOH)_ % w/w |
Min 98 | Min 98 | ISIRI 364 |
| 2 | Carbonate as Na₂CO₃ _ % w/w | Max 1 | Max 0.5 | ISIRI 364 |
| 3 | Chloride as NaCl _ % w/w | Max 0.06 | Max 0.02 | ISIRI 364 |
| 4 | Sulfate as Na₂So4 _ %w/w | Max 0.01 | Max 0.005 | ISIRI 364 |
| 5 | Silicate as SiO₂ _ % w/w | Max 0.02 | Max 0.005 | ISIRI 364 |
| 6 | Iron as Fe_mg/kg | Max 30 | Max 15 | ISIRI 364 |
| 7 | Insoluble in Water _ % w/w | Max 0.1 | 0 | ISIRI 364 |
| 8 | Aluminum as Al₂O₃ _ mg/kg | Max 20 | Max 20 | ISIRI 364 |
| 9 | Heavy Metals as Pb _ mg/kg | Max 20 | Max 20 | ISIRI 364 |
| 10 | Mercury as Hg _ mg/kg | Max 0.2 | Max 0.15 | ISIRI 364 |
| 11 | Arsenic as As_mg/kg | Max 2 | Max 0.5 | ISIRI 364 |
| 12 | Appearance | White Color, Free of Visible Impurities |
OK | ISIRI 364 |
