Sodium aluminate - Citizendia

Sodium aluminate is an important commercial inorganic chemical. Traditionally inorganic compounds are considered to be of mineral not biological origin It works as an effective source of aluminium hydroxide for many industrial and technical applications. Aluminium hydroxide, Al(OH3 is the most stable form of Aluminium in normal conditions Pure sodium aluminate (anhydrous) is a white crystalline solid having a formula variously given as NaAlO₂, Na₂O · Al₂O₃, or Na₂Al₂O₄. Sodium (ˈsoʊdiəm is an element which has the symbol Na( Latin natrium, from Arabic natrun) atomic number 11 atomic mass 22 An aluminate is a compound containing Aluminium and Oxygen with more electropositive elements As a general term a substance is said to be anhydrous if it contains no Water. In Materials science, a crystal is a Solid in which the constituent Atoms Molecules or Ions are packed in a regularly ordered repeating Commercial sodium aluminate is available as a solution or a solid.

Manufacturing

Sodium aluminate is manufactured by the dissolution of aluminium hydroxide in a caustic soda (NaOH) solution. Sodium hydroxide ( Na[[hydroxide OH]]) also known as Lye, caustic soda and (incorrectly according to IUPAC nomenclature Aluminium hydroxide (gibbsite) can be dissolved in 20-25% aqueous NaOH solution at a temperature near the boiling point. Gibbsite, Al(OH3 is one of the mineral forms of Aluminium hydroxide. The use of more concentrated NaOH solutions leads to a semi-solid product. The process must be carried out in steam-heated vessels of nickel or steel, and the aluminium hydroxide should be boiled with approximately 50% aqueous caustic soda until a pulp forms. Nickel (ˈnɪkəl is a metallic Chemical element with the symbol Ni and Atomic number 28 Steel is an Alloy consisting mostly of Iron, with a Carbon content between 0 The final mixture has to be poured into a tank and cooled; a solid mass containing about 70% NaAlO₂ then forms. After being crushed, this product is dehydrated in a rotary oven heated either directly or indirectly by burning hydrogen. Hydrogen (ˈhaɪdrədʒən is the Chemical element with Atomic number 1 The resulting product contains 90% NaAlO₂ and 1% water, together with 1% free NaOH.

Uses

In water treatment it is used as an adjunct to water softening systems, as a coagulant aid to improve flocculation, and for removing dissolved silica and phosphates. Flocculation is a process where a Solute comes out of Solution in the form of floc or flakes Flocculation is a process where a Solute comes out of Solution in the form of floc or flakes The Chemical compound silicon dioxide, also known as silica or silox (from the Latin " Silex " is an Oxide A phosphate, an Inorganic chemical, is a salt of Phosphoric acid.

In construction technology, sodium aluminate is employed to accelerate the solidification of concrete, mainly when working during frost.

Sodium aluminate is also used in the paper industry, for fire brick production, alumina production and so forth. A fire brick, firebrick, or refractory brick is a block of refractory Ceramic material used in lining Furnaces Kilns

Manufacturing

Uses

See also