As an important part of many finished products of modern life, soda ash is a key industrial mineral. Soda ash is the commercial name of the technical grade sodium carbonate (Na2C03 ) which is a white crystalline hygroscopic powder. It is the third-largest chemical manufactured in modern times next only to sulfuric acid and ammonia. It is produced as light or dense soda ash, contains 99.3% Na2CO3, and is graded according to its bulk density and its content of sodium oxide.

Dense soda ash is obtained from light soda ash by hydrating it to produce sodium carbonate monohydrate which is calcined to produce sodium carbonate (dense soda ash).

Today, soda ash can be produced through natural or synthetic means. The Solvay Process is the dominant synthetic process. As of 2016, 70% of the world’s soda ash is produced synthetically and the majority produced via the Solvay Process while the rest is produced via natural deposits. Both natural and synthetically produced soda ash are key inputs to producing many items that are part of everyday life Sodium carbonate is an important industrial chemical. It is used in the manufacture of soap, glass, paper and as a source of alkalinity, that is, as a base.

In this process, which is carried out at 0ºC, carbon dioxide is bubbled through a concentrated sodium chloride solution which is saturated with ammonia. Sodium hydrogen carbonate precipitates from the solution and is isolated. When heated to 300oC, the sodium hydrogen carbonate decomposes to form sodium carbonate, carbon dioxide, and water. The crude product obtained from this thermal decomposition is called soda ash, which is primarily Na2CO3, although it also contains unreacted NaHCO3 and other impurities.

The two major processes of natural soda ash are a brine process and a Trona ore process. The brine process consists of drying out sodium‐carbonate rich water and collecting the resulting solid product. The second process consists of rock and pillar mines to produce trona ore, which is 90% pure sodium‐ carbonate, that is crushed, dissolved, filtered, and dried to eliminate the 10% trace materials to produce >99% soda ash

The production of soda ash has generally increased for the past ten years. The percent of soda ash used in the developed world has slowed due to a stagnant economy. However, China and India have provided a strong demand for soda ash as their economies have not slowed and are still growing at high rates. Like any industrial mineral, growth is tied to GDP demand, but since the manufacturing of glass is a key component in higher living standards (windows in homes, automobiles) China and India provide a large market for the continued growth in the use of soda ash.

Whether Soda ash is produced naturally or synthetically the uses are the same. Soda ash has been used for thousands of years. Historically, the most common uses are glass and soap. These two uses continue to be significant In 2018, the consumption percentage of soda ash in the world was: 48% glass production, 26% chemical production, 10% soap and detergents, 4% desulfurization of flue gas, 4% pulp and paper and 8% other uses. The global soda ash consumption reached a volume of 56.5 Million Tons in 2018. The Global Soda Ash Market is expected to witness a significant growth of ~23.1 billion by 2022 with CAGR of ~4.9% between 2016 to 2022.

The global soda ash market is currently being driven by a number of favourable factors. One of the primary factors is the thriving construction and automotive industries which drive the demand for soda ash in the manufacture of flat glass. Another major factor is the rising demand for soaps and detergents in the developing regions, due to improving standards of living and hygiene consciousness. The use of soda ash in the waste water treatment industry has also witnessed a boost owing to stringent regulations by the governments of various countries. According to the report, the market is further projected to reach a volume of 67.4 Million Tons by 2024.

The main uses for soda ash are in the production of glass, chemicals, soap and detergent. Glass manufacturing is the most common use for soda ash. From flat glass for windows and automobile windshields to container glass for food, soda and beer, soda ash is a chief input for all of those products.

Beroil Energy Group is able to supply the highest purity soda ash in two different grades of soda ash light and soda ash dense.