Usage areas of Sodium Hydroxide

Sodium Hydroxide chemistry is an important basic compound used in many industries. Another name for Sodium Hydroxide is caustic. It is white in color and has a moisture absorbing property. It dissolves easily in water. It has a soft, slippery and soap-like structure. It is available in liquid and solid form. It doesn’t have any scent either. The solid one is in the form of straws and beads, while the liquid one is in the form of an aqueous solution.

Sodium Hydroxide was discovered by Humphrey Day in England in 1807, and it is not known exactly how the discovery took place.

Sodium Hydroxide does not occur naturally by itself, but it is very easy to manufacture. It is produced as a 50% solution as a result of the electrolysis of simple table salt. Chlorine gas is produced at this time. As a result of evaporation of the water in the solution, solid caustic is obtained. It is traded in 25 kg packaged packages.

Usage areas

• Sodium Hydroxide is used in many areas of industry. It is used in oil refineries in paper, paint, artificial silk, detergent industry.
• Its greatest use is in the chemical industry, detergent and paint are then used in the paper industry.
• It is also used in aluminum production.
• Sodium hydroxide and sulfide are basic ingredients in paper making. These substances are the main ingredients of the solution to separate the lingin from the cerylous fiber during the Kraft project. NaOH is used to whiten the coffee colored paper produced.
• NaOH is used in soap making and in the production of biodiesel in the petroleum industry.
• It is used in peeling of fruits and vegetables by chemical means, in chocolate and cocoa processing.
• It is also used for thickening in the production of caramel and soft drinks
• Olives are generally softened by being treated with NaOH.
• NaOH is used as a cleaning agent, the most common being in drain openers. It is used in stainless steels thanks to its strong degreasing feature.
• It is used for cleaning sewage waste water pipes. It can dissolve grease and heavy oils.