
Soda ash is used in a slew of laundry and cleaning compound formulations to enhance cleansing properties: as a builder to emulsify oil stains, to reduce the deposit of dirt during washing and rinsing, to provide alkalinity for cleaning, and to soften laundry water. Additionally, soda ash is a component of sodium tripolyphosphate (STPP), another major builder in detergent formulations.
Soda ash is used to manufacture ultramarine, which gives white clothes a sparkling look. Shampoos use soda ash as a pH modifier, while soda ash precipitate is used as a soft abrasive in toothpaste. Soda ash is also a key raw material in the production of percarbonates, silicates and phosphates which are used extensively in household cleaning products.
Sodium bicarbonate is used where a milder detergent is required. Its limited solubility is also advantageous in the production of hard surface cleaners.
Our product, Crex®, is a unique crystalline form of sodium sesquicarbonate, which is classified as a non-irritant and therefore lends itself for use in a range of consumer products. Crex® offers an intermediate pH/alkalinity that lies between soda ash and sodium bicarbonate. Its builder properties are such that it can be formulated into detergents or added as a water softener.