| dc.description.abstract | Previously, sodium hydroxide has been prepared using two processes namely, an Electrolytic process and Caustisization of soda ash. Both methods require a lot of energy and products made under these conditions are very expensive. The present study was aimed at investigating whether barium hydroxide rather than slaked lime can be used in the lime-soda process. The barium hydroxide was obtained from carefully selected barium compounds which thermally decomposed within temperature ranges of 600°C-700°C to barium oxide. The barium compounds used were barium sulphite and barium nitrate. The barium hydroxide was reacted with sodium carbonate and formed sodium hydroxide and barium carbonate as slaked lime in the lime-soda process that produces sodium hydroxide and calcium carbonate. The results have confirmed beyond any reasonable doubt that both barium sulphite and barium nitrate readily decompose thermally in the temperature ranges 650°C-700°C. Barium sulphite decomposes to barium oxide and sulphur (IV) oxide while barium nitrate decomposes to barium oxide, nitrogen (IV) oxide and oxygen gas. The temperature was measured using a thermocouple. Barium ions were determined using both atomic absorption spectroscopy and EDTA titrations. The concentration of hydroxide ions was determined by acid-base titration using standard hydrochloric acid. The results suggest very strongly that caustic soda can be manufactured cheaply using an alternative method | en_US |
