Industrial salts and alkalis
Sodium Bicarbonate 99% — Alkali Buffer for FGD, Water & Chemical Plants
FOB Black Sea / MENA · CFR/CIF worldwide on request
Indicative price
USD 205–250 / MT
Indicative range, firm quote on request
Key parameters
Full product details
Product overview
Sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO₃) is a versatile alkali salt produced by carbonation of soda ash or recovered from trona ore processing. At 99% minimum purity it serves as a mild buffering agent across flue gas desulfurization (FGD) dry-injection systems, municipal and industrial water pH correction, animal-feed rumen buffers, detergent builders and chemical synthesis routes to sodium compounds. Unlike caustic soda, bicarbonate releases CO₂ on acid contact — a property exploited in dry sorbent injection at coal-fired power plants and waste incinerators where wet scrubbing is impractical.
Our export grade carries chlorides capped at 0.05% and iron at 20 ppm — low enough for FGD circuits where chloride accumulation corrodes ductwork and iron discolours sorbent slurry. Fine powder at 90% through 200 mesh ensures rapid dissolution in stirred tanks and pneumatic injection lances. Origins include integrated soda ash and bicarbonate units at Black Sea and MENA chemical complexes with bagging lines and container stuffing facilities at export ports.
Typical buyers include independent power producers retrofitting dry FGD on ageing coal boilers, water-treatment contractors dosing alkalinity into reverse-osmosis permeate loops, compound feed mills formulating rumen buffers for dairy herds, and chemical distributors supplying detergent and leather-tanning segments across South Asia, the Middle East and East Africa. HS code 2836.30. MOQ from 24 MT on FOB, CFR or CIF terms.
Full specification
| Sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO₃) | 99.0% min |
| Moisture (loss on drying) | 0.2% max |
| Chlorides (as NaCl) | 0.05% max |
| Iron (Fe) | 20 ppm max |
| Sulphates (as SO₄) | 0.05% max |
| Heavy metals (as Pb) | 5 ppm max |
| Appearance | White crystalline powder, odourless |
| Particle size | 90% through 200 mesh (74 µm) — fine grade |
| Bulk density | ≈ 0.85–1.0 g/cm³ (loose) |
| HS code | 2836.30 |
Loading ports & logistics
Sodium bicarbonate ships as a dry, free-flowing powder — moisture control at every transfer point is critical to prevent caking and bag rupture during ocean transit. We coordinate three principal delivery modes depending on parcel size and receiver infrastructure.
25 kg and 50 kg PE-lined bags on pallets suit container export from 24 MT (one 20-foot container holds approximately 24–26 MT net). Pallets are stretch-wrapped and desiccant-loaded for routes to South Asia, East Africa and Mediterranean buyers without dedicated bulk discharge equipment.
1,000 kg big bags (FIBC) move parcels of 50–500 MT on break-bulk or containerised routes. Big bags require moisture-barrier liners and must not be double-stacked above three tiers without racking support. Ideal for FGD contractors and feed mills with forklift unloading bays.
Bulk vessel holds handle industrial contracts above 1,000 MT to dedicated dry-bulk terminals in India, Turkey and North Africa. FOB loading at exporter-nominated berth with trim and ventilation per IMSBC Code Schedule for sodium bicarbonate; CFR and CIF quotes include hold cleanliness certificate and discharge-port compatibility check. Typical lead time 10–20 days from contract execution to loading window.
Packaging & documentation
Cargo ships as fine-grade NaHCO₃ powder in 25 kg or 50 kg PE-lined woven polypropylene bags, 1,000 kg big bags with moisture barrier, or bulk in clean, dry vessel holds. Each lot is accompanied by a mill certificate of analysis showing NaHCO₃ assay, moisture, chloride and iron results, safety data sheet (SDS) per GHS, commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading and certificate of origin. Purity is confirmed by acidimetric titration against hydrochloric acid standard on the COA.
Third-party inspection (SGS, Bureau Veritas or equivalent) at loading can be arranged on buyer request. Bag stitch integrity and pallet strapping are checked before container seal; we issue moisture-content and particle-size documentation with the shipping instructions package. For bulk holds, a cleanliness and previous-cargo certificate confirming no incompatible residues is mandatory before loading.
FAQ
When should buyers choose fine powder versus coarse sodium bicarbonate?
Fine powder (90% through 200 mesh) dissolves rapidly in FGD slurry circuits, water-treatment tanks and chemical reactors with short residence time. Coarse grades reduce dust during pneumatic conveying and suit animal-feed premix plants where slower dissolution is acceptable. Specify particle size on the purchase order so the mill selects the correct screen cut.
How should sodium bicarbonate be stored to prevent caking in transit?
NaHCO₃ is mildly hygroscopic — ship in PE-lined bags palletized and stretch-wrapped, or in moisture-barrier big bags for bulk holds. Keep relative humidity below 70% during loading and discharge. Do not stack pallets directly on damp warehouse floors; allow 48 hours of conditioning in a dry shed before pneumatic transfer if surface moisture is detected.
What drives the indicative sodium bicarbonate price per tonne?
FOB quotations reflect soda ash feedstock cost, energy at Solvay and trona-derived plants, particle-size grade requested, and bag/container freight to your discharge port. The USD 205–250/MT band covers current origin and purity differentials; firm pricing is fixed at contract signing.
Related products
- Potassium Carbonate — companion alkali carbonate for soluble fertilizer and chemical synthesis
- Potassium Hydroxide — stronger caustic potash for chloride-free salt production
- Ammonia — feedstock in Solvay-process soda ash and bicarbonate chains