Low-salt soda ash (sodium chloride content less than 0.3%) is widely used in fields with strict requirements on sodium ion purity due to its high purity and few impurities. Food processing: used as an acidity regulator and leavening agent in biscuits and pastry production. For example, adding low-salt soda ash to soda biscuits can neutralize fermentation acid and improve the taste; adjusting the pH value in monosodium glutamate and soy sauce brewing to ensure product flavor stability, and complying with the requirements of sodium chloride ≤ 0.7% in the "National Food Safety Standard Food Additive Sodium Carbonate" (GB 1886.2-2015). Low-salt products are easier to pass high-end food certification. Pharmaceutical intermediates: used in the production of synthetic raw materials for penicillin and sulfonamide drugs. The low-salt property can reduce the impact of metal ions on drug activity and ensure the purity of raw materials. For example, in the production of cephalosporin antibiotics, low-salt soda ash as a neutralizer can reduce impurity interference and improve the qualified rate of finished products. High-end glass manufacturing: used in electronic glass, optical glass and other fields. For example, in the production of TFT-LCD liquid crystal glass substrates, low-salt soda ash can reduce the impact of sodium ion migration on the screen display effect and avoid problems such as color spots and afterimages. In the pre-treatment of photovoltaic glass coating, the use of low-salt soda ash can reduce the damage of impurity ions to the uniformity of coating and improve light absorption. Fine chemicals: used as a catalyst carrier or reactant to prepare fine chemicals such as high-purity sodium silicate and sodium metasilicate. For example, when producing layered crystalline sodium disilicate (builder), low-salt soda ash can ensure that the product has good calcium and magnesium ion chelating ability and avoid sodium chloride impurities from reducing the washing effect. Water treatment and environmental protection: In the softening treatment of boiler water, low-salt soda ash can reduce the chloride ion content in water and prevent corrosion of boiler pipes; when used in desulfurization and denitrification processes, it can avoid the reaction of sodium chloride with acidic gases to generate corrosive substances and extend the service life of equipment. In addition, the application of low-salt soda ash in emerging fields such as lithium battery positive electrode materials (such as the synthesis of ternary material precursors) and high-end detergents (such as phosphorus-free laundry detergent fillers) is also gradually expanding. Its high-purity characteristics are in line with the high-end manufacturing industry's strict control of raw material impurities.

Low-Salt Soda Ash is an advanced refined category of soda ash, which has many advantages over ordinary soda ash. First, the impurity content is low. When preparing ordinary soda ash, or due to impure raw materials and imperfect process, it often contains a little impurity ions such as iron, magnesium, calcium, etc. Such impurities are not a major problem in ordinary industrial applications, but if they involve fine chemicals, high-end glass manufacturing and other fields, it will become a constraint. And Low-Salt Soda Ash is deeply purified by a special process, and the impurity content is sharply reduced. It can provide pure raw materials for high-end industries and ensure excellent product quality. Second, accurate salt control. Although ordinary soda ash can meet the general production needs, in scenarios with strict salt requirements, such as the manufacturing process of some electronic materials, the salt content is slightly higher, or the performance of electronic components is damaged. Low-Salt Soda Ash relies on advanced technology to precisely control the salt content and meet the strict standards of high-end manufacturing. Third, the stability is quite good. During storage and use, ordinary soda ash may cause quality fluctuations due to environmental factors such as humidity and temperature changes. Due to the special production process, the crystal structure of Low-Salt Soda Ash is more regular and dense, which can effectively resist external factors. It can maintain stable quality in different environments and provide guarantee for the stable operation of the production process. Fourth, it has a wide range of applicability. Due to its high purity, low impurities, low salt content and strong stability, Low-Salt Soda Ash can not only be used in traditional glass, chemical and other industries, but also in emerging high-end industries, such as the preparation of new energy battery materials, special ceramic production and other fields, to help industrial upgrading and development.

Low Salt Soda Ash is produced by the refined process of soda ash manufacturing. Its production process is very delicate, let me tell you in detail. First of all, its original material is often high-quality natural alkali ore, or carefully prepared sodium-containing compounds. After grinding, its particle size is uniform for subsequent changes. Then the halogen method dissolves the original material into a specific solution to remove its impurities, such as sediment and heavy metals. This liquid is pure before it can enter the follow-up process. The art of carbonization is crucial. Carbon dioxide is added to the brine liquid. After delicate temperature control and pressure regulation, the sodium compound is combined with carbon dioxide, and the sodium bicarbonate crystallization is gradually formed. This process is like the creation of heaven and earth, delicate and orderly. As for the separation process, the sodium bicarbonate crystal is separated from the mother liquor by filtration and centrifugation. The mother liquor can be reused to save materials and is suitable for frugality. After calcination, the sodium bicarbonate is decomposed by heat and turned into soda ash, that is, sodium carbonate. During this time, the control of heat and time affects the quality of the finished product. The process of Low Salt Soda Ash is innovative based on tradition, excellent in quality control, with less impurities and low salt content, suitable for high-end glass, fine chemicals and other fields. It saves materials and less pollution, and is also suitable for environmental protection and high efficiency in today's world. It is also a good example of chemical technology.

Low Salt Soda Ash.Its Quality Standard is related to many aspects and is extremely important. The quality of soda ash, the first chemical purity. In low salt soda ash, the content of sodium carbonate should reach a very high proportion, which is the core indicator. Generally speaking, high quality low salt soda ash, the sodium carbonate content should be above 99%, which can ensure that it can play a stable and efficient role in many fields such as industrial production. Secondly, the salt content is the key measurement point. It is called low salt soda ash, and the content of sodium chloride must be strictly controlled. Under general standards, the content of sodium chloride should be lower than a specific value, such as 0.5% or less, in order to reduce the adverse effects of high salinity on product quality and production processes, such as corrosion of equipment, affecting product purity, etc. Furthermore, the particle size distribution is also required. Appropriate particle size can make soda ash more fully contact with other substances during the reaction process, and the reaction is more complete. Its particle size needs to be uniform, mostly within a certain mesh range to meet the needs of different industrial scenarios. In addition, the content of impurities such as iron content and water insoluble substances must also be strictly controlled. Excessive iron content may cause changes in product color; too much water insoluble substances will affect its dispersion and reactivity in solution. Usually the iron content should be very low, and the water insoluble matter should also be controlled at a very low level, such as 0.01% or less. To sum up, the Quality Standard of low-salt soda ash is composed of multi-dimensional indicators. The indicators are related and affect each other. Only by fully meeting the standards can it be called high-quality low-salt soda ash to meet the high-quality needs of different industries.

The market price trend of low-salt soda ash (sodium chloride content less than 0.3%) is significantly different from that of ordinary soda ash, and its price fluctuations are mainly affected by high-end demand, technical barriers and cost structure. Supply-side pressure: The expansion of natural soda production capacity (such as the release of 5 million tons/year of capacity in the first phase of Yuanxing Energy's Alxa project) and the upgrade of the joint alkali process (such as the 100,000 tons/year low-salt heavy soda ash project planned by China National Salt Chemical) will increase market supply, but the technical threshold of low-salt soda ash is high, the new production capacity is concentrated in the leading enterprises, and the withdrawal of small and medium-sized production capacity is accelerated, and the overall supply growth rate is lower than that of ordinary soda ash. Demand-side support: The demand in the new energy field (lithium battery materials, photovoltaic glass) has increased significantly. In 2024, the use of lithium carbonate alkali will increase by 360,000 tons, and it is expected to increase by another 500,000 tons in 2025, of which battery-grade sodium carbonate (low-salt soda ash) accounts for more than 60%. In addition, the growth rate of demand for low-salt soda ash for electronic glass (such as TFT-LCD substrates) and high-end detergents remains at 8%-10%. Cost and policy impact: The production of low-salt soda ash relies on advanced technologies such as liquid phase hydration and heavy alkali pressure filtration, which have high energy consumption and environmental protection costs. The dual-carbon policy promotes energy conservation and carbon reduction in the industry and eliminates inefficient production capacity. The cost advantages of leading technology companies (such as Suyan Jingshen's underground circulating alkali production process) are prominent, while ammonia-soda companies are facing loss pressure and may support prices by reducing production. In terms of exports, RCEP tariff reductions will stimulate exports to reach 2.8 million tons in 2024, and are expected to increase to 3 million tons in 2025, of which low-salt soda ash will account for 25%, alleviating domestic supply pressure

The environmental impact of Low Salt Soda Ash needs to be comprehensively analyzed from the production chain and the application end. In production, if the ammonia-alkali method is used, although the low-salt characteristics reduce the salt content of the finished product, the chlorine-alkali byproduct may still have an impact on the chloride ion balance of the water body. High-concentration chlorine infiltrates the soil, which will destroy the aggregate structure, inhibit microbial activity, and reduce soil fertility. If the ammonia-containing wastewater in the combined alkali process is not properly treated, it is easy to cause eutrophication of the water body and stimulate algae proliferation. In the application scenario, the dust-containing waste gas generated by high-temperature melting in glass manufacturing will cause PM10 and PM2.5 in the factory area to exceed the standard if the dust collection system is not perfect, which will affect the surrounding air quality for a long time. When the printing and dyeing industry uses it to adjust the pH of the dye solution, the alkaline wastewater discharged into the river will change the acid-base balance of the water body, burn the gill tissue of fish, and destroy the aquatic ecological chain. However, due to the low impurities, carbonate ions have a better complexing and fixing effect on heavy metals (such as cadmium and lead) in the remediation of contaminated soil. Reasonable use can assist ecological governance. The key lies in strengthening production pollution control and waste resource utilization.

The core function of Low Salt Soda Ash (Na₂CO₃) is based on high-purity alkaline dissociation and precise chemical reactions. In high-end glass manufacturing, due to the low content of impurities (such as sodium chloride), Na₂O produced by high-temperature decomposition can more purely break the Si-O tetrahedral network of quartz sand (SiO₂), steadily reduce the melting temperature of glass (easier to control at 1500℃±5℃ than ordinary soda ash), reduce bubble impurities, and improve the transparency and strength of glass. In fine chemical synthesis (such as electronic grade borax preparation), the low salt property avoids interference from impurities such as chloride ions, and carbonate ions can be accurately complexed with metal ions to generate high-purity carbonate precipitation according to the stoichiometric ratio, ensuring that the product purity reaches more than 99.9%. In food additive applications, because it meets the strict low salt standards, its alkalinity can safely adjust the pH of food and inhibit the growth of microorganisms. At the same time, it uses the buffering properties of carbonate ions to stabilize the flavor and color of food, reflecting the "high purity, low interference" reaction advantage of low salt soda ash.

Determining the dosage of Low Salt Soda Ash requires precise matching of process purity requirements and material characteristics. In high-end glass production, the basic dosage is calculated according to the stoichiometric ratio (Na₂O to acidic oxide molar ratio 1:1.1 - 1:1.3) based on the acidic gangue content of quartz sand and the glass grade (electronic glass requires Na₂O concentration fluctuation ≤0.1%), and dynamically adjusted in combination with the furnace temperature control accuracy (intelligent tank kiln can reduce 3% - 5% compensation amount) and glass thickness (ultra-thin glass needs to reduce 8% - 10% dosage due to fast melting). In fine chemical synthesis, the dosage is strictly measured according to the reaction formula (such as the production of high-purity sodium carbonate: Na₂CO₃ + 2HCl = 2NaCl + CO₂↑ + H₂O, 2% - 3% side reaction loss needs to be compensated), considering the raw material purity (low-salt soda ash purity ≥99.5%, the theoretical dosage is more accurate) and the material residence time of continuous production, and the pH value is monitored online. The feed amount is controlled in real time according to the value and conductivity; in the food industry, the GB 1886.2-2015 standard is followed, and the optimal addition amount is determined through small tests according to the type of food (carbonated beverages need to be stable at pH 6.5-7.5, and the addition amount per liter is ≤0.5g), production scale and anti-corrosion requirements to ensure safety and stable quality.

Compared with ordinary soda ash and light soda ash, the advantages and disadvantages of Low Salt Soda Ash focus on purity and adaptation scenarios. The advantage lies in its high purity characteristics - low impurity (especially chloride ion and sulfate) content (NaCl≤0.3%, ordinary soda ash reaches 0.5% - 1%). In purity-sensitive industries such as electronic glass and pharmaceutical intermediates, it can avoid product defects caused by impurities (such as glass crystallization and excessive heavy metals in medicines), and improve the qualified rate of finished products by 10% - 15%; due to its dense particles, the risk of moisture absorption and agglomeration during storage is 30% - 40% lower than that of light soda ash, which is convenient for automated batching. The disadvantages are cost and versatility - production requires additional impurity removal and refining processes (such as membrane filtration and recrystallization), energy consumption is 20% - 25% higher than that of ordinary soda ash, and the price is 80 - 120 yuan / ton; in scenarios where purity requirements are not high (such as ordinary detergents and building alkali), its high cost lacks competitiveness, and its dissolution rate is slower than that of light soda ash. It is difficult to take effect quickly in low-temperature short-process processes, and it needs to be weighed and selected based on the purity requirements of the industry and the cost tolerance.

In the production of electronic glass (such as display panel substrates), Low Salt Soda Ash ensures quality with low impurities and high stability. First, because the content of impurities such as NaCl is ≤0.3%, chloride ions will not be precipitated during high-temperature melting, avoiding the formation of microcracks inside the glass (ordinary soda ash impurities are prone to stress concentration, with a crack rate of over 5%), and improving the strength of the glass (flexural strength ≥120MPa); second, Na₂CO₃ has high purity (≥99.5%), and the decomposed Na₂O reacts more evenly with SiO₂, reducing the fluctuation of glass composition (refractive index deviation ≤±0.0005), ensuring stable optical performance; third, the low salt property inhibits the thermal decomposition of sulfate impurities, avoiding the formation of bubbles in the glass (bubble density ≤1/cm³), meeting the ultra-high flatness requirements of electronic glass (surface roughness Ra≤0.5nm). During production, the particle size of soda ash (D50=150 - 200μm) must be precisely controlled to ensure uniform mixing with raw materials such as quartz sand, and at the same time match the kiln atmosphere (reduce impurity reduction in an oxidizing atmosphere) to maximize the advantages of low-salt soda ash and support the technical requirements of ultra-thin electronic glass (thickness ≤0.1mm) and high light transmittance (≥92%).

The low-salt refining of Low Salt Soda Ash requires multi-step coordinated impurity removal: the mainstream process uses crude products from the soda ash process or the ammonia soda process as raw materials, and first removes impurities through recrystallization - dissolving the crude soda ash into a saturated solution (50 - 60°C), and using the solubility difference between Na₂CO₃・10H₂O and impurities (NaCl, Na₂SO₄) at different temperatures, cooling to 10 - 15°C for crystallization, so that the NaCl residual rate is reduced from 1% to below 0.2%; then through membrane separation technology (such as nanofiltration membrane), the chloride ions and sulfate ions in the solution are intercepted, and the purity of Na₂CO₃ in the permeate reaches 99.8%; some companies use ion exchange resins to selectively adsorb calcium, magnesium, and chloride ions to make the impurity metal ions ≤10ppm. During production, it is necessary to strictly control the refining temperature (to avoid Na₂CO₃ hydrolysis), solution pH (maintain 11-12 to inhibit impurity dissolution), and provide tail gas recovery (ammonia, CO₂ recycling), so as to achieve low-salt soda ash refining while reducing energy consumption (saving 15% energy compared to traditional refining processes) and environmental pressure, and ensure that the product NaCl content is stable ≤0.3%, meeting the needs of high-end industries.

In the food industry, Low Salt Soda Ash has special safety value due to its low impurities and compliance: as a food additive (GB 1886.2 - 2015), its low salt property (NaCl≤0.3%) avoids the impact of high chloride ions in ordinary soda ash on food flavor (for example, pickled foods will not produce a "salty and bitter taste" due to chlorine residue); the content of impurities sulfate (Na₂SO₄≤0.1%) and heavy metals (Pb≤0.5ppm) is much lower than the national standard. When used as a bread leavening agent, it will not introduce additional harmful substances and ensure that the heavy metal residue in food is ≤1ppm; in the pH adjustment of carbonated beverages, due to its high purity and stable carbonate ion buffering capacity (pH fluctuation ≤±0.2), it can prevent the growth of microorganisms in beverages due to abnormal alkalinity (total colony count ≤10CFU/mL). The production process needs to be controlled by the HACCP system, and the whole process from raw material refining to packaging is clean to ensure that the finished product meets food grade requirements, support the application of low-salt soda ash in safety-sensitive fields such as infant food and high-end condiments, and improve the quality bottom line of the food industry.

Low Salt Soda Ash uses carbonate complexation characteristics to efficiently remove heavy metals in wastewater treatment: due to the small amount of impurities, carbonate ions can accurately react with heavy metal ions (such as Cd²⁺, Pb²⁺) in wastewater to generate low solubility carbonate precipitates (CdCO₃ solubility product 1.0×10⁻¹², PbCO₃ solubility product 7.4×10⁻¹⁴), with a precipitation efficiency of over 99%; the low salt characteristics prevent chloride ions from forming complex ions (such as CdCl₄²⁻) with heavy metals, preventing "false precipitation" of heavy metals (ordinary soda ash has a 10% - 15% reduction in heavy metal removal rate due to residual chlorine). When used, it is necessary to control the wastewater pH (9 - 10.5 to ensure carbonate dissociation), the amount of soda ash added (1.2 - 1.5 times the molar amount of heavy metals), and combine flocculants (such as PAM) to accelerate precipitation and separation. In electroplating wastewater treatment, low-salt soda ash can make total cadmium ≤ 0.01mg/L and total lead ≤ 0.05mg/L, meeting the surface water environmental quality standards; in mine wastewater treatment, it can simultaneously adjust pH and remove heavy metals, simplify the treatment process, and reflect its "high efficiency and low interference" environmental advantages.

Maintaining the low salt characteristics of Low Salt Soda Ash requires strict packaging and storage conditions: the packaging uses a three-layer composite bag (inner PE film for moisture-proof, middle aluminum-plastic film for oxygen isolation, and outer woven bag for pressure resistance), and the heat-sealing process ensures a sealing rate of ≥99.5% to prevent moisture absorption during storage (humidity ≤60%), which leads to surface deliquescence and re-enrichment of impurities such as NaCl; the storage warehouse needs to be dry and ventilated (temperature 15-25℃, humidity ≤50%), and a moisture-proof pad is laid on the ground (≥20cm from the ground), and the storage is divided into sections (≥3m away from chlorine-containing and sulfur-containing materials) to prevent cross-contamination. Stainless steel tools are used during loading and unloading to prevent iron utensils from rusting and causing iron ion contamination; regular sampling (once every quarter) is carried out to detect the NaCl content through ion chromatography to ensure that the low salt characteristics are stable during the storage period (within 6 months) (NaCl increment ≤0.05%). For export products, they must also comply with UN packaging directives, use waterproof and corrosion-resistant containers, maintain low-salt quality in sea transportation environments, and ensure production consistency for downstream high-end users.

In the production of photovoltaic glass (such as photovoltaic module cover), Low Salt Soda Ash demonstrates its technical advantages with high purity and low defects: First, the low salt property (NaCl≤0.3%) avoids the "sodium precipitation phenomenon" caused by the migration of chloride ions after the glass is formed (the sodium precipitation rate of ordinary soda ash exceeds 3%), ensures the stability of the glass surface resistivity (≥10¹²Ω・cm), and improves the anti-PID (potential induced decay) performance of photovoltaic modules; second, the high purity of Na₂CO₃ (≥99.5%) improves the uniformity of glass composition (SiO₂ fluctuation ≤±0.1%), reduces light scattering loss (transmittance ≥93.5%, ordinary soda ash glass is 1% - 2% lower), and enhances the power generation efficiency of photovoltaic cells; third, the impurity sulfate content is low (Na₂SO₄≤0.1%), and no bubbles are formed during high-temperature melting (bubble diameter ≤0.3mm, density ≤2 /dm² ), meeting the requirements of ultra-flatness (wavyness ≤0.3mm/m) of photovoltaic glass. In production, the soda ash particle size (D90≤300μm) and the kiln temperature control accuracy (±2℃) need to be matched to maximize the advantages of low-salt soda ash, support the technical iteration of photovoltaic glass thinning (thickness 3.2mm) and high light transmittance, and help the photovoltaic industry reduce costs and increase efficiency.