CAUSTIC SODA Transforming into various products for our daily lives. 23 mines inremotelocations,aswelltreatingflowsthathaveahighmanganesecontent. tal hazard. Caustic soda is particularly effective in neutralizing chemical low flows of acid other drainage from and metals acidity, of components thatare harmful tothe environment. Acid minedrainageisamajor environmen - amount certain a release and oxidize rapidly these tions, when air and water come into contact with freshly extracted minerals containing sulfur, Caustic sodacanalsobeusedtoneutralizeaciddrainagefrommines.Duringminingopera- the pre-treatmentofeffluents. of part as removed physically are effluents of metals and soda caustic between reaction the chemical product like caustic soda to the effluents. The insoluble metal hydroxides formed by municipal into discharged sewers andsurroundingwaterbodies.Normallythiscanbeachievedbyaddinganalkaline are effluents the before removed be must that concentrations free. Moreover,metalplatingfacilitiesgeneratewastecontainingdissolvedheavy emissions from chimneys, thereby helping tomaketheenvironmentcleaner and pollution designed tousethealkalinepropertiesofcausticsoda.Suchsystemsneutralizeacidgas reaction produceswaterandsalt.Gaswashersaredevicesusedforairpollutioncontrol soda isachemicaloppositetoacidsandcanthereforeneutralizethem.Theneutralization control acidity, neutralize acid wastes and washing gases. As itis an alkali compound, caustic and remedyacidicpollutionoftheenvironment.Therefore,itisusedinvariousprocessesto Caustic sodaishighlyvaluedforitsneutralizingpowerandalsobecauseithelpstocontrol 17 control pollution Helping to Caustic SodaApplications % % 15 5 % % CAUSTIC 12 14 14 % % % SODA co-product chlorine An important Other Organic chem.Prods Soaps, detergentsandtextiles Paper &Pulp Aluminum industry Inorganic chem.Prods. Water treatment In 2015,theworldwideproductioncapacityofcausticsodastandsataround92millionmetrictons. this booklet). industrial processes(forfurtherdetailsseetheproductsderivedfromcausticsodainside it origin, natural plays animportantroleinpollutionpreventionandtreatmentofwastewater,enablingmany Of industries. food and textile detergents, and soaps industry), aluminum in thechemical and petrochemical industry, metallurgy (alumina productionforthe pulp andpaper,besidesbeingwidelyused Among themainapplicationsisbleachingof Caustic sodaisanessentialreagentfortheproductionofvariousorganicchemicalproducts. ash), potassiumhydroxide(causticpotash),hydrochloricacidandsodiumhypochlorite. production ofhydrochloricacid.Otherproductsinthisindustry are sodiumcarbonate(soda a by-product of the electrolysis, is recovered and then used as fuel or raw material for the results inafixedratioof1.12tonscausticsodapertonofchlorine.Hydrogen,whichisalso subsequently regroupedintocausticsoda,chlorineandhydrogenmolecules.Theproduction membrane cells.Electrolysisistheprocesswherebysaltandwatermoleculesarebroken common processesinitsindustrial manufacturing: mercury cells, diaphragm cellsor through asolutioncontainingsodiumchloride(salt)andwater,usingoneofthethreemost The chlor-alkaliproductionchainbeginswithelectrolysis,bypassinganelectricalcurrent The transformationofsaltandwaterintocausticsodachlorine municipal andindustrialwastewater. treating in used are caustic of amounts significant Additionally, aluminum. primary produce the pulpindustrytomanufacturepaperandinaluminamanufacturingprocess produce aspirin(acetylsalicylicacid).Largequantitiesofcausticsodaarealsodemandedby is usedinantisepticsandto well asinthepharmaceuticalindustrywheresodiumphenolate as fruit, and vegetables peel to and acids in fatty remove example, to oil, for vegetable and industry, animal refining food the in applications other of number a has also soda Caustic absorb the dye. Estimates indicate that around 90% of the better cotton and is fibers treated the with strengthen caustic to soda. fabrics cotton of production the in used is soda Caustic liquid removers, paint cleaning, metal soaps andshampoos. cleaning, floor dishwashers, for detergents potent The hygiene. personal for and fabrics special soapsincludeforcleaningovensandequipment for food preparation, more washing for exclusively used is soap bar countries, these of some in because soda, caustic for demand significant a have countries Developing detergents, inadditiontobeingusedtheproductionofindustrialsoapsandspecialsoaps. Caustic sodaplaysanimportantroleinthemanufactureofsoappowders,barsand Help inpersonalhygiene in chlorineproduction. Caustic sodaisthemainby-product numerous applications Various and Manufacture of coagulants for treating #HereThereIsCausticSoda water and effluents, catalysts, flexible

retardant and smoke suppressor in

polyurethane foams and flame

polymeric materials refractoryfibers, concrete, Productionrefractory technical products, of glass, glass aluminous electrical insulators, partitions and grids/ Components abrasives, whiteceramics, electro-casted ceramic coatings, packagingCans, / Windows, aluminum doors, foil, food in boats, airplanes, cars, bicycles / alumina and polishing pastes

kitchen utensils and tools

Cosmetics Gelling agents Greases Pharmaceuticals Stabilizer for plastics Aluminum polychloride (APC) Soap Toothbrush bristles, hairbrushes, brushes / Socks / Tire strengthening materials / Clothing (combination of wool Food additive Synthetic detergents Surfactant agent Humidifying agent for fabrics and cotton to increase durability and resistance) Aluminum sulphate

Aluminum Nylon 66 Aluminum Oxide Catalysts Disinfectants Dryers Artificial blood vessels / Synthetic grass (synthetic floors) /

Dyes Emulsifiers Fuel additives to reduce pollution Car carpets / Tow / Electric wire insulators / fishing lines and nets / (Alumina) Surfactant agent Gears and bearings / Parachutes / Pen tips / Rugs and carpets/ Emulsifiers Boat sails / Surgical sutures / Tennis racket strings Synthetic rubber Electroplating Ore flotation Aluminum stearate Calcium stearate Zinc stearate Nylon 610 Oil additives Soaps Home appliances / Car panels Sulfur dyes Waterproof fabrics Food products (especially ice-creams and diet foods) Hexamethylenediamine Cosmetics and packaging as a drying agent, thickener, suspending agent and emulsion stabilizer / Electrical enclosures / Cutlery Paper coating, printing, pharmaceutical and cosmetic products / Intermediary dyes Medical Gardeningequipment equipment / Toys fabrics manufacture (dyes) Adiponitrile Mixed with cotton household products

Xylene sulphonic acid Fabrics manufacturing

Sodium Polysulfide / Sulfite Cotton mercerization (curtains, bedspreads, tablecloths) Cotton cleaning Aluminum Hydroxide Fabrics dyeing Steel tempering process and thermal treatment agent Felt articles Coatedand blankets fabrics Adhesives Crop protection chemicals Blood anticoagulant and to reduce cholesterol / Food additives Electronic components Sodium-carboxymethylcellulose

Coatings Liquid soaps / Shampoos Chlorine Council World Source:

Non-woven fabrics Sodium stearate Dyes Aspirin (acetylsalicylicAntiseptic products acid) Polycarbonate Essences (aromas) Clothing Sodium lauryl sulfate Vitamins Sodium oleate Perfumes Sodium naphthenate Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) Sodium Metasilicate / Sodium Orthosilicate Epoxy resin 2.4 Dichlorophenoxy acid - acetic Wrapping for gifts and packages Rayon Sodium Picramate Vanillin Sodium Anti-mold agent for food chloroacetate Cellophane Ore flotation Cellulose xanthate Sodium Phenolate Dyes Pharmaceuticals Adhesives (bowling pins, electrical equipmentVarnishes coating) Sodium Propionate Purification of gases Catalysts Plastics Black nickel plating Paints for stamping Ethylcellulose Fixer for dyes Dying Pharmaceuticals Alkaline cellulose Fruit and vegetables peeler Agent for leather tanning Pharmaceuticals Coating for pills Kraft paper refining (Cellulose) Rubber treatments Sodium chemistry Electroplating Automotive radiator cleaner, purifying Lacquers Sodium Pharmaceuticals and intermediary agents for chemical Extraction agent in mining for the formiate Oxalic acid components, rare earths processing, production of gold and silver Condiments, seasonings Graphic prints Monosodium Glutamate Wallpaper printing Fabrics bleaching, Leather tanning) Adhesives Hydroxyethyl cellulose Electroplating agent for copper, Asphalt emulsions zinc, brass and cadmium Cement Fertilizers Sodium Molybdate Galvanization Sodium chlorite Cosmetics Paint pigments Bleaching of fabrics, paper pulp, edible oils, straw products Oxidizing agents for dyes Gelatins and pharmaceutical lotions Pharmaceuticals Oil Refining Fabrics processing Cadmium / Cobalt / Lead Hydroxide Regeneration of ion exchange resins Alkaline solutions to wash jars and bottles Others Disinfectants / Wastewater treatment 2-Hydroxypropyl cellulose Cadmium electroplating Rubber stabilizers (Latex) Coating for food Nickel / Beryllium / Barium Hydroxide Paints 2-Hydroxypropyl methylcellulose Wood pulp (process with soda) Metal Processing Wall coating / Pulp bleaching Flotation of ores, metal degreaser Latex paintings Glass manufacturing Sodium Arsenite / Sodium Bromite pH control Pharmaceuticals Acrylonitrile Vegetal oils refining / Extraction of gelatin Sodium stannate Beetroot sugar refining Rubber regeneration agent Steel carbonization agent Mercury Oxide Manufacture of additives for oils and greases Sodium Sulphite Hydrazine Copper Hydroxide / Manganese Hydroxide

Blueprint copy paper / Ceramics and glasses Sodium Formaldehyde Sulfoxylate Fixer for dyes / Hydrogen peroxide stabilizer Fireproof fabrics / Tin plating ABS resins Sodium Diuranate / Tungstate / Fluoroacetate Button battery Sodium Dinitro-o-Cresolate Car partsBoats Cosmetics Ceramics dimethyldithiocarbamate Sodium

Perfumes Black dyes Paint pigment Leather preparation

Bags (especially for miniature equipment) Fabric degummer RegisteringHome machines appliances Pharmaceuticals Pigments for fabrics Radiator grids Shoe heals Polishing components Remover for fabrics Phones Shower boxes Toys Rodent pesticides

Nitrile rubbers Bleaching agent for soaps and molasses Crop protection chemicals

Zinc dimethyldithiocarbamate

Expansion agents buoyancy agents in sea rescues Fuel cell Pharmaceuticals Metal prints on glass Polymerization catalyst Rocket propellants Elastic fibers for clothing

Fungicide

Catalyst for vulcanizing rubber