Hous Process for producing Sodium Carbonate

（2）NH4HCO3+NaCl=NH4Cl+NaHCO3↓

（3）2NaHCO3=Na2CO3+H2O+CO2↑

NaCl (saturation) +NH3+H2O+CO2=NH4Cl+NaHCO3↓

2NaHCO3==Na2CO3+H2O+CO2↑

Compare the Solvay process and Hou’s process: (source 1.)

The advantage of Hou’s process is:

  Hou’s process kept the advantage of the Solvay process, but increased the yield from 90% to 96%. The Product ammonium chloride (NH4Cl) can be used as fertilizer, and can also be united with the production of ammonium. Hou’s process uses carbon monoxide (CO) to produce the required carbon dioxide (CO2) instead of using calcium carbonate (CaCO3). This eliminates the by-product calcium chloride (CaCl2) which is produced from the calcium carbonate (CaCO3) in the Solvay process. (Source 3.)

How does the Hou’s process help society?

  In 1930s, the Chinese were not able to produce Sodium Carbonate (Na2CO3) by themselves. The Chinese government had to import Sodium Carbonate (Na2CO3) from England which was expensive. Hou’s process helped China develop a cheap way to make Sodium Carbonate (Na2CO3). For China, Hou’s process is far superior to the Solvay process because it upgrades the process of making Sodium Carbonate (Na2CO3). Other benefits are that the by-product of Hou’s process is ammonium chloride (NH4Cl) which is useful for farming. Where as the by-product of Solvay process is calcium chloride (CaCl2) which will pollute the environment.

Conclusion:

  Hou’s process helped Chinese government solve lots of problems in the 1930s, because a lot of industries needed to use Sodium Carbonate (Na2CO3). Hou’s process is a very useful upgrade for making sodium carbonate (Na2CO3), because it reduces the pollution; improve the efficiency of making Sodium Carbonate (Na2CO3); and produces useful by-product.

Source Citation 

1. Ondrey, Gerald. "This pressure filter helps soda-ash producers deal with waste sludge." Chemical Engineering 113.9 (2006): 16. Academic OneFile. Web. 15 Feb. 2011.

Document URL

2. Kiefer, David M. (200 s2).  Today's Chemist at Work, Vol. 11, No. 1, pp. 45-6.

3. Yanyun J (2006). “Hou's process (for sodamanu-facture)”, ChemYQ,    

                                                                                                               

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