Caustic Soda Liquid or Sodium Hydroxide Solution

Liquid Soda / Soda Lye

Physical & Chemical Properties

Appearance & Form: Clear, colorless, highly viscous liquid; odorless.

Solubility: Miscible with water in all proportions with the release of significant heat.

Assay (Sodium Hydroxide, NaOH): Typically 32.0% to 50.0% w/w aqueous solution.

pH Value: Strongly alkaline, pH > 14.

Melting / Boiling Point: Freezing point varies by concentration (e.g., approx. 12^oC for 50% solution, 0^oC for 32%); boiling point ranges from 105^oC to 140^oC.

Density: Approximately 1.35 g/cm³ (32% solution) to 1.52 g/cm³ (50% solution).

Quality & Safety Standards

Chloride (Cl), Carbonate (Na2CO3) & Sulfate (SO4): Controlled strictly within commercial industrial limits (e.g., sodium carbonate max 0.1% to 0.4%).

Heavy Metals (as Fe): Iron content tightly controlled (typically ≤ 0.005% to 0.01% max) to prevent discoloration.

Safety & Handling: Highly corrosive liquid capable of causing severe skin burns and permanent eye damage. Personal protective equipment (PPE)—including chemical splash goggles, full face shield, rubber aprons, neoprene or PVC gloves, and respiratory protection—is mandatory during handling.

Recommended Applications

Chemical Manufacturing: Used as a fundamental chemical reagent and raw material for producing various sodium salts, organic chemicals, and intermediates.

Water Treatment: Employed for pH adjustment, neutralization of acidic wastewater, and heavy metal precipitation in municipal and industrial water treatment plants.

Pulp & Paper Industry: Widely utilized in the Kraft pulping process, delignification, and paper bleaching operations.

Soap, Detergent & Textile Processing: Used in saponification for soap making, manufacturing synthetic detergents, and in scouring, mercerizing, and dyeing cotton textiles.