Safety precautions when working with caustic soda

Caustic is one of the most popular substances of alkaline origin in the world. Every year, about 55.5 million tons of this product are produced for industrial requests. It is the strongest chemical base that is completely soluble in water.

What is the danger of lye?

Caustic soda refers to highly toxic substances of alkaline origin. In case of contact with the skin, you can get a burn with caustic, which can provoke skin lesions and ulcers. Caustic soda refers to substances that are very active and therefore dangerous:

• in the powdered state, NaOH is not very dangerous, only when dissolved in water, breaking down into sodium ion and hydroxide, it becomes toxic;
• dangerous are also the vapors of caustic soda, if inhaled, which can cause a burn of the upper respiratory tract
• reacting with water, a lot of heat is released.

Taking into account all these factors, it is necessary to observe safety measures when working with this chemical, so as not to get burned by caustic soda. To dissolve the powder in water, you need to pour it into the liquid, and not vice versa, so that the vapors do not rise high into the air. The container for diluting the solution should be placed in the place where it will cause the least harm, in case of leakage. Do not lean very close to the container with the solution, since the greater the distance, the less likely you are to get burns to the respiratory tract.

Security features

To protect yourself from the aggressive effects of alkali on the body, it is necessary to observe certain safety measures when working with chemicals. It is very important to protect the organs of vision, since if the alkali gets into the eyes, you can get not only a burn, but also lose your vision, so special attention should be paid to glasses, which are an integral part of taking precautions. You need to remove the glasses only after completing all the work, since even the finished solution can be sprayed completely unexpectedly due to the chemical reactions that occur.

An important role in protecting the skin is played by gloves, which should be on the hands until the end of the entire process of working with alkali, since even small droplets can cause a burn with caustic soda when they get on the skin. In the event that the substance gets on the skin, you need to immediately wash it off under running water, and you can neutralize the caustic soda with a solution of vinegar or boric acid.

Another, no less important attribute in protection when working with toxic substances is a jumpsuit or dressing gown, which should protect the exposed areas of the body, as well as clothing from getting alkali, since sodium hydroxide can burn a hole even in the fabric.

Safety precautions

In the process, it is necessary to take into account that the finished solution is not only poisonous, but also hot, and can even boil, so when dissolving caustic soda in water, it is recommended to add ice, and the container can be placed in cold water to create a so-called "cold bath". You can not pour water into caustic soda, so an uncontrolled process of thermal reaction can occur, which can lead to a thermal explosion. To avoid unexpected consequences, it is also necessary to strictly observe the proportions.

Sodium hydroxide enters the production in a liquid or dry state, so to prepare a working solution, you need to determine the NaOH content in the caustic soda. In enterprises, this happens in several ways: titration and using densimetry. After making the calculations, you can start to prepare the working solution of the required concentration. Only adult specialists who have been instructed in safety when working with chemicals are allowed to perform such work.

In most enterprises, safe installations for the preparation of the solution are used, which exclude direct contact of the employee with the chemical solution, and, accordingly, minimize the risks of causing harm to health in the course of work.

Storage and transportation

Caustic soda should be stored and transported in tightly closed, pre-washed containers made of a material that is resistant to alkalis. The solution is transported in road tanks, as well as by rail and water transport in packages or containers filled to 98% of their capacity.

When storing, it is important to observe the temperature regime in the storage rooms and not allow the caustic soda to heat up. Keep away from direct heat and direct sunlight. At home, you need to provide a place that is inaccessible to children and animals, so as not to harm their health. The shelf life provided by the manufacturer is 12 months from the date of manufacture.

Wholesale sale of caustic

If your company uses caustic soda or plans to switch to its use in order to save money, and consumption volumes start from 20-22 tons - it will be more profitable to buy caustic from large suppliers.

The Basis plant works in the market of chemical products for more than 5 years, we import caustic soda and supply it to various enterprises in Russia and the CIS countries.

To find out the most favorable conditions for buying caustic soda-you can leave a request on our website - and one of our managers will contact you in the near future.

You can also call our sales department at the phone number: +7 (351) 225-62-47.