Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila

College of Engineering and Technology

Chemical Engineering Department

SODIUM HYDROXIDE (NaOH)

i.

Objectives
General Objective
To explain the history, properties, raw materials, and unit
operation involved in the manufacturing of sodium hydroxide.
Specific Objective

ii.

To analyze chemical reactions involved in manufacturing sodium

hydroxide with its properties
To describe the manufacturing process of sodium hydroxide by its
raw materials, equipment, and unit operation
To determine the uses and application of sodium hydroxide
To differentiate various processes in producing sodium hydroxide
To name companies which are involved in the manufacturing of
sodium hydroxide

Introduction

Figure 1. Sodium hydroxide pellets

Sodium hydroxide (NaOH), also known as caustic soda or lye, is a caustic

metallic base. It is used in many industries such as soap making,
manufacturing of paper, and pulping (National Research Council, 1984). It is
also used in petroleum production and refining.

Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila

College of Engineering and Technology
Chemical Engineering Department
Pure sodium hydroxide is a white deliquescent solid available in flakes,
pellets, granules, or 50% saturated solution. It is soluble in water, ethanol and
glycerol, but is insoluble in acetone and ether (National Research Council,
1984). A sodium hydroxide solution leaves a yellow stain on fabric and paper.
iii.

History
Period
900s
1386
1754
1807

1833
1890

Event
First production of alkali
The term alkaline was developed.
(Arabic word: al-qaliy)
Guillaume Francois Rouelle
discovered the concept of base
Humphrey Davy while in England
discovered sodium hydroxide using
electrolysis
Michael Faraday develops his two
laws of electrolysis
Castner-Kellner process of producing
sodium hydroxide was developed

Source: sodiumhydroxide.weebly.com/history.html
iv.

Properties of NaOH
Property
Chemical Formula
Molecular Weight
Melting Point
Boiling Point
Specific Gravity
Solubility

Description or Value
NaOH
40.01 g/gmol
318.4C
1390C
2.13
Soluble in water, ethanol and
glycerol but not in acetone and

Physical Appearance

ethers
White deliquescent solid

Source: Emergency and Continuous Exposure Limits for Selected Airborne Contaminants
Volume 2

Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila

College of Engineering and Technology
Chemical Engineering Department
v.

Uses and application

Manufacturing of Soap
Sodium hydroxide is used in the saponification process on the
production of soap. It is a chemical reaction between the triglycerides
and sodium hydroxide to generate glycerol and sodium salts of fatty
acids.
Manufacturing of Paper (Wood Pulping)
Sodium hydroxide is used, together with sodium sulfide, in wood
pulping to separate lignin and cellulose fibers. It also intervenes in a
sequence of reactions to bleach the brown pulp, including delignification
and extraction, both of which require an alkaline solution.

Petroleum Refining
The oil and gas industry uses sodium hydroxide for its alkalizing
properties to maintain proper and effective drilling fluid performance as
well as refining the final products. It is also used to remove impurities
such as sulfur compounds and carbon dioxide. Removing these
impurities is part of the sweetening process of refining and a necessary
requirement to meet regulatory specifications (Continental Chemical USA,
2008).
vi.
Sodium Hydroxide Manufacturing Companies in Philippines

Company

Location
Ongsit Building, 317 San
Fernando St,. Binondo
838 Teresa, Ermita, Manila,
Metro Manila

vii.

Raw Material

Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila

College of Engineering and Technology
Chemical Engineering Department

Sodium Chloride

viii. Manufacturing Process

1. Membrane Cell Electrolysis

Figure 2. Electrolysis

The electrolytic process requires that an electrolyte (brine solution) to

complete an electric circuit between two electrodes. When the electrodes are
connected to a source of direct current one, cathode becomes negatively (-)
charged while the other the anode becomes positively (+) charged. The positive

Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila

College of Engineering and Technology
Chemical Engineering Department
ions in the electrolyte will move toward the cathode and the negatively charged
ions toward the anode.
Brine solution is pumped into the anode cell as an electrolyte. The
chloride ions in the brine which are negatively charged are oxidized at the
anode. This converts them to neutral chlorine atoms. They bond together and
bubble off as chlorine gas. The semi-permeable membrane only allows the
positively charged sodium ions through to the cathode cell. At this electrode,
water is reduced to hydrogen gas leaving hydroxide ions with the sodium ions
that came through the membrane forming sodium hydroxide.

2. Chloro-alkali Process

Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila

College of Engineering and Technology
Chemical Engineering Department

Figure 3. Chloro-alkali Process

Chlor-alkali process is an industrial process for the electrolysis of sodium

chloride. It is the technology used to produce chlorine and sodium hydroxide
(caustic soda), which are commodity chemicals required by industry.
Salt is collected at a large scale in the industries. It usually comes from
underground and is mixed with water pumping up the ground resulting a
saturated brine solution. Brine solution is stored in a big reservoir. When it is
needed, the brine will be transported by pipelines to the purification plant.
After brine purification, brine is flowed to numerous electrolytic cells.
Inside these cells, the cathode is a liquid metal, which is the mercury. The base
of the cell is slope to allow the mercury to flow. The mercury allows the product
of the reaction be separated.
Low voltage direct current electricity is applied across the electrode. At
the anodes, the negatively charged chloride ions lose electrons and become
chlorine atoms and is given off as a hot, wet, corrosive gas. At the cathode,
positively charged sodium ions pick up electrons and become sodium atoms
which are dissolved in the flowing mercury. The sodium passes to the
decomposer. There, the sodium reacts with water. Hydrogen gas is produced
and sodium hydroxide in solution. Hydrogen gas is kept away to the oxygen
preventing an explosion. The mercury at the base is recycled.

VI. Equipment Used, Unit Operation and Reaction Involved

Equipment Used

Unit Operation and Reaction

Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila

College of Engineering and Technology
Chemical Engineering Department

Brine Saturation

Brine
Saturator

Purification

Brin
e Purifier
Electrolysis

Mercur
y Electrolysis Cell

2NaCl + 2H2O
H2
(cathode) + Cl2(anode) +
2NaOH

Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila

College of Engineering and Technology
Chemical Engineering Department

Decomposition
Decom
poser

Storing

Sodium Hydroxide Storage

Tank

Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila

College of Engineering and Technology
Chemical Engineering Department

REFERENCES
Gotlib, L. (1990). How Lye is Made and Some Uses. Countryside and Small
Stock Journal, Vol. 78, p. 37. Retrieved from http://science.
jrank.org/pages/6242/Sodium-Hydroxide.html
National Research Council. (1984). Emergency and Continuous Exposure Limits
for Selected Airborne Contaminants Volume 2. Retrieved from https://
www.nap.edu/read/690 chapter/14
Sodium Hydroxide.
/history.html

Retrieved

from

http://sodiumhydroxide.weebly.com

Sodium hydroxide in the oil and gas industry. (2008). Retrieved from
http://continentalchemicalusa.com/oil-gas-exploration-production/
sodium-hydroxide/sodium-hydroxide-oil-gas-industry/