Caustic soda manufacturing plays a part in many industrial applications. Suppliers of caustic soda help in the pulp and paper industries, in the textile industry, soap and detergent industries, bleach industries, in petroleum products and in the alumina field.

Whether you are a caustic soda company, a caustic soda distributor, or a caustic soda buyer, though, knowing the chemical properties of the product as well as its safety information are vital to keeping you, your staff and the general public safe.

To make the most of caustic soda education and training, and to locate resources on caustic soda:

1. Find out about the caustic soda industry.

2. Use federal resources to help you with your caustic soda education and training.

3. Put safety first when taking advantage of the uses for caustic soda.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Learn about caustic soda vendors and the industry

Familiarize yourself with caustic soda production, the industry and the major caustic soda companies and caustic soda suppliers.

I recommend: Read about caustic soda production from Dow, the world's leading caustic soda producer. Read the latest industry headlines, find out its safety and handling information, quality management systems, frequently asked questions and more. Consider purchasing the Global Strategic Business Report on Caustic Soda from Global Industry Analysts.

Take advantage of government caustic soda education and training resource materials

Make the most out of federal resources available on caustic soda, its uses, its hazards and its safety precautions.

I recommend: Find out about the International Chemical Safety Card information on caustic soda from the National Institute for Occupational Health and Safety. Learn about acute health hazards and symptoms to humans. Find out about prevention techniques, and also discover first aid and fire fighting information. The site also adds spillage disposal, storage as well as packaging and labeling information. Learn what the US Department of Labor's Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) has to say about Sodium Hydroxide a.k.a. caustic soda. Read about exposure limits, health factors, as well as OSHA monitoring methods.

Take caustic soda safety precautions

Find out how to put safety first when working with caustic soda. Learn about the health risks and how to prevent potentially hazardous situations when working with our around caustic soda.

I recommend: Find out from Scorecard about the potential health hazards that caustic soda can pose in your workplace. Take a look at its chemical profile in terms of health risks and hazard rankings. Read the reactivity information from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Learn about caustic soda hazards, response recommendations, physical properties, regulatory information as well as alternate chemical name information.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Caustic soda is soluble in water. When it dissolves, it can put off enough steam and spattering to ignite things around it.

Caustic soda, commonly called lye or sodium hydroxide, is used in chemical reactions to neutralize acidic materials and to induce chemical reactions. For these reasons, uses for caustic soda are extremely varied. It can be used as a cleanser to dissolve oil and protein deposits. Caustic soda has been used in soap production, paper making, food preparation, chemical analysis and water treatment processes.

Before attempting to locate a caustic soda manufacturing company, there are some questions that you will first need to answer. Having these answers will help in determining which caustic soda suppliers will be the best one for you.

1. Do you need food grade or industrial grade caustic soda?

2. Do you need liquid or solid forms of caustic soda?

3. For what purpose will you be using the caustic soda?

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Buy food grade caustic soda for use in industrial kitchens

Food grade caustic soda is often used in commercial kitchens to clean and peel fruits and vegetables. Caustic soda is an essential ingredient when baking authentic German pretzels and gives these pretzels its signature hard crunch.

I recommend: Georgia Gulf Corporation is a caustic soda vendor selling the product in food grade and industrial grade formats. AAA Chemicals is a food grade caustic soda distributor. Contact them for wholesale pricing. Voigt Global Distribution Inc. is a caustic soda distributor who offers discounts on bulk purchases.

Determine the form of caustic soda

Caustic soda production companies sell the product commercially in different solid forms such as flakes, pellets, sticks or chips. It is sold in liquid forms in various chemical concentrations depending upon your business needs. Chemical processing, water treatment plants and the pulp and paper industries use the liquid form much more frequently than the solid form of caustic soda.

I recommend: Certified Lye is a caustic soda supplier selling the product in 20 ounce canisters designed for resale and also by the pound. Cole-Parmer is one of the caustic soda manufacturers making the product in both liquid and crystal forms.

Buy in bulk from caustic soda vendors

Some caustic soda companies will sell the product in bulk. If your business requires 1600 pounds of caustic soda, you will be able to buy it in that quantity at a reduced price over smaller 50 pound drum sales. Caustic soda must be stored and handled in well-ventilated areas so keep that in mind when determining the quantity that you are going to purchase.

I recommend: Caustic soda manufacturers such as Occidental Petroleum Corporation and Alfa Aesar sells in bulk so you can buy the product by the 50-gallon drum or larger if needed.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Caustic soda must be stored in air-tight containers as it will absorb moisture from the air.
• •  Caustic soda is classified as a corrosive material and is regulated by the U.S. Department of Transportation. Great care must be taken when transporting and handling the material.