Soda ash, also known as sodium carbonate (Na2CO3), is an alkali chemical refined

from the mineral trona or from naturally occurring sodium-carbonate-bearing brines

Soda ash is an important industrial compound used to manufacture chemicals, glass,
pulp and paper, soaps and detergents, and many other familiar consumer products.
ICI Pakistan Ltd. have a total production capacity of 350,000 t/yr till 2015.
Soda Ash can be used in manufacturing of various products. Some of them include
chemicals, life sciences, glass, soaps and detergents and paper.
Chemicals.—Soda ash is used to manufacture many sodium-base inorganic
chemicals, including sodium bicarbonate, sodium chromates, sodium phosphates,
and sodium silicates.
Glass.— Glass is a combination of sand and other minerals that are melted together
at very high temperatures to form. Glass manufacture used 2.4 Mt of soda ash,.
Glass containers are made for beverages , chemical and household products, food,
medical products, and toiletries and cosmetics.
More than 90% of glass products are sold to other glass industries. It is used for
building construction, automobile industry, food and beverages. There are various
types of glass which contains container, 47%; flat, 41%; and fiber and other glass,
about 6% each. China is the largest producer of glass. It produced 3.4 bn. Sq. Metre
in 2016. The selection of raw materials depends on the type (color, texture) of
product to be produced. The proportions of raw materials vary based on the desired
color of the product. The steps in the manufacturing process of glass are batch
mixing, furnace charging,
melting and glass forming
When we talk about production cost it includes 62% raw material cost, 22% energy
cost as gas is used in manufacturing and 16% labour cost. There are different sizes
of glass offered. Glass sizes ranges for flat tempered glass 96”*204”,bend glass
96”*98”,insulated glass 91”*137” respectively.Tariq Glass offers 2mm-13mm size of
glass. 73% of glass industries are located in Punjab while 17% factories are in KPK
and 5% in Sindh. Pakistan Glass Manufactures Association (PAGMA) looks after the
affairs of the glass industry.
Soaps and Detergents.—Detergents ranked third in the use of soda ash with
328,000 t. Soda ash was used as a builder to emulsify oil stains, reduce the
redeposition of dirt during washing and rinsing, provide alkalinity for cleaning, and
soften laundry water.
Paper
Paper can be produced by two types.