post

Caustic Lye

by Posted in Chemicals Tagged , , , , , , Leave a comment

What is Caustic Lye?

Mostly all caustic soda is generated by the electrolysis of sodium chloride solution using one of three cell types: mercury, diaphragm and membrane cells. The electrolysis process produces 2.25 tonnes of 50% Caustic Lye with each tonne of chlorine.

The primary salt raw material is common  in underground deposits which we bring to surface as a solution in pumped high pressure water supply.

Sodium hydroxide Liquid specification:

Caustic Lye uses:

NaOH Liquid is used primarily in the following areas: manufacturing industries including cotton, synthetics, plastics, textiles and soaps; organic and inorganic chemistry industries (in the manufacture of sodium compounds); the food industry; water treatment; the agricultural industry; etc.
It uses in paper industry, textiles, detergents, synthetics, explosives, dyes and petroleum products; in the processing of cotton textiles; and, in laundry, bleaching, oxidation, electroplating, and electrolyte removal. Other uses include absorbing acid gases such as carbon dioxide or sulfur dioxide.
NaOH is used as a raw material in the production of sodium hypochlorite, as well as in all types of textiles (finishing and dressing, obtaining cellulose fibers from the viscose process, etc.). It acts  as  surfactant and detergent  in paper and pulp, also oil and gas industries.

Caustic Lye Hazardous reactions:

Main safety concerns about lye are also common with most corrosives, such as their potential destructive effects on living tissues. It hearts skin, flesh, and the cornea.
Solutions containing lyes can cause chemical burns, eternal injuries, scarring and blindness also immediately upon contact. Furthermore, Lyes maybe fatal if swallowed. Ingestion can because esophageal stricture. In addition solvation of dry solid lyes is highly exothermic. It results, may cause additional burns or ignite flammables.

The rebound between sodium hydroxide and a few metals is also hazardous. Aluminium reacts with lyes to produce hydrogen gas. Since hydrogen is flammable, mixing a large quantity of a lye such as sodium hydroxide with aluminum in a closed container is dangerous—especially when the system is at a high temperature, which speeds up the reaction. In addition to aluminum, lyes may also react with magnesium, zinc, tin, chromium, brass or bronze—producing hydrogen gas.