Sodium Sulfate has a Wide Variety of Applications across End Use Industries – Explore

Sodium sulfate (Na2SO4) is the sodium salt of sulfuric acid. It is a white inorganic solid compound that is highly soluble in water. Traditionally, manufacturers used to prepare sodium sulfate through a method known as LeBlanc process. However, with technological advancements, this process has been replaced by Solvay process.

On the other hand, natural Na2SO4 is formed from naturally occurring crystalline brines and deposits, especially found in Texas and California. This natural sodium sulfate is produced up to 2.5 million tons per year, which is more than sufficient to meet the growing demand for many decades. Anhydrous sodium sulfate, also called mineral thenardite, is a white crystalline solid that is considered as a major commodity chemical product with a wide array of applications.

Applications of sodium sulfate:-

• Sodium sulfate is an essential chemical in the textile industry. It lowers the negative fiber charge and works as an electrolyte or dye additive for enhancing the color of fiber.
• Detergents for washing clothes also contain sodium sulfate. Moreover, sulfate detergents help to protect the washing machine from corrosion.
• Sodium sulfate is used in the Kraft process or Sulfate process for manufacturing paper in the paper industry. This process includes wood puling.
• As a raw material, sodium sulfate plays a vital role in the production of glasses in the glass industry. It improves melting kinetics and functions as a fining agent in manufacturing of glass.
• Furthermore, a significant amount of sodium sulfate is also used to manufacture several beauty products and shampoos. Sulfate shampoos are in fact helpful in removing extra oils and dirt from hair and body, thus allow the scalp and skin to breathe. However, if the concentration of sulfate is too high (more than 15%) in a shampoo or cream, it can dry, brittle and damage skin & hair.

COVID-19 impact and current market scenario of sodium sulfate:-

According to a report published by Allied Market Research, the sodium sulfate market size is projected to reach $257,874.5 million with a considerable CAGR from 2021 to 2027. Currently, Asia- Pacific region is holding the highest market share, owing to high consumption of sodium sulfate in China for multiple applications including textiles, detergents and many others.

Unfortunately, the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic led to the implementation of global lockdown which resulted to temporary closure of manufacturing facilities across several industries worldwide. This has sequentially hampered the demand for Na2SO4 from end use industries. Also, the temporary ban on international trade has caused major disruptions in the supply chain, due to which, prices of raw materials increased. This in turn, affected the sodium sulfate market to a great extent.

Nevertheless, with continuous advancements in technology, sodium sulfate is going to be used in solar energy storage, which in turn, will boost the growth of the market in more than one way. With this drift on board, the sodium sulfate market is anticipated to revive soon with huge prospects and exponential growth in the post COVID era.

 

 

Related Post