Caustic soda pearls are an important inorganic chemical as they are used in numerous industries worldwide. The highest demand for caustic soda comes from the paper industry where it is utilised in pulping and bleaching processes. They are also in demand in the aluminium industry as the caustic soda dissolves bauxite ore, which is the raw material in aluminium production. Another major use for caustic soda is chemical processing as caustic soda is a basic feedstock for a range of down-stream products including solvents, plastics, fabrics, adhesives etc.
Caustic soda pearls are also used in soap production as they engender saponification of the vegetable oils or fats that are necessary for soap manufacture. They have a role in the natural gas industry where sodium hydroxide is used to help produce and process petroleum products and they can be employed in the textile industry where it is used in the chemical processing of cotton.
Caustic soda also has small scale applications. It can be used for aluminium etching, chemical analysis and in paint stripper. It is a component in a range of domestic products including pipe and drain cleaner, oven cleaner and in home-cleaning products.
