Caustic Soda Beads and Their Uses Across Industries

The use of caustic soda beads – also known as caustic soda pearls, sodium hydroxide beads, or lye – to remove excessive buildup of tartrates in machinery tanks and lines is well known, but you may not realize how many industries utilize caustic soda beads. Industrial chemical supplier Bell Chem describes how your industry may benefit from stocking Bell Chem’s caustic soda beads, and how to properly handle this important chemical.

Aluminum production

Bauxite is the raw material that produces aluminum. Caustic soda dissolves bauxite ore.

Paper manufacturing

As wood is pulped and bleached, caustic soda is mixed with sodium sulfide to remove all impurities save cellulose, which ultimately becomes paper.

Soapmaking

Whether the base material is derived from plants or animals, caustic soda beads break down the oil components into fatty acids and glycerol causing saponification. 

Natural gas industry

Petroleum is produced and processed with the aid of caustic soda beads.

Textile industry

Cotton production occurs more easily with caustic soda beads. When cotton fibers are boiled in a caustic soda solution in a process known as scouring. This removes all impurities from the cotton.

Across industries

Caustic soda beads are vital as a feedstock in the chemical processes that eventually produce adhesives, fabrics, plastic, solvents, and other products. Because of the extreme alkalinity of caustic soda beads, they are often used to adjust the pH in many industrial chemical reactions. The cleaning power of caustic soda beads stems from its high alkalinity; it can quickly dissolve fat, grease, oil, and protein along with other organic materials.

Precautions with use

With a pH of 14, caustic soda beads are indeed caustic. As such, when dissolving them in water before use, be sure to add the beads to the water and not the water to the beads. Ensure the water is in a proper container that will react properly with highly alkaline chemicals. The reaction will cause an exothermic reaction, and the container will become hot to the touch. Stir slowly without splashing and wear protective clothing. Remember, caustic soda beads and caustic soda both break down organic matter and you are made of organic matter. Safety goggles and heavy-duty rubber or nitrile gloves are essential.

For cleaning surfaces, ensure the surface will react favorably with caustic soda. A 10% solution of caustic soda beads and water is usually sufficient for most cleaning projects. Spray the solution on the surface, and after 10 minutes rinse away as much residue as possible before air drying. Do not use caustic soda in food manufacturing, prepping, or dining areas. Use caustic soda as a cleaner and not as a disinfectant. While bacteria will not survive when sprayed directly with caustic soda, the disinfectant properties are not considered reliable enough to classify caustic soda as a disinfectant.

Bell Chem is an industrial chemical supplier based in Longwood, FL (just north of Orlando) with hundreds of products stocked in their 50,000+ square-foot warehouse, including caustic soda beads. You can expect the highest quality products, expedited shipping options for maximum efficiency, and unrivaled personalized customer service. Let our knowledgeable and friendly customer service representatives and accounting staff personalize all your needs by either calling 407-339-BELL (2355) or by sending us an online message.

Caustic Cleaners

Caustic cleaners have been in existence for millenia. In fact, evidence of soap fragments found in ancient dwellings has been dated to around 2800 BC! Industrial ingredient supplier Bell Chem stocks a variety of caustic cleaners, such as CSAN 2170 Caustic Blend (Proprietary Blend) for your cleaning needs. 

These types of cleaners contain caustic soda (sodium hydroxide), potassium hydroxide, or caustic potash. Most caustic cleaners are utilized to remove protein-based debris. These chemicals are defined by their ability to dissolve other substances – think of bleach, which contains sodium hydroxide. Caustic cleaners are generally sold as solids in a granular, pellet, or flake form, or as a concentrated liquid. 

With their ability to significantly change the pH of the areas they contact, caustic cleaners are often used as disinfectants. Bacteria, fungi, yeasts, viruses, and endotoxins are virtually eradicated with caustic cleaners. Here are some of the common uses:

• Caustic cleaners are used worldwide within industries such as hospitals, restaurants, food and beverage industries, and processing plants. 

• Oven cleaners and drain cleaners often contain caustic chemicals where they hydrolyze solid fats and act as a reagent as they cause a chemical reaction called saponification. The chemical bonds of protein-based products are broken apart to quickly remove them from solid surfaces or industrial machinery.

• Industrial plants that focus on meat-packing rely heavily on caustic cleaners to maintain their machinery and keep their workplaces clean. Caustic cleaners are effective and efficient, saving money and resources.

• Hand soap contains either sodium hydroxide (commonly referred to as “lye”) or potassium hydroxide as a main ingredient. Sodium hydroxide creates a harder bar soap while potassium hydroxide produces a creamy, liquid soap.

Because of their power, caustic cleaners also have risks. Use caution with caustic cleaners; the ability to break down proteins causes them to irritate the skin and mucous membranes, meaning they can produce severe burns on the skin and, when inhaled, in the lungs. Always use properly fitting goggles when handling any caustic chemicals since eye irritation could lead to blindness. Read all chemical labels and MSD guides to fully understand the proper handling and use of caustic cleaners and all other chemicals.

Bell Chem is an industrial ingredient supplier based in Longwood, FL (just north of Orlando) with hundreds of products stocked in their 50,000+ square-foot warehouse, including CSANTM sanitation products. You can expect the highest quality products, expedited shipping options for maximum efficiency, and unrivaled personalized customer service. Let our knowledgeable and friendly customer service representatives and accounting staff personalize all your needs by either calling 407-339-BELL (2355) or by sending us an online message.

Industry Uses of Caustic Soda

It seems contradictory that a highly toxic, crystalline, alkaline chemical such as sodium hydroxide (also known as caustic soda and lye) is a main ingredient in traditional hand soaps. Such is the case with caustic soda, or NaOH. This strong, odorless, water-soluble, inorganic compound has industrial uses from textiles to foods and beverages. Read below to find how industrial chemical supplier Bell Chem’s pure caustic soda can benefit your industry.

Alumina
During the Bayer process of production, caustic soda catalyzes the refining of bauxite to the product alumina, which eventually becomes aluminum. Also, strong bases will ultimately destroy aluminum, so during any etching, caustic soda erodes specific areas. Likewise, caustic soda transforms a polished aluminum surface to a satin-smooth finish.  

Biodiesel
Anhydrous caustic soda catalyzes the transesterification of methanol and triglycerides. 

Cement
The plasticity of cement mix brought about by caustic soda homogenizes the ingredients and decreases the amount of water necessary to spread the product. 

Chemical Intermediary
As a strong base, varying strengths of caustic soda easily regulate many chemicals and their reactions. 

Cleaning
When caustic soda is added to water and heated, it is a powerful cleaner for process equipment and storage tanks. Glass and stainless steel soaked in caustic soda clean much more rapidly. Many oven cleaners contain caustic soda as an ingredient.

Detergents and Soaps
Cold process soap-making (saponification) was a traditional use of caustic soda. The product, lye soap, is still created today in small markets. Its ability to destroy proteins, fats, oils, and grease give caustic soda a leading role in removing stains from hands as well as industrial textiles.

Foods and Beverages
Fruits and vegetables are cleaned and chemically peeled with caustic soda. Other uses include the processing of cocoa and its products, scalding poultry, increasing ice cream viscosity, and soft drink processing. Caustic soda softens olives and, in contrast, is used in the glaze of pretzels and hard rolls to make them crisp and shiny. 

Paper and Pulp
An astonishing 25% of all caustic soda manufactured around the world is utilized in the paper industry. Caustic soda alters plant tissues, such as the separation of lignin from cellulose in the kraft process of paper manufacture. As pulp is purified, the second role of caustic soda is noted: it bleaches the resulting brown pulp into the white slurry that we recognize as paper.

Petroleum Refineries
Caustic soda increases alkalinity and viscosity in bentonite mud systems as it neutralizes acidic gases that rise from the earth with drilling.

Water Treatment
Increasing the pH in water supplies protects plumbing from corrosion and reduces the amount of dissolved toxic metals. Caustic soda also takes on this role of pH adjuster in water treatment systems.  

Bell Chem is your industrial chemical supplier based in Longwood, FL (just north of Orlando) with hundreds of products, such as caustic soda, stocked in its 50,000+ square-foot warehouse. You can expect the highest quality products, expedited shipping options for maximum efficiency, and unrivaled personalized customer service. Let our knowledgeable and friendly customer service representatives and accounting staff personalize all your needs by either calling 407-339-BELL (2355) or by sending us an online message.

Caustic Soda 50% (AKA Sodium Hydroxide)

Caustic soda, otherwise known as sodium hydroxide (NaOH), is chemically reactive with a wide variety of other chemicals, including both organic and inorganic chemicals. Most users of caustic soda find that the 50% grade solution is the most useful form to buy because it is relatively easy to obtain and reasonably priced. Caustic soda is an essential ingredient in a wide range of industrial applications including:

• Pulp and paper – This is the largest application for caustic soda. Uses for this chemical include the de-inking of waste paper, as well as being a raw material in the pulping and bleaching process.

• Textiles – Caustic soda is used to process cotton and dye synthetic fibers, such as nylon and polyester.

• Bleach manufacturing – Caustic soda is used to make bleach, which can be used to control mold and mildew.

• Petroleum products – Caustic soda is used to produce petroleum and natural gas because it removes unpleasant smells from these materials by limiting the presence of hydrogen sulfide.

• Aluminum production – Caustic soda is used to dissolve bauxite ore, a raw material used in aluminum production.

• Chemical processing – Caustic soda is used to process several products including solvents, fabrics, coatings, adhesives, plastics, herbicides, dyes, pharmaceuticals, etc.

• Smaller applications for caustic soda include water treatment, cleaners for beverage bottles, drain and pipe cleaners, oven cleaners, and other household cleaning products.

Caustic soda is a highly corrosive chemical that can be dangerous if not handled properly. This chemical can cause serious burns to the eyes and skin. Also, if caustic soda comes in contact with your eyes, even only for a few seconds, it can cause permanent damage and even blindness. Before working with caustic soda, you should know where the nearest eyewash fountain or shower is located because if caustic soda comes in contact with any part of your body, begin rinsing immediately with large quantities of flowing water.

As a chemical supplier in Orlando, Bell Chem offers prompt delivery of hundreds of stock products on our own fleet of trucks. We can ship large volumes of bulk chemicals from our location. Caustic Soda 50% is just one of the many chemical products we offer. Give us a call at 407-339-BELL (2355) for more information about our chemicals.