Sodium Bicarbonate Supplier in South Africa

What Is Sodium Bicarbonate?

Sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO₃), commonly called bicarbonate of soda or baking soda, is a white crystalline powder with mild alkalinity and the unique property of releasing CO₂ when heated or contacted with acids. This combination of gentle alkalinity, CO₂ evolution, and absolute non-toxicity makes it one of the most versatile industrial chemicals, with applications spanning food processing, pharmaceuticals, fire suppression, flue gas cleaning, and animal nutrition.

Food Processing & Baking

In food production, sodium bicarbonate is the primary chemical leavening agent, reacting with acidic ingredients (buttermilk, cream of tartar, vinegar, molasses) or with heat to generate CO₂ bubbles that give baked goods their rise and texture. Food-grade NaHCO₃ is used in bread, biscuits, cakes, confectionery, and snack foods. It is also used as a pH adjuster in soft drinks, a buffering agent in processed meats, and a neutraliser in cocoa powder processing (Dutch processing).

Flue Gas Treatment & Industrial Uses

Sodium bicarbonate is a highly effective dry sorbent for flue gas desulfurisation (FGD) and HCl removal in waste incinerators, biomass plants, and industrial boilers. When injected into flue gas streams, it reacts rapidly with SO₂, SO₃, and HCl at temperatures above 150°C to form sodium sulfate and sodium chloride, achieving high pollutant removal efficiencies. Technical grade NaHCO₃ is also used in cleaning compounds, swimming pool pH correction, textile scouring, and rubber vulcanisation.

Animal Feed, Pharmaceuticals & Personal Care

Feed-grade sodium bicarbonate is used as a buffering agent in ruminant nutrition, particularly for dairy cattle, to maintain rumen pH and support milk fat production. Pharmaceutical-grade NaHCO₃ is an antacid and is used in effervescent tablet formulations. In personal care, it is used in toothpastes as a mild abrasive and whitening agent, in bath salts, and in deodorants. Terracore Chemicals supplies NaHCO₃ in food, technical, and feed grades for Southern African customers.