Economic Production of Caustic Soda Solution from the Sodium Chloride Present

in the Sea Water

By
V. ARAVAMUTHAN1
Retired Deputy Director
Central Electrochemical Research Institute (CECRI), Karaikudi, India

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Published by:
M/s Catalyst Management Services Private Limited, India (http://www.cms.org.in)
December 2014

ISBN No: 983-81-908417-5-7

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The author Mr. V. Aravamuthan, aged 94, has been contributing articles for the advancement of Science and Technology for over seven
decades (since 8 March 1943). Mr. Aravamuthan can be contacted at the following address - Flat No 7, II Floor, AKM Nest, Jawaharlal
Nehru Street, T. Nagar, Chennai- 600 017, India. E Mail: sampuviji@gmail.com; Phone No: +91 44- 28140082.

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In this article, an idea on economic production of Caustic Soda solution from the Sodium Chloride
present in the sea water is given. Attempt has been made to provide these ideas in simple manner to
understand easily. The author, at his age of ninety four, is interested only to see that the said views
reach many in different walks of life and put in to action as appropriate.
The Idea
Utilizing the low cost heat source such as solar heat, waste exhaust heat from any commercial unit, pure
water is obtained economically by taking advantage of the fact that maximum evaporation of sea water
takes place at 85 degree centigrade and at 0.83 atmosphere and the vapours compressed to a very small
increase viz. 0.87 atmosphere condense readily.
The liquid left behind (A) is employed to get pure NaCl and irrigation water containing Ammonium
Chloride and all the Calcium, Potassium, Magnesium, Sulphate and also micro nutrients present in sea
water.
The NaCl is employed in the production of NaHCo3 and solid Ammonium Chloride by the well
established procedure. Utilising a low cost heat source and solid KHSo4 in a cyclic process, HCl gas at
about 70 degree centigrade is first expelled from solid NH4Cl with the formation of K2So4(NH4) 2
SO4-. The K2So4 (NH4)2 So4- is then heated to expel NH3 gas at about 140 degree centigrade with
formation of solid KHSo4. The HCl gas is passed into (A) to precipitate out pure NaCl. After removing
NaCl, the acid solution is neutralized with NH3 to get irrigation water containing all the NH4cl and all
the Ca, K, MgSo4 values and micro nutrients present in sea water.
The solid NaHCo3 is heated at high temperature with Fe2O3 in a cyclic process to expel CO2 which can
be collected and used along with make up CO2 in the production of NaHCo3 and NH4Cl from NaCl.
The Sodium Ferrite residue is decomposed by water to get concentrated NaOH solution . The Fe2O3
from this step is used in the cyclic process.
Thus, (1) The Na content of NaCl in sea water is used in the production of Caustic Soda. (2) The Cl2
content is used in the production of NH4Cl fertilizer (3) Pure water and irrigation water are obtained
from the water content of sea water. (4) NaOH is produced (a) without use of electricity and (b)
expulsion of Cl2.

The author can be contacted at the following address:

Flat No 7, II Floor, AKM Nest, Jawaharlal Nehru Street, T. Nagar, Chennai- 600 017, India
E Mail: sampuviji@gmail.com; Phone No: +91 44- 28140082

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