SODA ASH

Soda ash is a common name for sodium carbonate. As the name suggests, it was originally prepared from ashes obtained by burning wood. Sodium carbonate is used in baking soda, detergents, and other household products. Soda ash is an important raw material in detergents, chemicals, glass, and other industrial products. Soda ash production is the 11th largest of all domestic inorganic and organic chemicals, excluding petroleum products. "Soda" or "soda ash" is prepared industrially by dissolving ammonia in a brine solution followed by treatment with carbon dioxide. Most of the "natural" soda ash comes from the mineral, trona.