Caustic Soda (Sodium Hydroxide) is a powerhouse alkali, fundamental to thousands of industrial processes. Known for its aggressive neutralizing capabilities and ability to dissolve organic matter, it is a non-negotiable raw material for many UK businesses. Berkeley Trade is a trusted Tier-1 distributor of Caustic Soda, supplying the chemical in various concentrations and physical forms to perfectly match your engineering and processing requirements.

Chemical Profile & Specifications Caustic soda is a strong, highly corrosive metallic base.

• Appearance: Available as a clear liquid (liquor) or as solid white opaque crystals (pearls/flakes).
• Behavior: Highly deliquescent in solid form (rapidly absorbs moisture from the air until it dissolves). Generates intense, boiling heat when mixed with water.

Key UK Industrial Applications

1. Pulp and Paper Industry: Used heavily in the Kraft process to separate lignin from cellulose fibers, ensuring strong, white paper products. It is also used to bleach the resulting pulp.
2. Water & Effluent Treatment: The go-to alkali for elevating the pH of acidic wastewater and precipitating heavy metals out of industrial water systems before municipal discharge.
3. Soap and Detergent Manufacturing: The primary catalyst in the saponification process, converting fats, tallows, and vegetable oils into solid soaps and surfactants.
4. Chemical Production: Essential for the synthesis of thousands of chemicals, including plastics, solvents, synthetic fibers (like Rayon), and bleach (sodium hypochlorite).
5. Food & Beverage / Brewing: Used widely in Cleaning-In-Place (CIP) systems to sanitize vats, pipelines, and machinery by dissolving fats, oils, and protein-based deposits.
6. Alumina Extraction: Used to extract alumina from bauxite ore, the precursor to aluminum manufacturing.

Grades and Packaging Options We tailor our supply to your handling capabilities:

• Caustic Soda Liquor (Liquid): Supplied in standard concentrations of 30%, 32%, 47%, and 50%.
• Caustic Soda Solid: Available as Pearls (micro-prills) or Flakes, boasting a minimum purity of 99%.

Logistics: Liquids are distributed in 1000L IBCs or via our fleet of Bulk Tankers. Solids are supplied in secure 25kg bags or 1000kg Bulk Bags.

Safety, Storage, and COSHH Compliance Sodium Hydroxide is highly corrosive and will cause severe, immediate burns to biological tissue.

• Storage Requirements: Liquid forms must be stored in specialized, bunded tanks (often requiring heating in winter, as 50% liquor freezes at around 12-15°C). Solids must be kept airtight to prevent moisture absorption.
• Compliance: Berkeley Trade provides comprehensive offloading protocols. Full PPE, including face shields and chemical-resistant aprons, is strictly required during handling.