As a typical strong alkaline substance, the core advantages of
sodium hydroxide lie in the in-depth integration of its chemical activity and technological adaptability. At the basic performance level, its strong neutralizing capacity enables rapid reaction with acidic substances, achieving efficient pollutant removal in both industrial wastewater treatment and waste gas purification. On the production side, technological upgrades have further enhanced its economic value: through ion-exchange membrane electrolysis and AI dynamic control, the electricity consumption per ton of caustic soda has been reduced to 2200-2400 kWh, with current efficiency increased to over 95%. When combined with MVR (Mechanical Vapor Recompression) technology, energy consumption is reduced by more than 50% compared to traditional processes.
Breakthroughs in recycling technology have further highlighted its environmental advantages. The VSEP (Vibratory Shear Enhanced Processing) system verified by the U.S. SERDP (Strategic Environmental Research and Development Program) can extend the service life of sodium hydroxide cleaning solutions used in firearms manufacturing from 6-8 weeks to 12 months. Only a small amount of new chemicals need to be added to maintain efficiency, reducing hazardous waste emissions by over 90%, and the payback period for the 720,000-yuan equipment investment is only 5.5 years. This "high efficiency + low consumption + recycling" characteristic makes it a key support for the green transformation of industries.
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In the papermaking industry,
sodium hydroxide solution separates cellulose by dissolving lignin in wood and reeds, while also participating in the paper bleaching process. It supports the core share of China’s nearly 30 million tons of caustic soda demand in 2025. In the textile field, its "scouring" process is used to remove oils and waxes from fibers, providing a clean base for subsequent dyeing and printing. Alone, the viscose staple fiber industry maintains a high operating rate demand of approximately 90%. In the soap-making industry, the saponification reaction between sodium hydroxide and oils is a core link in both traditional and modern daily chemical production, deriving various end products such as detergents.
In the field of waste gas treatment, the alkaline spray towers of semiconductor enterprises use sodium hydroxide as the core absorbent. Through acid-base neutralization reactions, it efficiently removes acidic pollutants such as sulfuric acid mist and hydrofluoric acid mist, with purification efficiency meeting national emission standards. Moreover, the equipment investment and operating costs are significantly lower than other purification technologies. In wastewater treatment, sodium hydroxide not only neutralizes acidic wastewater from electroplating and steel industries but also reacts with heavy metal ions such as copper and lead to form precipitates, achieving targeted removal of pollutants. When combined with evaporation and crystallization technology, it can realize zero wastewater discharge.
Demand growth in the new energy and electronics sectors has become a new highlight: electronic-grade caustic soda, with its high-purity characteristic (Fe³⁺ ≤ 0.001%), supports the manufacturing of semiconductor devices, and its demand exceeded
1 million tons in 2025. In the new energy vehicle industry chain, it serves as an important raw material for lithium hydroxide production, and its incremental demand continues to grow with the expansion of the power battery industry. Food-grade caustic soda, relying on its safety and compliance, has seen annual growth of 5% in application volume in food processing and pharmaceutical fields, with an expected scale of 1.5 million tons in 2025.
In 2025, China’s caustic soda market presents a pattern of "coexisting capacity expansion and demand differentiation." The annual new capacity exceeded
2 million tons, with output expected to reach 30 million tons. However, major downstream industries such as
aluminum oxide face seasonal production cut pressures, and export growth has slowed down due to the impact of Southeast Asian capacity. Against this backdrop, enterprises with green production capabilities are more competitive. Leading enterprises such as Zhongtai Chemical and Wanhua Chemical have achieved CO₂ emissions of ≤ 800 kg per ton of caustic soda through by-product resource utilization (using chlorine to produce PVC and hydrogen for fuel cells) and photovoltaic power supply transformation, maintaining price advantages for their products in the export market.
Industry experts point out that with the advancement of RCEP (Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership) regional testing mutual recognition and the tightening of environmental policies, the "green attribute" of sodium hydroxide will become the core of market competition. In the future, enterprises need to focus on bio-based raw material substitution and AI compliance management, build barriers in high-end segmented fields such as electronic-grade and food-grade products, and continuously unlock the diverse value of this basic chemical product.
