Liquid Caustic Soda Supplier: 50% Sodium Hydroxide (Caustic Soda Lye) in IBC Tanks and PE Drums
Liquid Caustic Soda 48–50% (Caustic Soda Lye), Supplied by the Container
Liquid caustic soda is sodium hydroxide dissolved in water — also sold as caustic soda lye or 50% sodium hydroxide solution. SUHA International Trading is a liquid caustic soda supplier and exporter: we ship membrane-grade 48–50% NaOH in IBC tanks or PE drums, from one full container load, from Mersin (Türkiye) and Jebel Ali (UAE) or by truck from Türkiye, with a certificate of analysis for every lot. We are a supplier, not a manufacturer.
- Chemical
- Sodium hydroxide solution
- Strength
- 48–50% NaOH
- HS code
- 2815.12
- Dangerous goods
- UN 1824 · Class 8 · PG II
- Packing
- IBC tanks · PE drums
- Minimum order
- 1 FCL, 20ft or 40ft
- 48–50%NaOH, membrane grade
- ≈ 1.525g/cm³ at 20 °C
- ≈ 12 °Ccrystallisation point
- IBC · PEtanks and drums
- COAwith every lot
- 24 hfirm quotation
What Is Liquid Caustic Soda (50% Sodium Hydroxide)?
Liquid caustic soda is a 48–50% solution of sodium hydroxide (NaOH) in water. It is the same chemical as caustic soda flakes and pearls, made in the same chlor-alkali process, but sold before the water is evaporated. Plants that dose alkali continuously — water works, pulp mills, refineries, alumina plants — pump it straight from a tank with no dissolving step.
| Property | Value | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Also called | Caustic soda lye, sodium hydroxide solution, membrane lye | Same product under different trade names |
| CAS / EC number | 1310-73-2 · 215-185-5 | Identifies the substance on SDS and customs papers |
| Density, 50% at 20 °C | ≈ 1.525 g/cm³ | 1 litre weighs ≈ 1.53 kg and holds ≈ 0.76 kg NaOH |
| Crystallisation point, 50% | ≈ 12 °C | Tanks and lines need heating in cool weather |
| pH, 1% solution | ≈ 13.4 | Strong base, corrosive |
| HS code | 2815.12 | Solid flakes and pearls are 2815.11 |
| UN number | UN 1824, Class 8, PG II | Dangerous goods by sea (IMDG) and road (ADR) |
| GHS | Danger · H290, H314 | Corrosive to metals, causes severe burns |
Liquid Caustic Soda 48–50% Specification and TDS
Values from our published liquid caustic soda technical data sheet. The product column is the limit our lots are supplied to; the certificate of analysis for your lot governs.
| Parameter | Unit | Standard limit | Product limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sodium hydroxide (NaOH) | % w/w | 48 min | 48 min (48–50) |
| Carbonate as Na₂CO₃ | % w/w | 0.5 max | 0.3 max |
| Chloride as NaCl | % w/w | 0.03 max | 0.015 max |
| Sulfate as Na₂SO₄ | % w/w | 0.007 max | 0.004 max |
| Silicate as SiO₂ | % w/w | 0.01 max | 0.005 max |
| Iron as Fe | mg/kg | 10 max | 7 max |
| Insoluble in water | % w/w | 0.05 max | 0 |
| Heavy metals as Pb | mg/kg | 10 max | 10 max |
| Mercury as Hg | mg/kg | 0.1 max | 0.1 max |
| Appearance | — | Colourless, clear, free of sediment | Conforms |
Membrane-grade vs diaphragm-grade 50% caustic soda
| Point | Membrane grade (what we supply) | Diaphragm grade |
|---|---|---|
| Sodium chloride | Very low — 0.015% max on our TDS | Around 1% in typical 50% product |
| Suits | Food, rayon, water treatment, high-purity duties | General industrial use where salt is tolerated |
| Process | Ion-exchange membrane; no mercury or asbestos | Older cells, some with asbestos diaphragms |
Aluminium and arsenic are reported on the full TDS and on each certificate of analysis. The mercury line is a maximum limit for buyers who test for it; membrane-cell production uses no mercury.
Liquid Caustic Soda Packing: IBC Tanks and PE Drums
Every unit is UN-marked for UN 1824, Class 8, and carries the lot number. Polyethylene does not rust, so it adds no iron to the solution.
Intermediate bulk containers
The most efficient pack for plants with a forklift and a dosing tank: fewer units to handle, quick discharge through the bottom valve, and less packaging per ton.
Closed-head polyethylene drums
Light, rust-free drums that suit smaller dosing points, distributors re-selling by the drum, food and water duties and sites without bulk handling.
| Packing | Best for |
|---|---|
| IBC tank | Plants with forklifts and day tanks |
| PE drum | Small dosing points, distributors, food and water duties |
Liquid caustic soda calculator: NaOH content and price per dry ton
Enter tons of solution and strength. Add a quoted price per ton of solution to see what you pay per dry ton of NaOH — the fair way to compare liquid with flakes. Calculated in your browser only.
- Contained NaOH
- 10.0 MT
- Same NaOH as 98% flakes
- 10.2 MT
- Price per dry ton NaOH
- —
- Order value
- —add a quoted price
How to Dilute 50% Caustic Soda, and How to Make It From Flakes
Always add caustic to water, never water to caustic. Dilution releases heat; add the solution slowly, with stirring and cooling. Water needed = solution × (start % ÷ target % − 1).
Dilution calculator
Example: 100 kg of 50% solution plus 150 kg of water gives 250 kg of 20% solution.
- Water to add
- 150 kg
- Diluted solution
- 250 kg
- NaOH in solution
- 50 kg
- Check
- 20%
Making 50% from flakes. For 1,000 kg of 50% solution, dissolve about 510 kg of 98% caustic soda flakes in about 490 kg of water, adding the flakes slowly to the water. For long-distance supply this is often cheaper than shipping liquid, because you avoid paying freight on the water.
Liquid Caustic Soda or Flakes: Which Should You Buy?
Same chemical, different economics. Compare cost per ton of NaOH delivered, not per ton of product.
| Criterion | Liquid 48–50% | Flakes 98–99% | Pearls 99% |
|---|---|---|---|
| NaOH per ton shipped | ≈ 0.48–0.50 t | ≈ 0.98–0.99 t | ≈ 0.99 t |
| Freight per ton of NaOH | About double | Low | Low |
| Dissolving on site | None — pump and dose | Yes, releases heat | Yes, releases heat |
| Dust | None | Moderate | Very low |
| Cold weather | Crystallises below ≈ 12 °C | Cakes if damp | Little caking |
| Packing | IBC tanks or PE drums | 25 kg bags | 25 kg bags |
| Best for | Plants built for liquid dosing | Long-distance bulk supply | Auto-dosing; priced below flakes on current offers |
More detail: caustic soda flakes vs liquid caustic soda · types and grades of caustic soda · caustic soda supplier hub.
What Is Liquid Caustic Soda Used For?
Wherever alkali is dosed continuously. Each card links to the full guide for that industry.
Water and wastewater
pH correction, alkalinity, corrosion control and heavy-metal precipitation.
Caustic soda for water treatmentPulp and paper
White liquor make-up, bleaching extraction and de-inking.
Caustic soda in pulp and paperAlumina and mining
Bauxite digestion and pH control in mineral processing.
Caustic soda in miningOil refining and gas
Removing hydrogen sulfide and mercaptans from fuel and gas streams.
Caustic soda in oil refiningSoap and detergent
Saponifying oils and neutralising LABSA in liquid detergent bases.
Caustic soda in soap and detergentTextiles
Mercerising and scouring cotton, dye-bath pH control.
Caustic soda for textile processingFood and beverage
Clean-in-place cleaning, peeling and olive curing with food-grade material.
Caustic soda in food productionChemicals and sugar
Neutralisation, sodium salts, and evaporator cleaning in sugar mills.
Caustic soda for the sugar industryWorking concentrations and dosage are set by each plant’s own technical team.
Liquid Caustic Soda Price: per Ton of Solution or per Dry Ton of NaOH?
Liquid caustic soda is quoted in US dollars per metric ton, but on two different bases. Some sellers quote per ton of solution (wet basis); others quote per dry metric ton of NaOH contained. A ton of 50% solution holds half a ton of NaOH, so the wet price is roughly half the dry price. Check the basis before you compare two offers.
| Quote basis | What you pay for | To compare with flakes |
|---|---|---|
| Per ton of solution (wet) | Every ton of 48–50% liquid delivered | Divide by the NaOH fraction (0.50 for 50%) to get price per ton of NaOH |
| Per dry ton of NaOH | Only the NaOH contained; invoice weight is solution × strength | Compare directly with the flake price divided by 0.98 |
What moves the price
Power cost and chlorine demand at the producer, strength, packing, volume, loading origin and freight — liquid is the most freight-sensitive form.
Current levels
Indicative levels for flakes, pearls and liquid: caustic soda price; landed cost by country: caustic soda price by country.
Firm quotation
Send strength, tonnage, packing, destination and Incoterm; a dated FOB, CFR or CIF price comes back within 24 hours.
Liquid Caustic Soda Supplier for Wholesale Buyers in Türkiye and the UAE
Distributors, traders and plants buy liquid caustic soda wholesale from one full container load of IBC tanks or PE drums. Each lot comes with the COA, SDS and TDS needed to resell it.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Strength | 48–50% NaOH, membrane grade; food grade on request |
| Packing | IBC tanks or PE drums |
| Minimum order | One full container load, 20ft or 40ft |
| Loading | Mersin (Türkiye) · Jebel Ali (UAE) · truck from Türkiye |
| Incoterms | FOB · CFR · CIF (Incoterms 2020) |
| Lead time | Typically 7–14 working days from confirmed order |
| Payment | T/T against documents · irrevocable L/C at sight |
| Documents | COA, SDS, invoice, packing list, B/L or CMR, certificate of origin, DG declaration (UN 1824) |
| Inspection | SGS, Bureau Veritas or Cotecna on request |
Liquid caustic soda in Dubai and the UAE
From our Dubai head office we supply all seven emirates — water and desalination plants, refineries, detergent makers — and export from Jebel Ali. Details: caustic soda supplier in the UAE.
Liquid caustic soda in Türkiye
From our Ankara office we supply all 81 provinces, load containers at Mersin and deliver by truck to neighbouring markets. Details: caustic soda supplier in Türkiye.
Regional supply: Africa · Balkans · Ukraine · South America.
Storing and Handling Liquid Caustic Soda Safely
Tanks and fittings
Carbon steel or HDPE at ambient temperature. Never aluminium, zinc, tin or galvanised parts — they react and release hydrogen.
Keep above ≈ 12 °C
50% solution crystallises near 12 °C. Insulate or heat-trace tanks and lines, and keep IBCs and drums indoors in winter.
Keep it closed
Air slowly converts NaOH to sodium carbonate. Keep tanks, IBCs and drums sealed between draws.
Segregate and contain
Bunded storage away from acids, with spill kits at unloading points.
Protection
Splash goggles, face shield, alkali-resistant gloves, apron and boots; eyewash and safety shower near unloading and dosing points.
Exposure limits
OSHA PEL 2 mg/m³; NIOSH REL and ACGIH TLV 2 mg/m³ ceiling.
First aid
On skin or eyes, flush with running water for at least 30 minutes and get medical care. If swallowed, do not induce vomiting; call a poison centre or emergency number and take the SDS with you.
Full guidance: how to store caustic soda safely · how to check caustic soda quality.
How to Order Liquid Caustic Soda
- Send your enquiryStrength, quantity per shipment and per year, IBC or drum, destination and Incoterm — by the contact form, WhatsApp or email.
- Firm quotation within 24 hoursPrice and its basis (per ton of solution or per dry ton), payment terms, loading point and window.
- Confirm the orderSign the proforma invoice; pay by T/T against documents or L/C at sight.
- Lot allocation and inspectionCOA issued for the lot; third-party inspection if you request it.
- Loading and documentsContainer loaded or truck dispatched; COA, SDS, invoice, packing list, CO, DG declaration and B/L or CMR released.
RFQ checklist — what gets a same-day answer
- Strength: 48%, 49% or 50% NaOH; food grade if needed
- Quantity: tons per shipment and per year
- Packing: IBC tanks or PE drums
- Destination: port or delivery address and country
- Incoterm: FOB, CFR or CIF
- Price basis: per ton of solution or per dry ton of NaOH
- Payment: T/T or L/C at sight
- Special needs: inspection, heating at destination, document language
Liquid Caustic Soda FAQ
Contact the Liquid Caustic Soda Desk
WhatsApp is the fastest channel for urgent or large-volume enquiries.
Caustic soda products
Prices
Guides
References
- PubChem CID 14798 — Sodium hydroxide
- ECHA — sodium hydroxide substance information
- OSHA Occupational Chemical Database — Sodium hydroxide
Prepared by the SUHA International Trading export desk, Dubai and Ankara. Technical data is taken from our published TDS; the certificate of analysis issued with your consignment governs.