Homes hooked to a municipal water supply usually receive treated water, according to West Virginia University's National Environmental Services Center. Some households further treat their water by running it through a water softener or other device. Both municipal treatment and home treatment may use sodium carbonate water treatment methods. Sodium carbonate, also known as soda ash, can be used to soften water or to make it less acidic, according to Free Drinking Water. Since sodium carbonate can irritate the skin and eyes, always wear gloves and eye protection when handling it.
Neutralization
Sodium carbonate can be used to treat water that is too acidic, bringing it to a more neutral pH, according to the North Carolina University Cooperative Extension service. When the pH of the water is less than 6, it is often treated by pumping it through a filter that contains sodium carbonate or sodium hydroxide, also known as caustic soda. The sodium carbonate or sodium hydroxide increases the pH of the water to around 7, which is neutral. Since both these methods increase the amount of sodium in the water, people with high blood pressure or other diseases aggravated by sodium intake should consider using potassium carbonate.
Softening Water
Hard water that contains a lot of non-carbonate matter like calcium and magnesium may be treated at a municipal plant or at home to make it softer, according to Free Drinking Water. This water is usually treated with sodium carbonate to remove non-carbonate particulates and slake lime to remove carbonate particulates. The slaked lime and sodium carbonate bond to the particles causing the water's hardness, making them fall to the bottom of the container where they can later be removed.
Boiler Maintenance
Sodium carbonate is also used to treat the water used in boilers, according to Lenntech. Treating the water with sodium carbonate before it enters the boiler helps to remove particles that would otherwise collect in the boiler as sludge, impairing its function and eventually breaking it. The sodium carbonate and water mix must be heated thoroughly to remove particles. If sodium carbonate is not heated enough, it will break down into sodium hydroxide and carbon dioxide. Sodium hydroxide may impair the boiler's function.
Member Comments