Description

Sodium Hydroxide (Caustic Soda or Lye)

Sodium hydroxide, also known as Caustic Soda or Lye, is a product that is used in the creation of soap, detergent, paper, textiles and drinking water. It is a chemical base and comes packaged as a white solid flakes.

Sodium Hydroxide (Caustic Soda or Lye) – Uses and Benefits

Having become an incredibly versatile and useful ingredient in everything from food preparation to drain cleaning, it’s no wonder that the world produced 60 million metric tons of sodium hydroxide in 2004. A brief overview of the many uses include:

Food – It can be used to wash or chemically peel fruits and vegetables. Furthermore, it is often used to soften foods like olives or baked goods.

Cleaning – In liquid form, it is used to de-clog drains, dissolve metals and strip paint off a surface. It can also be used to de-grease stainless steel and glass bake ware.

Hair – In liquid form, it is mixed with other ingredients to create a hair straightening substance (often referred to as a “relaxer”).

Tissue – It is often used to dissolve tissue, specifically to break down the tissue of dead animals in carcass removal.

Paper – It is a key ingredient in the creation of paper from wood pulp.

Soap – Typically for cold-process soap making, lye is essential. It can also be used in hot-process soap making when mixed with the appropriate fat and oils. Caustic soda (lye) creates a chemical reaction known as saponification. This process is what breaks down the oils and turns them into soap.

History of Sodium Hydroxide

Ancient Egyptians and Babylonians used a form of lye (using ash) around 4,800 years ago and recorded it’s use on a clay tablet. For much of history, water was run through wood ash then mixed with animal fats in a primitive attempt at soap making. Lye wasn’t truly identified and understood until Sir Humphry Davy discovered it in 1807. At first, believing it was one of the basic elements; he later went on to discover sodium.

The term “lye” was an old English word meaning ‘wash stuff’. Original lye soap was very harsh and often left the users skin red after use. This was because too much lye was used in comparison to the amount of oils. Too little can cause the oils in the soap to go rancid and smell bad. When you find a good recipe for soap making, make sure you stick with it.

Usefully Destructive

Harnessing the power of caustic soda can be very useful to the resourceful individual. The same properties that convert oil and fats into soap can be put to use in dissolving the grease and hair that slows down (or completely clogs a drain). Put a heaping tablespoon on a slow running drain and slowly poor in just enough water to dissolve. Remember to allow for adequate ventilation, let sit for 10 minutes, and then flush with hot water for a couple of minutes to clear the pipes.

Mix one (1) cup of lye, one (1) cup of corn starch and two (2) gallons of water to make an effective paint stripper. Try some experimentation to give painted items a rustic or distressed look.

Make traditional soft pretzels by bathing them in one (1) quart of water with one (1) ounce of sodium hydroxide mixed in for thirty seconds. Your finished product will be a dark brown, soft and delicious. The finest bagels are similarly boiled in a lye solution making them soft and chewy. Many recipes attempt to substitute sodium hydroxide with baking soda, but reviewers agree that the ‘lye bath’ produces much finer results.

The above information is for general research purposes only and is not a representation or warranty of any kind. This material is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. The user of this material is solely responsible for determining fitness for any particular use; requesting and reviewing the applicable Material Safety Data Sheet; and compliance with all applicable laws and regulations. Terms and conditions apply.