Soda ash - an indispensable reagent for industry

2024 Author: Howard Calhoun | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 10:16

Soda ash in the dehydrated state is a colorless crystalline powder. In nature, it occurs in large volumes mainly in s alt beds in the form of ground brines, minerals and brine in s alt reservoirs. In addition, soda ash is found in the ashes of a number of seaweeds.

In modern industry, sodium carbonate (the chemical name of soda) is produced during the ammonia-soda process, in the complex processing of nephelines, from natural soda and in the carbonization of sodium hydroxide. The most environmentally friendly is its production from natural raw materials.

This substance was known to the ancient Egyptians, who used it as a detergent and when melting glass. It was extracted from the waters of s alt lakes. For the first time, artificial pure soda ash was isolated by the Frenchman A. L. Duhamel du Monceau. In nature, the main deposits of sodium carbonate are found in Canada, the USA, Kenya, South Africa, and Mexico. The most famous s alt lakes with a high content of soda ash in the water are Searls Island in California and Natron Island in Tanzania.

She's gooddissolves in water, due to the hydrolysis of the s alt, the soda solution has an alkaline reaction. This substance is a very important raw material in the chemical industry (production of paints and varnishes and synthetic detergents). Most of all, soda is used as a component of the charge in the manufacture of glass, the production of soap and other detergents. Soda ash is a raw material for obtaining various sodium s alts (including caustic soda). It is used for tanning leather, pulping, neutralization of acidic elements during the purification of petroleum products. In addition, in the energy sector, it serves to soften the water supplied to steam boilers. Soda ash found application in metallurgy. There, this tool is used for refining and degreasing metals, processing bauxites (raw materials for aluminum), and desulfurizing blast-furnace pig iron. Soda is supplied to consumers in disposable special soft containers such as Big-Bag, weighing up to 800 kg, or in five-layer bituminous or laminated bags (weight up to 50 kg). Special hoppers and soda carriers are used to transport substances in bulk.

Soda ash is also used in everyday life. Ordinary people encounter it in foods or as an ingredient in detergents or water softeners. In food production, it is known as an acidity regulating additive E500, or a leavening agent that prevents caking and lumping. As a detergent, baking soda effectively removes grease. Thanks to its ability to soften the water of itsused when washing enameled, faience, porcelain dishes, boiling and washing fabrics. It is found in most laundry detergents and descaling agents. Soda is used to neutralize acidic constituents in wastewater. This substance has an allergic and irritant effect, its effects on the body are moderately dangerous.