Sodium Bicarbonate

Product summary

Sodium bicarbonate is known as a natural ingredient in hot springs and is a safe substance. As environmental impact becomes a more immediate problem, its gentle effects and natural qualities have been reassessed and it has come to be used in a variety of fields.
It has a multitude of uses from everyday goods to pharmaceuticals and beyond. To meet the ever-increasing needs and expanding applications, AGC, the largest manufacturer of sodium bicarbonate in Japan, offers a selection of grades and is putting efforts into the development of new products.

Features

- A mild and weak alkali -

Sodium bicarbonate is a white powder with molecular formula NaHCO₃, and pH of 8.5 (1% aqueous solution, 25°C).
Among sodium compounds, it is one of the substances with the lowest alkalinity.

- It can be poured into water as is -

Because the alkalinity is low, it does not exceed the Japanese effluent standard of aqueous solutions (marine areas: between 5.0-9.0, non-marine areas: between 5.8-8.6). If you use in other countries, please consult your local laws and regulations.

- It has a buffer effect -

Sodium bicarbonate solutions have the effect of moderating pH changes.

- It is a safe inorganic substance -

Among registered and existing chemical substances, it is extremely safe and can be stored in stable form at room temperature and ordinary pressure.

Generic name: sodium bicarbonate
Chemical formula: NaHCO₃
Other names: Bicarbonate of soda, baking soda

CSCL Number　　1-164 (Na₂CO₃), 1-310 (carbonated water)
Industrial Safety and Health Act Number　　1-164 (Na₂CO₃), 1-310 (carbonated water)
CAS NO　　144-55-8

Main uses

Pharmaceutical, bath additive, baking powder, animal food, poultry feed additive, chemical raw material, agrochemical, fire-extinguishing agent, aqueous blast cleaning media, exhaust gas neutralising material, etc.

Manufacturing process

There are 2 types of manufacturing processes for sodium bicarbonate: Wet and dry.
Generally, the method used for large-scale production is the wet method in which sodium bicarbonate is precipitated as crystals by infusing carbon dioxide gas into caustic soda derived by electrolysis to cause a reaction, and AGC uses this method to manufacture its sodium bicarbonate.

1. Preparation

Separates and removes trace amounts of impurities in the raw material solution. Processed solution is sent to the purification solution storage tank.

2. Crystallization/Separation

Infuse carbon dioxide gas to cause a reaction in which the sodium bicarbonate crystals are precipitated.
Use centrifuges to separate and remove crystals from solution containing sodium bicarbonate crystals.