Caustic Soda Pearl, Sodium Hydroxide, Caustic Soda, Caustic Soda Flake, Sodium Hydroxide Pellet, E524, 1310-73-2

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Caustic Soda Pearl, Sodium Hydroxide, Caustic Soda, Caustic Soda Flake, Sodium Hydroxide Pellet, E524, 1310-73-2

Product Data Sheet: Caustic Soda (Sodium Hydroxide - NaOH)

1. General Definition and Chemical Properties

Caustic Soda, with the chemical formula NaOH, is a strong base (alkali) and one of the fundamental building blocks of the chemical industry. Its chemical name is Sodium Hydroxide. At room temperature, it appears as white, odorless, orthorhombic crystals. It is highly soluble in water and ethanol, and this dissolution process is exothermic (releases heat).

Molecular Weight: 39.997 g/mol
CAS Number: 1310-73-2
UN Number: UN1823 (for Solid form)
Density: 2.13 g/cm³ (at 25°C)
Boiling Point: 1388°C
Solubility: Highly soluble in water (~109 g/100 mL at 20°C).
Hygroscopicity: It has a strong tendency to absorb moisture and CO₂ from the air. It reacts with CO₂ to form Sodium Carbonate (Na₂CO₃) on its surface. Therefore, it must be stored in a dry, sealed environment.
Corrosiveness: Highly corrosive to skin, eyes, and many metals.
Flammability: It is non-flammable but may emit toxic fumes (sodium oxide) when heated to decomposition.

2. Physical Forms and Descriptions

Caustic Soda is supplied in various physical forms depending on the application and process requirements:

Form	Turkish Description	English Description	Key Advantages
Pearl	Küçük, beyaz küresel tanecikler.	Small, white spherical granules.	Dust-free, high flowability, and rapid dissolution in liquids.
Flake	Kristalimsi, ince pulcuklar.	Crystalline flakes.	Preferred in soap and textile industries due to high surface area.
Liquid	Renksiz veya hafif sarımsı çözelti.	Colorless or slightly yellowish solution (typically 50% concentration).	Ease of dosing; common in water treatment and liquid detergent production.
Granular	Daha iri ve düzensiz tanecikler.	Non-free-flowing, coarse lumps.	Minimizes dust formation, suitable for bulk transport and handling.

3. Pearl Caustic Soda: Quality Grades and Applications

The pearl form is the most commonly preferred type due to its high purity and ease of handling. It is classified into various grades based on purity and impurity levels:

Quality Grade	Trade Name	Technical Specification	Key Applications
Standard	Caustic Soda Pearls	≥ 99% purity. Ideal for general industrial applications.	General chemical synthesis, textiles, water treatment, detergents.
Low Iron	Caustic Soda Pearls – Low Iron	Very low iron (Fe) content (< 10 ppm).	Electronics, fine chemicals, and processes requiring high color sensitivity (e.g., rayon production).
Food Grade	Caustic Soda Pearls – Food Grade	Compliant with food additive regulations (E524) .	Olive curing, cocoa processing, bagel/bread production, CIP (Cleaning-in-Place) in food equipment.
Pharma Grade	Caustic Soda Pearls – Pharma	GMP-compliant production, high purity.	pH adjustment in pharmaceutical formulations, solubilization of active ingredients.
Micro Pearl	Caustic Soda Micro Pearls	Smaller particle size than standard pearls.	Processes requiring extremely fast dissolution, laboratory applications.
High Purity	Ultra Pure Caustic Soda Pearls	≥ 99.5% purity.	Semiconductor manufacturing, analytical laboratories, specialty catalyst synthesis.

4. Industrial Applications

The strong alkaline nature of Caustic Soda makes it a critical component in numerous industries.

Chemical Industry: A precursor in the synthesis of other sodium compounds (aluminate, hypochlorite, phenolate).
Pulp & Paper Industry: Used to dissolve lignin from wood chips to separate cellulose fibers (Kraft process) and in pulp bleaching.
Textile Industry: Essential for the mercerization process, which increases the strength and dye affinity of cotton fibers. Also used for pH regulation before dyeing.
Detergents & Cleaning Products: The key component in the saponification of fats (triglycerides) to produce soaps and detergents.
Water Treatment: Used to raise the pH of water (reducing corrosivity) and precipitate heavy metals (like cadmium, copper) by forming insoluble metal hydroxides.
Oil & Gas: Employed in petroleum refining to neutralize acidic components and in drilling muds.
Food Industry: Besides the uses mentioned above, it is used in caramel color production and for peeling fruits and vegetables.
Metallurgy & Mining: Critical in the Bayer Process for extracting pure alumina from bauxite ore for aluminum production. Used for degreasing and cleaning metal surfaces.
Electronics: Utilized in etching processes for Printed Circuit Board (PCB) manufacturing.

5. Alternative Names and Identifiers

The product may be referred to by different names across the supply chain and in documentation:

Technical Documents: Sodium Hydroxide Pearls, NaOH Pearls, Solid Sodium Hydroxide
Commercial / Marketing: Caustic Soda Pearls, Pearl Caustic Soda
Regional Variants: Flake Caustic, Granular Caustic, Micro Pearl Caustic
Official / Classification: E524 (Food Additive Code), UN1823 (Hazardous Material Transport Code), CAS No: 1310-73-2 (Chemical Identifier)

6. Safety and Storage

Storage: Store in a cool, dry, and well-ventilated area, away from incompatible materials like acids, metals, and moisture. Keep in its original, sealed container.
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): It is mandatory to wear protective goggles, chemically resistant gloves (nitrile/neoprene), protective clothing, and appropriate footwear when handling Caustic Soda.
First Aid:
- Eye Contact: Rinse immediately with plenty of water for at least 15 minutes and seek immediate medical attention.
- Skin Contact: Remove contaminated clothing and rinse skin thoroughly with plenty of water.
- Ingestion: Rinse mouth, DO NOT induce vomiting, drink plenty of water. Call for emergency medical help immediately.

Caustic Soda Types: Advantages, Disadvantages, and Applications

Type / Form	Appearance	Advantages	Disadvantages	Key Applications
Pearl Caustic Soda	Small, white, spherical granules.	• Dust-free (improves workplace safety). • High flowability (suitable for pneumatic conveying). • Low impurity levels. • Relatively fast dissolution.	• Dissolution rate is slower than flake form. • Slightly higher production cost compared to flakes due to the granulation process.	• General Industry: Chemicals, textiles, water treatment. • Sensitive Applications: Low-iron grade for electronics and food industry. • Automated dosing systems.
Flake Caustic Soda	Thin, white, crystalline flakes.	• Very fast dissolution due to high surface area. • Generally more economical to produce than pearls.	• High dusting risk (increases inhalation and skin contact hazards). • Poor flowability; can clog feeding systems. • Prone to caking when exposed to moisture.	• Soap & Detergent Industry: Fast saponification of fats. • Textile: Mercerization baths. • Small-scale manual operations.
Liquid Caustic Soda	Colorless or slightly yellowish, viscous liquid (typically 50% NaOH).	• Easiest form for dosing and mixing. • No exothermic heat generated during dilution. • Eliminates dust and inhalation risks entirely.	• High transportation cost (shipping 50% water). • Sensitive to freezing (crystallizes at low temperatures). • Requires special storage tanks and heating systems.	• Water Treatment: Direct injection for pH adjustment. • Liquid Detergent Production. • Chemical Industry: Feedstock in continuous flow reactors.
Granular Caustic Soda	Larger, irregular-shaped, angular particles.	• Very low dusting. • High bulk density, saving space in storage and transport.	• Slower dissolution compared to pearls. • Particle size distribution is not homogeneous.	• Bulk transport (big bags or bulk vessels). • Processes where slow dissolution is not an issue (e.g., some metal treatment baths).
Micropearl Caustic Soda	Smaller particles than standard pearls; fine granules.	• Very fast dissolution (as fast as flakes, as safe as pearls). • Ensures homogeneous distribution.	• More expensive than standard pearls. • May generate slight dust during handling due to fineness.	• Laboratory applications. • Food & Pharma: Critical processes requiring fast and homogeneous dissolution.
Pastille Caustic Soda	Lens or half-sphere shaped, uniform particles.	• Most uniform particle size. • Almost zero dust. • Aesthetic appearance.	• Highest production cost among all forms. • Produced by specific manufacturers; availability may be limited.	• Specialty chemicals. • High-purity processes. • Premium branded products.

Summary Comparison

Fastest Dissolving: Flake (due to the largest surface area).
Safest / Least Dusting: Pearl and Pastille (best for occupational health and safety).
Most Economical (Product Cost): Flake (lowest production cost).
Most Economical (Logistics Cost): Granular (high density) or Liquid (no dissolution cost, but you pay to transport water).
Easiest to Use: Liquid (pumpable, instant readiness).
Highest Purity / Precision: Pearl (Low Iron / Pharma) and Pastille.