Sodium hydroxide also referred to as lye, is a chemical compound with high alkaline content. Its chemical's properties make it suitable for use in a variety of different applications, including the development of cleaning materials, the purification of water, the production of paper products and many more. Sodium hydroxide is a powerful skin irritant because of the alkaline content, making it important to treat the substance with great care during commercial use.
In its pure form, sodium hydroxide takes the form of caustic soda flakes. In this form, carbon dioxide is readily absorbed from any air in the room by the chemical; this makes it important to house the substance in an airtight container. The fact that caustic soda is soluble in water helps to make it suitable for use in a variety of liquid goods.
This lye form of caustic soda may be used in several different kinds of goods used in the home and in construction and other industrial environments. There is a fair possibility in the house that there is some amount of sodium hydroxide in the soaps used for bathing, in the dishwasher, and for doing laundry. There may also be some trace quantities of the compound in household cleaners for carpeting and tile. Actually, the quantity is of a very small amount which is used in these types of items, making it extremely unlikely that any form of discomfort would result from contact with the skin.
Caustic soda flakes are white-coloured flake masses that are very soluble in water and alcohol. It is also used for the purification of soil or other visible impurities.
Caustic Soda in Water Treatment
Caustic soda (sodium hydroxide or NaOH) is a widely used chemical for water treatment. Absorbing water and carbon dioxide, increases the pH of water. For your treatment needs, caustic soda flakes manufacturers hold abundant stocks of caustic soda readily available. Read below to learn how sodium hydroxide finds its application in water treatment plants.
Hard Water
It causes corrosion when water is hard. Strong water has an excess of magnesium and calcium dissolved in it. In a water treatment plant, minerals bind to the tanks and pipes, which block the flow of water and can, ultimately, corrode through the line if not treated. Hard water is also known for reducing soap and detergent saponification; clothes feel scratchy and dingy, dishes and glasses are spotty, and on skin and appliances a buildup forms. Caustic soda boosts the water's pH and, when pumped into the water treatment system, will quickly shift the hard water to a much closer approximation to neutral.
Decreases Dangerous Metals
The solubility of hazardous metals, including lead and copper, is reduced by caustic soda. These metals are both heavy and voluminous in their insoluble state, giving them a greater chance of being trapped in a filtration device or dropping to the bottom of a tank to be collected.
Corrosion Inhibitor
Without the unequal distribution of calcium carbonate, caustic soda serves as a corrosion inhibitor, unlike other additives that release calcium carbonate as a by-product of sequestration. While calcium carbonate adheres to the walls of the pipes, providing them with a degree of protection against soda flakes chemicals, water is prevented from moving freely due to its abundance and uneven distribution.
Caustic soda sequesters and saponified grease and oils, helping clear lines and increasing the flow of water, and it has been shown that it does not take as much maintenance to treat water with caustic soda as when other pH adjusters are applied. The caustic soda price is also a deciding factor for its application in water treatment.