Soap and Detergents
13 June 2025
Soda ash light, chemically known as sodium carbonate (Na₂CO₃), is a critical inorganic compound widely used in manufacturing soaps, detergents, glass, and chemical reagents. In the soap and detergent industry, soda ash functions as a builder, pH adjuster, and water softener. As Singapore remains a regional hub for detergent formulation and export, understanding how soda ash light is industrially produced becomes essential for formulators, procurement managers, and plant engineers.
This article delivers a detailed technical guide on how soda ash light is produced at scale, covering both natural and synthetic methods, energy requirements, and process controls relevant to its use in the soap and detergents industry in Singapore.
Soda ash light is the anhydrous, fine-grain form of sodium carbonate. It differs from soda ash dense in terms of bulk density and particle size. While dense soda ash is ideal for glassmaking, light soda ash is preferred in:
Powder detergent formulations
Soap saponification reactions
Textile dyeing and printing
Water softening agents
Its ability to neutralize fatty acids and adjust pH makes it indispensable in alkaline cleaning systems and surfactant formulations.
There are two primary commercial routes for producing soda ash:
Used mainly in the U.S. (e.g., Wyoming).
Involves mining trona ore (Na₂CO₃·NaHCO₃·2H₂O).
Ore is crushed, calcined, and purified to yield soda ash.
More sustainable and energy-efficient, but geographically limited.
Synthetic Solvay Process (widely used in Asia)
Most of Asia’s soda ash, including what reaches Singapore, is derived via the Solvay process due to a lack of trona deposits.
The Solvay process uses salt (NaCl), limestone (CaCO₃), and ammonia (NH₃) as primary raw materials. Below is a breakdown of the production stages:
Step 1: Brine Purification
Sodium chloride (salt) is dissolved in water to form a brine solution.
Impurities like Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺ are removed using lime and soda ash.
Filtered brine is sent to the carbonation tower.
Step 2: Ammoniation of Brine
The purified brine is saturated with ammonia gas.
Forms ammoniated brine, crucial for precipitating sodium bicarbonate.
Step 3: Carbonation
The ammoniated brine is carbonated by bubbling CO₂ gas through it.
Reaction:
NaCl + NH₃ + CO₂ + H₂O → NaHCO₃ ↓ + NH₄Cl
Sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO₃) precipitates out due to its lower solubility.
Step 4: Filtration and Calcination
Precipitated sodium bicarbonate is filtered, washed, and calcined:
2 NaHCO₃ → Na₂CO₃ + CO₂ + H₂O
This yields soda ash light, and the CO₂ is recycled.
Step 5: Ammonia Recovery
The ammonium chloride (NH₄Cl) byproduct is reacted with lime (CaO) to regenerate ammonia.
Reaction:
2 NH₄Cl + CaO → 2 NH₃ + CaCl₂ + H₂O
Ammonia is recycled at the start of the process.
To ensure high-purity and consistent light soda ash, industrial plants optimize:
|
Parameter |
Control Objective |
|
Brine concentration |
Maintain NaCl ≥ 25% |
|
CO₂ flow rate |
Optimize precipitation yield |
|
pH level |
Target ~8.5 for precipitation |
|
Calcination temp |
~150–200°C for decomposition |
|
Particle drying |
Achieve <0.5% moisture content |
Automation and real-time pH/flow control systems are widely used in modern soda ash plants.
For soap and detergent manufacturing, soda ash light must meet:
Purity: ≥ 99.2% Na₂CO₃
Bulk Density: 500–600 kg/m³
Iron Content: < 0.003%
Moisture: ≤ 0.5%
Soda ash with high purity ensures better reaction efficiency with fatty acids and reduces batch inconsistencies in detergent blending lines.
Detergent powder blending plants
Contract soap manufacturers
Multinational CPG brands with ASEAN hubs
Builder: Softens water to enhance surfactant performance.
Alkali source: Essential for saponification.
Buffering agent: Maintains pH during wash cycle.
Neutralizer: Reacts with free fatty acids in soap noodles.
According to Tradeasia International, soda ash light remains a key ingredient in detergent plants in Tuas and Jurong.
Energy use (especially for calcination)
Ammonia loss in closed-loop systems
Raw material prices: salt, limestone, and ammonia
Import freight rates to Singapore
The Solvay process emits CO₂, but modern plants have partial capture.
Efforts are ongoing to shift toward CO₂-neutral soda ash using renewable energy and electrochemical methods.
Singapore’s Green Plan 2030 encourages industries to evaluate their Scope 3 emissions, which includes sourcing chemicals like soda ash more sustainably.
Local distributors such as Tradeasia Singapore provide:
Bulk imports (25MT containers, jumbo bags)
Technical-grade soda ash for detergent applications
Regional warehouse storage in Singapore
Soda ash light is a vital raw material for soap and detergent manufacturing, with a well-established production process via the Solvay method. Understanding the technical details of how it’s made helps formulators and procurement professionals make informed decisions about quality, sourcing, and compliance.
For Singapore’s thriving soap and detergent sector, choosing a reliable soda ash source with high purity, consistent particle size, and dependable logistics can ensure production efficiency and regulatory compliance. If you are interested in our products for your specific business needs, you can talk more details from here.
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