Sodium bicarbonate or sodium hydrogen carbonate is the chemical compound with the formula NaHCO3. Sodium bicarbonate is an odorless white solid that is crystalline but often appears as a fine powder. It has a slightly salty, alkaline taste resembling that of washing soda (sodium carbonate). Sodium Bicarbonate is a versatile product used in the manufacture of a wide variety of goods in everyday use. The natural mineral form is nahcolite. Sodium bicarbonate is a component of the mineral natron and is found dissolved in many mineral springs. It is also produced artificially. It is found in baked goods, effervescent drinks and food colorants.

Most sodium bicarbonate is manufactured by dissolving sodium carbonate (soda ash) in water and then bubbling carbon dioxide (CO2) through the solution to form sodium bicarbonate crystals. Once the sodium bicarbonate crystals reach an adequate size, the solution is centrifuged and the sodium bicarbonate is dried and packaged.

Characteristics of sodium bicarbonate are as follows:

  • Soluble in water
  • Slightly soluble in alcohol
  • Slightly abrasive
  • Fungistatic
  • Slight alkaline taste
  • Non-flammable

Sodium Bicarbonate is among the food additives encoded by European Union, identified by the initials E 500. Since it has long been known and is widely used, the salt has many related names such as baking soda, bread soda, cooking soda, and bicarbonate of soda. In colloquial usage, its name is sometimes shortened to sodium bicarb, bicarb soda, simply bicarb, or even bica.

Baking soda (Sodium Bicarbonate) is used primarily in animal feed as a rumen buffer (digestive aid) or as a chemical leavening agent in baking (an alternative to yeast in making baked goods rise). When Baking Soda decomposes, carbon dioxide is produced, and this gas produces bubbles in the food that make it “lighter” (less dense). For instance, baking soda is often used in baking cakes, in order to make them “rise” as they are cooked. Baking soda makes a perfect stand-in for many personal care, cleaning, and deodorizing products. It is inexpensive, free of toxic chemicals, versatile, and effective.

Sodium bicarbonate helps regulate pH — keeping a substance neither too acidic nor too alkaline. When baking soda comes in contact with either an acidic or an alkaline substance, its natural effect is to neutralize that pH. Beyond that, baking soda has the ability to retard further changes in the pH balance, known as buffering. Other uses include detergents and cleaning products, water softening agents and pH adjustment. More highly purified sodium bicarbonate is used in food and pharmaceutical applications

Used throughout Industry, sodium bicarbonate buffers, neutralizes, provides a source of CO2, and acts as a catalyst in multiple processes. In the drilling industry, sodium bicarbonate is used to chemically treat drilling mud when it becomes contaminated with calcium ions from cement or lime. Sodium bicarbonate reacts with calcium ions to produce an inert calcium precipitate that can be removed from the system.

Fire extinguishers use sodium bicarbonate to smother the flames. Dry chemical extinguishers often contain a fine grade of sodium bicarbonate. The sodium bicarbonate decomposes in the high temperatures and releases carbon dioxide. The carbon dioxide in turn reduces the oxygen supply available to the fire, eliminating it.

Based on form, the sodium bicarbonate market is segregated into crystal/powdered crystal, liquid and slurry. Among these, crystal form sodium bicarbonate was valued over USD 1 billion in 2018 and will likely grow at a significant rate by 2025. The product is usually used as a buffering agent, systemic alkalizer, topical cleansing solutions and an electrolyte replenisher. Slurry form sodium bicarbonate will witness significant growth with more than 3.5% CAGR in future. The segment is majorly driven by increasing application in pharmaceutical and industrial in the abrasives cleaning part.

Beroil Energy Group is able to supply sodium bicarbonate food grade and sodium bicarbonate feed grade at a competitive rate.

Sodium Bicarbonate Type : Food Grade

Sodium Bicarbonate Food Grade is type of sodium bicarbonate which is used in the food and beverage industry, it is always used as the additive and it is a white, crystalline powder, which is used also as a systematic alkalizer, buffering agent, electrolyte replenisher, and in topical cleansing solutions. It is stable in dry air and decomposes slowly in moist air. It is a mineral salt added to reverse osmosis of water and to make it suitable for drinking purposes. Thus, it is used as a water softener, which removes calcium and magnesium impurities.

Extensive demand from the food industry is the major driving factor for the global sodium bicarbonate food grade market. Moreover, an increase in demand from the pharmaceutical industry and for drinking water treatment propels the market growth. The global Sodium Bicarbonate Food Grade market is valued at 347.6 million USD in 2020 is expected to reach 387.9 million USD by the end of 2026, growing at a CAGR of 1.6% during 2021-2026.

Sodium Bicarbonate Food Grade has several applications in the food industry & households such as production of food & beverages, odor absorbent, an ingredient in frozen yeast products, used as a fruit washing agent, is a major ingredient in baking powder.

Sodium Bicarbonate Type : Feed Grade

Sodium bicarbonate plays an important role in animal nutrition today. Sodium bicarbonate feed grade is used in animal husbandry and poultry farming to enrich the animal’s feed ration with sodium. Sodium bicarbonate feed grade is used in the production of feeds for all animal species (cattle, pig, poultry) and primarily used as a dairy cow feed supplement, as an anticaking agent, pH control agent and leavening agent. The buffering capability of Natural Soda’s pure and natural feed grade sodium bicarbonate helps stabilize rumen pH by reducing acidic conditions.
Soda feed is an indispensable source of sodium for livestock and poultry, added to factory-made feed, is also a deoxidizer for cattle feed. When sodium bicarbonate feed grade is used, there will be an increase in milk yield, as well as fat content of milk during milking. The improved productivity does not come at the expense of animal health; while bicarbonate acts as a buffer to avoid acidosis, it also provides a chloride & sulphur free sodium diet. It is very useful to give baking soda also with a silo-concentrate type of feeding.
In regards to Application, the Animal feed segment held the largest market share of more than 20.0% in 2018, with a CAGR of 4.5% during the forecast period. The market share held by the Animal feed segment is attributed to the fact that sodium hydrogen carbonate plays an integral role in animal nutrition, due to which, it has elevated demand a dairy cow feed supplement that contributes to the market share held by this segment.

Physical and Chemical Properties

Property Value
Bulk Density 31-75 lbs./ft3 (500-1200 kg/m3 )
Solubility in Water 96 g/L @ 68ºF (20ºC)
pH 8.6 | 52 g/L in water
Flash Point Non- flammable

Sodium Bicarbonate Packing

Sodium bicarbonate is packed in 25 kg polyethylene bags or can be packed in 1 MT jumbo bags. 25kg bags and 50 kg bags are the most used packing for sodium bicarbonate. Guaranteed shelf life of bicarbonate of soda is 12 months from the manufacture date.
Sodium bicarbonate can be transported by all types of transport (except aviation) in covered vehicles in accordance with Goods Transport Rules applicable for this vehicle type.

Sodium Bicarbonate Uses

Baking:
Most people will know of sodium bicarbonate through baking, where it is used as a raising agent. It can be activated through either acid or heat. In the former instance, the sodium bicarbonate reacts with the acid and carbon dioxide is released. As the gas builds up, the surrounding mixtures expand. Sodium bicarbonate makes up about 30% of baking powder, alongside acidic components which are activated by water, reducing the need for additional acidic ingredients into the mixture.

Activating sodium bicarbonate with heat is less efficient as only half the potential carbon dioxide is released.

Sodium bicarbonate is widely used in the food and drinks industry.

Industrial:
Sodium bicarbonate is well-known for being an incredibly versatile cleaning product and is frequently used as an oxidizer in detergents. When mixed with warm water to form a paste it can be used as a mild scouring substance suitable for cleaning everything from heavily stained mugs to large scale industrial boiler descaling.

Used in this way sodium bicarbonate is particularly effective at removing any rust or paint from the surface of a metal and brickwork. When used in conjunction with compressed air, this process is called soda blasting.

Sodium bicarbonate is particularly effective when used as a flue gas treatment being a proven, reagent for the neutralization of such gaseous emissions. Thus, ensuring emissions are successfully captured and controlled.

In the oil and gas industry sodium bicarbonate is used at the drilling rigs to treat cement contamination in water.

Leather And Tanning:
Sodium bicarbonate can be used to ensure that leather remains supple and soft as well as porous to dyes. The addition of sodium bicarbonate prevents the fibres of the animal-hide from biodegrading.

Rubber And Plastic:
The carbon dioxide that sodium bicarbonate produces when reacting with heat or acid can be used to shape and mould rubber into the required shapes. In this manufacturing process, it is known as a blowing agent.

Swimming Pool Treatment:
If the alkalinity of a swimming pool needs raising, sodium bicarbonate is one of the go-to options. It is a cost-effective and safe option that is easy to obtain.

Animal Feed:
An important feed material used as an important source of sodium and as an acid buffer, helping to balance the diets and assist the rearing needs of the following: ruminants, poultry and pigs.

Fire Extinguisher:
Sodium bicarbonate can be found in BC dry chemical fire extinguishers. This distinctive blue-white powder should only be used on fires involving flammable liquids, gases, greases and electrical equipment. The heat of the fire causes the sodium bicarbonate to release carbon dioxide, starving the fire of oxygen.

Pharmaceutical:
Sodium bicarbonate has multiple pharmaceutical uses, including as an excipient (pharmacologically inactive substance) in the form of an effervescent when used in conjunction with an acidic agent such as citric acid or tartaric acid which we also stock. In powder or tablet form, it makes for an effective antacid, providing relief for indigestion and heartburn.

The gentle scouring element of sodium bicarbonate means it is increasingly added to toothpaste to boost its plaque removal and teeth whitening properties. For similar reasons, it can be added to mouthwash to further cleanse the teeth and gum, as well as neutralizing any excessive acid in the mouth.