Sodium Hydroxide Caustic Soda (Prills)

CAS Number:

1310-73-2

Chem/ INCI Name: 

Sodium Hydroxide (Caustic Soda)

Common Form:

Small, round, white solid pellets or granules

Molecular Formula:

NaOH

Molecular Weight:

40.00 g/mol

Uses:

Caustic Soda Prills are a high-purity, granular form of sodium hydroxide. This solid form offers advantages over traditional flakes or solutions, such as ease of handling, less dust generation, and excellent solubility.

Primary Applications:

· Chemical Manufacturing: Key raw material for producing soaps, detergents, and various organic and inorganic chemicals.

· Pulp & Paper Industry: Essential for the pulping process to break down wood and for bleaching paper pulp.

· Water Treatment: Used to adjust pH levels and to remove heavy metals from water.

· Textile & Dye Industry: Used in fabric treatment, dyeing, and mercerization processes.

· Other Industries: Food processing (e.g., peeling fruits), alumina production, and petroleum refining.

What does Caustic Soda Prills do in a formulation?

· Strong Alkali / pH Regulator: Its core function. Drastically increases the pH of a solution.

· Saponification Agent: Reacts with fats and oils to produce soap.

· Cleaning & Degreasing Agent: Dissolves organic materials like fats, oils, and proteins.

· Reactive Intermediate: Used in chemical synthesis to produce other sodium compounds.

Safety Profile:

· Extreme Hazard: Highly corrosive to all tissues. Causes severe skin burns and eye damage that can be irreversible. Fatal if swallowed.

· Dissolution Hazard: Dissolving in water is a highly exothermic reaction, releasing significant heat that can cause violent splattering or boiling of the solution.

· Required PPE: Chemical goggles, face shield, acid/alkali-resistant gloves (e.g., neoprene, butyl rubber), and protective clothing. A safety shower and eye wash station must be accessible.

· Handling: Always add caustic prills slowly to cold water with constant stirring—never add water to the solid. Store in a cool, dry, sealed container away from acids and moisture.

Technical profile: