Are High Caustic Soda Prices Messing With Your Budget?

Posted in General

Caustic Soda prices have risen to unprecedented levels. Truckload costs for Caustic Soda are currently greater than $ 1,000 to 1,200 per dry ton. Just a year ago costs were one–half of this amount.

Aries Magnesium Hydroxide may be your answer. It can reduce your wastewater neutralization costs dramatically. That’s because you will typically use 27% less Magnesium Hydroxide than Caustic Soda. That’s on top of the fact that Magnesium Hydroxide will cost less!

Economic and Performance Comparisons for Aries 100 Magnesium Hydroxide and Caustic Soda

Comparison Basis	Caustic Soda Sodium Hydroxide	Aries 100 Magnesium Hydroxide
Product form	50% solution – NaOH	60% solids slurry – Mg(OH)2
Raw material cost (ton per ton basis)	Fluctuates widely with supply; often more expensive than Mg(OH)2	Generally competitive with caustic soda; pricing consistent
Alkali requirement: ✓ per ton H2SO4 ✓ per ton HCl ✓ per ton HNO3 NaOH Consumption vs. Mg(OH)2	1630 dry lb. 2190 dry lb. 1270 dry lb. 27% more	1190 dry lb. 1600 dry lb. 921 dry lb.
Capital investment	Cost associated with safety considerations; no agitated tank required; freeze protection needed for 50% caustic	Agitated storage tank required
Residence time	Extremely fast acting to complete neutralization	Moderately fast acting to 95% of neutralization; more controllable process
Maximum pH in overtreatment	14	9
Sludge produced	High volume, gel-like with heavy metals	Dense, low volume with heavy metals; easier to dewater
Safety	Hazardous material requiring rigorous safety procedures. Sara 313 listed.	Non-hazardous material
Environmental	Sodium ion discharge; can easily overshoot desired pH	Buffers at pH 9

Contact Aries to review the potential for conversion to Magnesium Hydroxide: (315) 346-1111 or aries@arieschem.com.

Aries Technical Sales Staff is available to perform a site survey to determine Magnesium Hydroxide’s applicability to your process. Aries can provide a complete Magnesium Hydroxide feed and control system for trials. Aries technical staff can design a permanent Magnesium Hydroxide storage, feed and control system for your facility.