Sodium carbonate and sodium silicate: essential ingredients in water treatment and drinking water production

DID YOU KNOW? The applications of our products contribute to some of the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

SDG 6: Ensure access to water and sanitation for all

Soda ash: an ingredient used in the water neutralization process

Neutralization of an effluent consists in bringing its pH (by acidification or alkalinization) to a neutral pH value, i.e. around 7.

Sodium carbonate (Na₂CO₃) is used to counterbalance the acidic pH of the water. Sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO₃), by its buffering capacity, also stabilizes the pH.

SodA ash: an ingredient used to reduce water hardness

Sodium carbonate (Na₂CO₃) is also used to reduce water hardness by precipitating calcium.

The elimination of permanent hardness is obtained by cold sodium carbonate, associated or not with the precipitation of calcium and magnesium by lime. This elimination is done according to the reactions:

CaSO₄ + Na₂CO₃ à Na₂SO₄ + CaCO₃

CaCl₂ + Na₂CO₃ à2NaCl + CaCO₃

What about sodium silicate?

Sodium silicate is used in water treatment, particularly for its anti-corrosion properties, which protect drinking water pipes, but also for its ability to precipitate some metals such as iron or aluminum.