Sodium carbonate — commercially known as soda ash — is one of the world's highest-volume industrial chemicals, with global production exceeding 60 million metric tonnes annually. Its chemical formula Na₂CO₃ represents a white, odourless, water-soluble alkaline salt with a vast range of industrial, commercial and household uses.
Hibernia General sources and supplies soda ash produced via the Solvay process (synthetic, highest consistency) and from natural trona ore deposits (USA, Turkey, Kenya). Both manufacturing routes yield technically equivalent product, with the same chemical formula and purity — the choice depends on supply chain and commercial considerations.
Two Physical Forms — Same Chemistry
Despite sharing the identical chemical formula Na₂CO₃, Dense and Light grades behave very differently in handling, storage and processing. Dense soda ash consists of larger, compacted granules with approximately double the bulk density of Light grade — making it far more suitable for bulk handling, gravity-fed systems, and applications where dust control is critical (such as glass furnace charging). Light soda ash, with its much finer particle size and greater surface area, dissolves faster in water and is preferred wherever rapid dissolution is required, such as in detergent blending tanks, swimming pool pH adjustment, or slurry-based chemical reactors.
Market Position
The glass manufacturing industry absorbs approximately 50% of global soda ash consumption, with detergents and soaps accounting for roughly 18%, and chemicals production taking another 10–12%. The balance is distributed across water treatment, pulp and paper, food processing, textile and other sectors. This broad end-use profile makes soda ash one of the most resilient bulk chemicals in global trade.
Dense Soda Ash
Compacted granular form. Free-flowing, low dust, high bulk density. The preferred grade for glass furnace charging and bulk handling systems.
- Purity (Na₂CO₃) ≥ 99.2%
- Bulk Density 1.00 – 1.10 g/cm³
- Particle Size (d50) 250 – 500 µm
- Moisture ≤ 0.5%
- NaCl ≤ 0.1%
- Iron (Fe) ≤ 0.002%
Light Soda Ash (Grade 100)
Fine white powder with lower bulk density and fast dissolution. Preferred for wet-process industries, detergent manufacturing and pH control.
- Purity (Na₂CO₃) ≥ 99.0%
- Bulk Density 0.50 – 0.60 g/cm³
- Particle Size (d50) 90 – 150 µm
- Moisture ≤ 0.3%
- NaCl ≤ 0.1%
- Sulphate (SO₄) ≤ 0.03%
| Parameter | Dense Grade | Light Grade | Unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chemical Formula | Na₂CO₃ | Na₂CO₃ | — |
| Molecular Weight | 105.99 | g/mol | |
| Assay (Na₂CO₃) | ≥ 99.2 | ≥ 99.0 | % |
| Bulk Density | 1.00 – 1.10 | 0.50 – 0.60 | g/cm³ |
| Particle Size d50 | 250 – 500 | 90 – 150 | µm |
| Moisture Content | ≤ 0.5 | ≤ 0.3 | % |
| NaCl Content | ≤ 0.10 | ≤ 0.10 | % |
| Iron (Fe) | ≤ 0.002 | ≤ 0.002 | % |
| Sulphate (SO₄) | ≤ 0.03 | ≤ 0.03 | % |
| Loss on Ignition | ≤ 1.0 | ≤ 1.0 | % |
| pH (1% aqueous solution) | 11.3 – 11.8 | — | |
| Appearance | White granules | White powder | — |
| Melting Point | 851 | °C | |
| Solubility in water (20°C) | 21.5 | g/100mL | |
Full Certificate of Analysis (COA) issued with every shipment. Batch-specific results may vary slightly within specification range.
Packaging Options
- 25 kg PP woven bags Standard
- 50 kg PP woven bags Available
- 1 MT FIBC Jumbo Bags Standard bulk
- Bulk (vessel) On request
- Custom labelling Available
Trade Terms
- FOB Dubai / Jebel Ali ✓
- CIF Destination ✓
- CFR Destination ✓
- EXW Dubai ✓
- L/C, T/T Payment accepted
Documentation
- Certificate of Analysis Every batch
- Packing List Every shipment
- Bill of Lading Provided
- Certificate of Origin UAE / Source
- MSDS / SDS Available