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Chlorine Sodium Hydroxide Potassium Hydroxide Hydrogen Chloride / Hydrochloric Acid Sodium Hypochlorite

Sodium Hydroxide

Sodium hydroxide, commonly known as caustic soda, has the chemical formula (NaOH). It is an inorganic compound produced by an electrolytic process using a sodium chloride salt and water (brine) feedstock. It is most commonly available as a 50% concentrated solution in two main grades (membrane and diaphragm), though other formulations and products exist. The solution is sometimes slightly cloudy in appearance (technology dependent), and is corrosive to body tissue and readily reacts with a variety of metallurgy. It is commonly shipped via pipeline, vessel, barge, rail tank car, cargo tank (truck), and other smaller containers.

Sodium hydroxide has a wide variety of applications in many industries, including pulp and paper, aluminum, soaps and detergents, textiles, petrochemicals and chemical processing, and other household products.

CI Resources

The Institute has produced the below materials for storage, shipping, handling, and use. Refer to CI's Resource Catalog for fuller details and visit the CI Bookstore.

  • Pamphlet 87) Recommended Practices for Handling Sodium Hydroxide Solution and Potassium Hydroxide Solution (Caustic) Tank Cars
  • Pamphlet 88) Recommended Practices for Handling Sodium Hydroxide Solution and Potassium Hydroxide Solution (Caustic) In Bulk Highway Transports
  • Pamphlet 94) Sodium Hydroxide Solution and Potassium Hydroxide Solution (Caustic) Storage Equipment and Piping Systems
  • Pamphlet 164) Reactivity and Compatibility of Chlorine, Sodium Hydroxide, and Potassium Hydroxide with Various Materials
  • FACT-3) Sodium Hydroxide Release Fact Sheet
  • Wall Chart 4) Handling Sodium & Potassium Hydroxide

HCS-VIDEO) Handling Caustic Safely

Provides guidelines, recommended practices and other information for the safe handling, storage, loading and unloading of caustic soda tank cars and tank trucks. This video also includes caustic soda properties, reactivity, suitable materials of construction, and common uses.

CAUS-VIDEO) Preventing Non-Accident Releases by Properly Securing Caustic Railcars

This video provides guidance for reducing non-accident releases (NARs) from tanks car shipments of caustic (sodium hydroxide (NaOH) and potassium hydroxide (KOH)). Topics covered include the definition of an NAR, U.S. Department of Transportation incident reporting requirements, loader and unloader responsibilities, best practices to reduce caustic tank car NARs and available guidance and resources, such as additional Chlorine Institute guidance.

CTS-VIDEO) Preventing Chlor-Alkali Releases during Cargo Tank Operations

This video provides an overview of best practices to prevent releases during cargo tank shipments of certain CI mission chemicals, namely sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, hydrochloric acid, and sodium hypochlorite.  Viewers, including plant operators and drivers, will learn requirements for reporting hazmat transportation releases to DOT, review related DOT-reported cargo tank incident data, understand the sources and cause of common releases during cargo tank transport and operations, and learn best practices for preventing these types of releases.