Sodium
alkali metal · Group 1 · Period 3
Atomic properties
Market data
Raw material sources & pricing
| Raw Material Form | Grade/Quality | Price Range | Major Sources | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rock Salt (Halite) | 95-99% NaCl | $30-60/MT | USA, Germany, Canada | Lowest cost, requires minimal processing |
| Solar Salt (Sea Salt) | 97-99.5% NaCl | $40-80/MT | Australia, Mexico, India | Weather dependent, higher purity |
| Vacuum Salt | 99.5-99.9% NaCl | $100-220/MT | USA, Europe, Japan | Highest purity, energy intensive |
| Chemical Grade NaCl | 99.5%+ NaCl | $120-250/MT | Global | For chlor-alkali and sodium metal production |
Sodium Chloride (Salt) - Primary Raw Material
Current Market Price: $40-120/MT (varies by grade and source) Major Global Production Methods: Seawater Evaporation: 35% of global production - Solar salt ponds Rock Salt Mining: 40% of global production - Underground deposits Solution Mining: 25% of global production - Brine extraction 2025 Production Leaders: China: 53 million MT (18.7% of global production) USA: 42 million MT (14.8% of global production) India: 30 million MT (10.6% of global production) Germany: 14 million MT Canada: 13 million MT Raw Material Form Grade/Quality Price Range Major Sources Notes Rock Salt (Halite) 95-99% NaCl $30-60/MT USA, Germany, Canada Lowest cost, requires minimal processing Solar Salt (Sea Salt) 97-99.5% NaCl $40-80/MT Australia, Mexico, India Weather dependent, higher purity Vacuum Salt 99.5-99.9%
⚠️ Seawater Sodium Extraction
Commercial Viability: ECONOMICALLY VIABLE for salt production Concentration: 10,561 ppm sodium (as ions in seawater) Chemical Form: Na⁺ ions, paired with Cl⁻ to form dissolved NaCl Status: Seawater is a major commercial source of sodium chloride through evaporation. Approximately 35% of global salt production comes from seawater evaporation, particularly in coastal regions with suitable climate conditions. Note: Direct extraction of sodium metal from seawater is not practiced. Sodium chloride is first extracted, then electrolyzed to produce sodium metal.
Production cost analysis
| Cost Component | $/MT Sodium Metal | % of Total Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sodium Chloride (2.54 MT needed) | $305-635 | 12-20% | Chemical grade required |
| Energy (Electricity) | $980-1,260 | 40-45% | 9.8-10.5 kWh/kg at $0.10/kWh |
| Labor | $250-400 | 10-15% | Specialized operators required |
| Cell Maintenance | $200-300 | 8-12% | Electrode replacement, repairs |
| Other Materials & Overhead | $365-505 | 15-20% | CaCl₂ flux, inert atmosphere, storage |
| Total Production Cost | $2,100-3,100 | 100% | Compare to selling price: $2,200-2,500/MT |
Energy consumption breakdown
| Process Stage | Energy Consumption | % of Total Energy | Energy Type | Key Operations |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Downs Cell Electrolysis | 32-34 MJ/kg | 85-90% | Electricity | Electrolysis at 600°C, DC power 6.5-7V |
| Salt Melting & Heating | 2-3 MJ/kg | 5-8% | Natural Gas/Electricity | Heating NaCl-CaCl₂ mixture to 600°C |
| Product Handling | 1-1.5 MJ/kg | 3-4% | Electricity | Inert atmosphere, sodium handling |
| Auxiliary Systems | 0.3-0.3 MJ/kg | 1-2% | Electricity | Chlorine handling, safety systems |
Downs Cell Process Details
Cell Voltage: 6.5-7V (theoretical 4.07V) Current: 25-45 kA typical operation Current Efficiency: 80-90% Operating Temperature: 590-610°C Electrolyte: 33% NaCl, 67% CaCl₂ by weight
Energy Loss Breakdown
Overvoltage: 40-45% - Electrode overpotentials Resistance Heating: 35-40% - Electrolyte resistance Heat Losses: 10-15% - Maintaining temperature Side Reactions: 5-10% - Inefficiencies
Commercial forms & specifications
| Product Form | Chemical Formula | Molecular Weight | Typical Purity | Price Range (USD/kg) | Main Applications |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sodium Metal | Na | 22.99 g/mol | 99.0-99.95% | $2.20-3.50 | Organic synthesis, nuclear reactors |
| Sodium Chloride | NaCl | 58.44 g/mol | 95-99.9% | $0.04-0.25 | Chemical industry, food, deicing |
| Sodium Hydroxide | NaOH | 40.00 g/mol | 98-99% | $0.35-0.55 | Chemical manufacturing, soap |
| Sodium Carbonate | Na₂CO₃ | 105.99 g/mol | 99.0-99.8% | $0.15-0.25 | Glass, detergents, chemicals |
| Sodium Bicarbonate | NaHCO₃ | 84.01 g/mol | 99.0-99.5% | $0.25-0.40 | Food, pharmaceuticals, cleaning |
| Sodium Sulfate | Na₂SO₄ | 142.04 g/mol | 99%+ | $0.10-0.20 | Detergents, glass, textiles |
| Sodium Acetate | CH₃COONa·3H₂O | 136.08 g/mol | 99%+ | $0.50-0.80 | Food preservative, chemicals |
| Sodium Metal Dispersion | Na in oil | Variable | 30-40% Na | $8.00-15.00 | Controlled reactions, catalysts |
| Sodium Hydride | NaH | 24.00 g/mol | 55-60% (in oil) | $25.00-40.00 | Organic synthesis, reducing agent |
| Sodium Sulfide | Na₂S·9H₂O | 240.18 g/mol | 60% Na₂S | $0.25-0.40 | Leather, paper, mining |
| Sodium Citrate | Na₃C₆H₅O₇·2H₂O | 294.10 g/mol | 99%+ | $0.80-1.20 | Food, pharmaceuticals, blood banks |
| Sodium Silicate | Na₂SiO₃ | 122.06 g/mol | Variable | $0.30-0.50 | Detergents, adhesives, cements |
Suppliers by country
🇨🇳 China
| Company | Product Forms | Specialties |
|---|---|---|
| Inner Mongolia Lantai | Sodium metal, NaCl, Na₂CO₃ | Largest sodium metal producer globally |
| Shandong Moris Tech | Sodium metal, dispersions | High-purity sodium, custom dispersions |
| China National Salt | All grades NaCl, industrial salts | World's largest salt company |
🇺🇸 United States
| Company | Product Forms | Specialties |
|---|---|---|
| Cargill Salt | NaCl (all grades), deicing salt | Solar salt, rock salt, evaporated salt |
| Morton Salt | Table salt, industrial salt | Food grade, pharmaceutical grade |
| American Elements | Sodium metal, compounds, nanomaterials | High-purity sodium, research materials |
🇮🇳 India
| Company | Product Forms | Specialties |
|---|---|---|
| Tata Chemicals | Na₂CO₃, NaHCO₃, NaCl | Soda ash leader, integrated producer |
| GHCL Limited | Na₂CO₃, NaCl, industrial chemicals | Soda ash, refined salt |
| Nirma Limited | Na₂CO₃, caustic soda, salt | Integrated chemical complex |
🇫🇷 France
| Company | Product Forms | Specialties |
|---|---|---|
| MSSA S.A.S. | Sodium metal, NaH, dispersions | European sodium metal leader |
| Salins Group | Sea salt, rock salt, refined salt | Mediterranean sea salt specialist |
🇩🇪 Germany
| Company | Product Forms | Specialties |
|---|---|---|
| K+S AG | Rock salt, evaporated salt, brine | Europe's largest salt producer |
| BASF | Sodium compounds, specialty chemicals | High-purity sodium chemicals |
🇷🇺 Russia
| Company | Product Forms | Specialties |
|---|---|---|
| Uralkali | Industrial salts, chemical grade NaCl | Integrated salt and potash producer |
| Bashkir Soda Company | Na₂CO₃, NaHCO₃ | Largest Russian soda ash producer |
Market demand by product form
| Product Form | Global Market Size | Major Markets | Key Applications | Growth Rate (CAGR) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sodium Chloride (All Forms) | $48 billion | Global | Chemical (68%), Deicing (12%), Food (6%) | 4.0% |
| Sodium Metal | $342 million | Asia (48.7%), Europe (23%) | Chemical synthesis, batteries, pharma | 6.9% |
| Sodium Hydroxide | $45 billion | Asia (55%), Americas (25%) | Pulp/paper, chemicals, alumina | 4.5% |
| Sodium Carbonate | $17 billion | Asia (60%), Americas (20%) | Glass (50%), chemicals, detergents | 3.8% |
| Sodium Bicarbonate | $1.8 billion | Americas (35%), Europe (30%) | Food, pharma, animal feed | 5.2% |
| Sodium Sulfate | $1.2 billion | Asia (70%), Americas (15%) | Detergents, glass, textiles | 3.5% |
| Specialty Sodium Compounds | $3.5 billion | Global distribution | Electronics, pharma, batteries | 7.5% |
Market trends
Battery Revolution: Sodium-ion battery production scaling rapidly, with China leading at 10+ GWh capacity by 2025 Supply Security: Unlike lithium, sodium resources are abundant and geographically diverse, reducing supply chain risks Energy Costs: Rising electricity prices affecting sodium metal production economics, driving efficiency improvements Environmental Focus: Chlor-alkali industry integration reducing environmental impact of sodium production Price Stability: Sodium metal prices relatively stable at $2,200-2,500/MT due to mature production technology Regional Shifts: Asia-Pacific dominance growing, expected to reach 55% of global sodium metal consumption by 2030 Technology Advances: New electrolysis technologies targeting 20% energy reduction by 2030
Moles per kilogram
| Product Form | Formula | MW (g/mol) | Moles/kg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sodium Metal | Na | 22.99 | 43.50 |
| Sodium Chloride | NaCl | 58.44 | 17.11 |
| Sodium Hydroxide | NaOH | 40.00 | 25.00 |
| Sodium Carbonate | Na₂CO₃ | 105.99 | 9.43 |
| Sodium Bicarbonate | NaHCO₃ | 84.01 | 11.90 |
| Sodium Sulfate (anhydrous) | Na₂SO₄ | 142.04 | 7.04 |
| Sodium Acetate (trihydrate) | CH₃COONa·3H₂O | 136.08 | 7.35 |
| Sodium Sulfide (nonahydrate) | Na₂S·9H₂O | 240.18 | 4.16 |
References
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