|
|
|
|
|
|
The dense grade has a bulk density of ~1 t per m3 and a Particle-Median-Diameter (D50) of 300 to 500 microns.
Soda Ash Dense is the grade preferred for glass manufacture because its granular properties make it dust-free and reduce the risks of segregation during transport and handling.
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Product informationSupply ChainProduction plantsProduct Stewardship (HSE)Applications
Product data sheet
| Soda Ash Dense (European plants) |
 |
| Soda Ash Dense (US plant) |
 | Click here to get a Product Data Sheet of a specific European plant.
Solvay operates several production plants in Europe, North America and Africa. This allows most customers to be supplied from different origins via a global network of warehouses and terminals. By doing so Solvay is probably the only supplier able to ensure world wide product availability to its customers even in the most difficult circumstances.
For more information on sourcing, you may contact our Sales team.
Most dense Soda Ash is transported in bulk. This can be done using bulk pneumatic or tipper trucks, dedicated bulk railcars (with a pneumatic or gravity unloading), sea going bulk carriers or standard ISO containers fitted with an inner liner.
The use of several transport modes by all key plants guarantees on the one hand a continuous operation and, on the other, also allows Solvay to use the transport method that fits best to customers' needs at a competitive price. As far as possible , dedicated transport means are used to avoid any contamination of the bulk soda ash. In the case this is not economically justified or possible, very strict cleanliness rules and controls are applied.
Several state of the art export terminals are operated to export the soda ash in the most efficient way.

PackagingBeside the bulk, soda ash dense may also be supplied in a wide range of packaging combinations to meet customer's expectations.
Soda Ash Dense can be packed in bags of 25 or 50 kg or bulk bags 1000 kg or 1250 kg, can be grouped in packets, on pallets or even loose, loaded on trucks, in containers or in the holds of large sea vessels. The combination selected will depend on the needs and the geographical location of the customer and the facilities available at the supplying plant.
For more info, we suggest you to contact our Sales team.
Transport meansBulk trucks Pneumatic trucks are the most commonly used means of transport for soda ash within Europe. In many cases truck drivers will themselves unload the truck at the customer's site, following closely the instructions received. The soda ash is fully protected inside the truck so that the contamination risk is almost non-existant.
Pneumatic and hopper railcars For larger customers pneumatic railcars or hopper cars are recommended if the customer is connected to the rail network. The railcars are dedicated to soda ash so that contamination is completely avoided. The use of railcars allows Solvay to reduce further its CO² footprint. Bulk Containers Solvay has developed the use of standard ISO containers to transport soda ash to overseas customers. A full-size liner is suspended inside the container before it is loaded with 25 tonnes of soda ash. The container may be emptied at destination by tipping or by blowing the soda ash directly into the silos of the customer. This new method of transporting soda ash is enabling Solvay to service customers in regions that are difficult to reach for large bulk carriers. It also allows a continuous flow of product to the customer, enabling him to reduce his working capital and warehousing needs. Sea going vessels Shiploaders are available at all export terminals. These enable the loading of bulk vessels up to 25 kt or sometimes even more. Here again, Solvay applies the most severe norms in terms of cleanliness of the ships' holds and permitted previous cargoes, making Solvay Soda Ash an excellent fit for all glass applications where the highest standards are essential.
HandlingLikewise for the handling of Soda Ash Dense, Solvay has collated its expertise in a practical brochure, which can be obtained on request.
For more info, please contact our Sales team WarehousingSolvay is an acknowledged expert in terminals and warehouses as it operates terminals all over the world.
Based on this long experience, Solvay has compiled a brochure that assists customers in establishing their own operations. Please contact our Sales team to obtain a copy.
Dombasle (France)

| Name |
: Solvay Carbonate France S.A.S. |
| |
|
| Street |
: rue Gabriel Péri |
| Zip Code |
: F - 54110 |
| City |
: Dombasle Sur Meurthe |
| Country |
: France |
|
|
|
| Phone |
: + 33 3 83 18 54 54 |
| Fax |
: + 33 3 83 18 54 45 |
| Certificates : |
|
| ISO9001 - ISO14001 - OHSAS18001 |
 |
| ISO22000 |
 |
| HACCP (sodium bicarbonate) |
 |
| GMP B2 (sodium bicarbonate) |
 |
| Process : |
|
| Solvay Ammonia based |
 |
Rheinberg (Germany)

| Name |
: Solvay Chemicals GmbH |
| |
|
| Street |
: Xantener Strasse 237 |
| Zip Code |
: D - 47495 |
| City |
: Rheinberg |
| Country |
: Germany |
|
|
|
| Phone |
: + 49 2843 730 |
| Fax |
: + 49 2843 731 92 |
| Certificates : |
|
| ISO 9001 - ISO 14001 |
 |
| ISO 22000 |
 |
| HACCP (sodium bicarbonate) |
 |
| OHSAS 18001 |
 |
| Process : |
|
| Solvay Ammonia based |
 |
Alexandria (Egypt)
| Name |
: Solvay Alexandria Sodium Carbonate S.A.E. |
| |
|
| Street |
: Al Max Street |
| Zip Code |
: - |
| City |
: Dekhila - Alexandria |
| Country |
: Egypt |
|
|
|
| Phone |
: + 20 3 220 4380 / 2208429 |
| Fax |
: + 20 3 220 4389 |
| Certificates : |
|
| ISO 9001 |
 |
| Process : |
|
| Solvay Ammonia based |
 |
Green River (USA)
| Name |
: Solvay Chemicals, Inc. |
| |
|
| Street |
: 400 County Road 85 |
| Zip Code |
: WY 82935 |
| City |
: Green River |
| Country |
: USA |
|
|
|
| Phone |
: + 1 307 8756500/8726500 |
| Fax |
: + 1 307 8726510 |
| Certificates : |
|
| ISO 9001 |
 |
| Process : |
|
| Trona based |
 |
Glass IndustryGlass manufacturing is by far the most important use for soda ash: more than 50% of the world’s soda ash production is indeed used to manufacture various types of glass :
- Flat glass for the building (housing, high rise buildings) and
automotive industries;
- Container or packaging glass for the preservation of
beverages, food, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics and many
other commodity items;
- Fiberglass for insulation or for reinforcement;
- Other glass products such as light bulbs, tableware and
decorative glass blocks.
Soda ash allows sand to melt at lower temperatures and therefore saving precious energy and prolonging glass furnace life.
Solvay supplies high-quality soda ash to glassmakers throughout the world and actively supports their growth.
In addition, Solvay provides its customers with specific counseling on how best to handle and store the soda ash.
| |
| Flat Glass |
|
Flat glass is mostly produced by the “float” process and has increased strongly in recent years particularly for the building industry.
This trend is easily explained by the strong growth of the emerging economies and their corresponding infrastructure needs but also by the increased use in modern building and in renovation in the
developed economies : increasingly double or triple glazing windows are used for buildings today due to their improved thermal performance which allows a significant reduction of energy consumption and CO2 emission.
Flat glass, both laminated and tempered, has also experienced strong growth in the automotive industry in parallel with the world wide automotive but also as a result of increased use of glass per vehicle.
|
|
Container glass |
|
In the packaging sector, glass is highly valued for its aesthetic qualities (transparency, forms and colors, etc.), its organoleptic qualities (lack of reaction with the contents) and its recycling potential (glass can indeed be recycled almost infinitely without any downgrading and with significant energy savings).
In the framework of their drive towards sustainable development, glassmakers have succeeded in reducing the weight of bottles, while preserving their capacity and strength and have also developed efficient recycling operations (e.g. in West Europe, about 50% of the container glass roduction uses cullet or recycled glass as raw material).
|
| |
Fibreglass |
|
Soda Ash is also used for the production of glass fibres which have a wide range of use, such as thermal insulation (as a substitute to materials such as mineral wool) and as reinforcement fibres for various materials.
|
Environment
| Air emission control |
|
Sodium Carbonate or more often its derivative, sodium bicarbonate, is used for the deacidification of combustion gases (energy generators). Air emission control using sodium carbonate can be carried out using a wet or dry process.
|
| |
Water treatment |
|
Soda ash can be also used to purify and soften water, adjusting pH levels to make water less corrosive and thereby limiting pipe scaling. It reduces calcium or magnesium hardness and helps remove contaminants from water.
Soda ash (sodium carbonate) can be used to neutralize acidity in order to adjust the pH in swimming pools.
|
| |
Wastewater treatment |
|
Soda ash can be used to treat toxic or refractory wastewaters, where it neutralizes acid waste streams. It can be used by automotive battery makers for treatment of sulfuric acid stream, and for final pH adjustment in effluent outflows.
|
ChemicalsSoda Ash (sodium carbonate) is used in a large number of chemical reactions. Many organic or inorganic substances can, when they combine with one or more sodium atoms, be made soluble or more soluble in water in a very economical way.
In this way Soda Ash is acting as a major raw material for the production of sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3), sodium silicates (Na2O x SiO2), sodium tripolyphosphates (Na5P3O10), sodium orthophosphate (NaH2PO4-Na2HPO4 - Na3PO4), sodium metaphosphate (NaPO3), sodium percarbonate (2NaCO33H2O2), sodium dichromate (Na2Cr2O72H2O), sodium sulphite (Na2SO3), sodium metabisulphite (Na2S2O5) and many others.
Soda Ash is also used as raw material in fertilizers, coloring, enameling, pertroleum and fats, glues, gelatin industries
| Sodium Bicarbonate |
|
SOLVAY is a leading producer of sodium bicarbonate BICAR® in several forms and grades, which are designed to address the vast number of applications of sodium bicarbonate.
Further information on the characteristics and applications on Solvay’s sodium bicarbonate BICAR® is available on the Solvay Bicar® Website
|
| |
| Sodium Silicates |
|
Sodium silicates are used for their detergent properties (in silicated soaps, in fabric washing powders, for dishwashers, for cleaning metals,…) and their binding properties (in cardboard and paper making, production of refractory and insulating materials, for ground consolidation, for fire protection,…).
Other applications of Sodium silicates are ink removal from waste paper, water treatment, ore flotation, production of special cements and zeolites.
|
| |
| Sodium Phosphates |
|
Main applications of sodium phosphates are Detergents (removal and prevention of re-deposition of dirt) , Pharmaceutical industry and human and animal feed.
|
| |
| Sodium Percarbonate |
|
SOLVAY is a leading producer of sodium percarbonate OXYPER®.
Further information on the characteristics and applications of Solvay’s sodium percarbonate OXYPER® is available on the Solvay Peroxygen Products - Persalts Website
|
| |
| Sodium Dichromate |
|
Sodium dichromate is used in the pigment industry, metal protection, leather and textile industries, organic syntheses, timber protection and manufacture of chromium derivatives.
|
| |
| Sodium Sulphite |
|
Sodium sulphite is mostly used in waste water treatment in metal plating and tanning, product bleaching, preservation of certain foods and as introduction agent of the SO3 group into organic molecules (ex : production of acrylic fibers).
|
DetergentsSodium carbonate is used in the production of high performance powder detergents for laundry and dish washing.
Sodium carbonate is a very efficient source of alkalinity reserve and plays an important role in water softening. As a result it has been approved by many detergent producers in nil-phosphate containing formulations.
It may also be used for the direct soaking of clothes, dishwashing, floor washing and for degreasing operations.
For these applications, a large number of formulated domestic products, soaps, scouring powders, soaking and washing powders etc. contain a varying content of sodium carbonate.
Metallurgy
| Non-ferrous metals |
|
Sodium carbonate is used in the process of a large number of non-ferrous metals : leaching of uranium ore (nuclear energy), precipitation of lithium carbonate (Li-ion batteries), precipitation of cobalt carbonate (inorganic pigment and precursor to many catalysts), recycling of the lead from discarded batteries and industrial dusts, sintering of low-grade bauxite for production of alumina, etc...
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|