When sourcing caustic soda (sodium hydroxide), buyers must select the appropriate grade based on their application, regulatory requirements and target market. Here is a practical comparison to guide your procurement decision.
Industrial Grade
Industrial-grade caustic soda is designed for general manufacturing, chemical synthesis, water treatment, metallurgy, textiles and paper production. It is the most cost-effective option for non-food applications and accounts for the majority of global NaOH trade volume.
- Applications: Petrochemical, textile, paper, water treatment, metallurgy
- Purity: 98.5% or 99% available
- Documentation: MSDS, COA, DG export papers
Food Grade
Food-grade caustic soda meets stricter purity and heavy metal limits required for food processing applications such as fruit peeling, olive curing, cocoa processing and equipment cleaning. It requires additional food safety certifications for export.
- Applications: Food peeling, pH adjustment, equipment sanitation
- Purity: 99% with food safety compliance
- Documentation: Food grade cert, MSDS, COA
Our Recommendation
If your application does not involve direct food contact, industrial grade offers the best value. For food processing or pharmaceutical synthesis, always specify food grade and confirm certification requirements for your destination country. Guowei Chemical supplies both grades in flakes and pearls. Browse our products.