Commodities for Industrial Wastewater

Commodity chemicals do the unglamorous work of an effluent plant: setting pH, precipitating metals, and disinfecting the final discharge. Sodium Hydroxide (Caustic Soda) (30-50% NaOH) is the principal alkali — it neutralises acidic streams and precipitates dissolved heavy metals as hydroxides ahead of clarification. On the acid side, Sulfuric Acid (93-98% H₂SO₄) and Hydrochloric Acid (30-37% HCl) bring alkaline effluent back into the discharge window; the choice between them often follows the sulphate or chloride limits in your consent and the materials of your dosing system. Sodium Hypochlorite (10-15% available chlorine) handles final disinfection and odour control, and Nitric Acid serves cleaning and descaling duties on plant equipment. These products are dosed at neutralisation and polishing steps, usually under automatic pH or ORP control. A buyer should look past unit price: confirm concentration and specific gravity against the delivered analysis documents, match storage materials to each product — caustic in stainless steel, acids in acid-resistant tanks, hypochlorite kept cool and away from light given its 6-month shelf life — and size deliveries realistically across 200 L drums, IBCs, and bulk tankers. Ask for the SDS, compatibility guidance for co-stored chemicals, and neutralisation curves for your specific effluent.