Sodium Carbonate

Molecular Structure

Molecular Details

Molecular Formula	Na₂CO₃
Molecular Weight	105.99 g/mol
State	Solid at standard conditions

Olefinverbund Integration

Chemistry & Engineering

Reaction Equation	Solvay Process
Thermodynamics	Overall Exothermic
Catalyst System	Ammonia (Carrier)
Reactor Class	Carbonation tower
Process Considerations	Ammonia is recycled.

Extraterrestrial Production Pattern

1. Solvay process: NaCl + NH₃ + CO₂ + H₂O → NaHCO₃ + NH₄Cl
2. NaHCO₃ calcination → Na₂CO₃ + H₂O + CO₂
3. Ammonia recovery and recycle
4. Alternative: natural trona ore processing

Applications

• Glass manufacturing
• Detergent builder
• Water treatment
• Chemical synthesis

Reaction Diagram

Overall Reaction: NaCl + NH3 + CO2 + H2O -> NaHCO3 + NH4Cl; 2NaHCO3 -> Na2CO3 + H2O + CO2

Unit Operations

Process steps following chemical engineering unit operation principles:

Step	Operation	Description
1	Brine Ammoniation	Saturate brine with ammonia
2	Carbonation	Pass CO₂ through ammoniated brine
3	NaHCO₃ Filtration	Filter precipitated sodium bicarbonate
4	Calcination	Heat NaHCO₃ to 160-230°C for Na₂CO₃
5	Ammonia Recovery	Recover NH₃ from NH₄Cl with lime
6	Product Finishing	Screen and package soda ash

S88 Batch Control Model

This module follows the ISA-88 (S88) batch control standard. Below is a simplified BatchML schema for educational purposes:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<!-- ISA-88 Batch Control Model for Sodium Carbonate -->
<!-- Educational schema - simplified for demonstration -->
<BatchML xmlns="http://www.wbf.org/xml/B2MML-V0600">
  
  <ProcessCell ID="SOLVAY_PLANT_CELL">
    <Description>Process cell for Sodium Carbonate production</Description>
    
    <Unit ID="SOLVAY_PLANT">
      <Description>Main synthesis unit</Description>
      
      <!-- Equipment Modules -->
      <EquipmentModule ID="ABSORBER">
        <Description>Absorber</Description>
      </EquipmentModule>
      <EquipmentModule ID="CARBONATION_TOWER">
        <Description>Carbonation Tower</Description>
      </EquipmentModule>
      <EquipmentModule ID="FILTER">
        <Description>Filter</Description>
      </EquipmentModule>
      <EquipmentModule ID="CALCINER">
        <Description>Calciner</Description>
      </EquipmentModule>
      <EquipmentModule ID="AMMONIA_STILL">
        <Description>Ammonia Still</Description>
      </EquipmentModule>
      <EquipmentModule ID="SCREENER">
        <Description>Screener</Description>
      </EquipmentModule>
    </Unit>
  </ProcessCell>
  
  <MasterRecipe ID="SOLVAY_PLANT_RECIPE">
    <Description>Master recipe for Sodium Carbonate</Description>
    <ProductID>SODIUM_CARBONATE</ProductID>
    
    <UnitProcedure ID="SOLVAY_PLANT_UP">
      <Description>Unit procedure for synthesis</Description>
      
      <Operation ID="OP_01">
        <Description>Operation 1</Description>
        <Phase ID="AMMONIATE">
          <Description>Ammoniate phase</Description>
          <PhaseLogic>
            <Step ID="STEP_1"><Action>Initialize</Action></Step>
            <Step ID="STEP_2"><Action>Execute</Action></Step>
            <Step ID="STEP_3"><Action>Complete</Action></Step>
          </PhaseLogic>
        </Phase>
      </Operation>
      
      <Operation ID="OP_02">
        <Description>Operation 2</Description>
        <Phase ID="CARBONATE">
          <Description>Carbonate phase</Description>
          <PhaseLogic>
            <Step ID="STEP_1"><Action>Initialize</Action></Step>
            <Step ID="STEP_2"><Action>Execute</Action></Step>
            <Step ID="STEP_3"><Action>Complete</Action></Step>
          </PhaseLogic>
        </Phase>
      </Operation>
      
      <Operation ID="OP_03">
        <Description>Operation 3</Description>
        <Phase ID="FILTER">
          <Description>Filter phase</Description>
          <PhaseLogic>
            <Step ID="STEP_1"><Action>Initialize</Action></Step>
            <Step ID="STEP_2"><Action>Execute</Action></Step>
            <Step ID="STEP_3"><Action>Complete</Action></Step>
          </PhaseLogic>
        </Phase>
      </Operation>
      
      <Operation ID="OP_04">
        <Description>Operation 4</Description>
        <Phase ID="CALCINE">
          <Description>Calcine phase</Description>
          <PhaseLogic>
            <Step ID="STEP_1"><Action>Initialize</Action></Step>
            <Step ID="STEP_2"><Action>Execute</Action></Step>
            <Step ID="STEP_3"><Action>Complete</Action></Step>
          </PhaseLogic>
        </Phase>
      </Operation>
      
      <Operation ID="OP_05">
        <Description>Operation 5</Description>
        <Phase ID="RECOVER_NH3">
          <Description>Recover Nh3 phase</Description>
          <PhaseLogic>
            <Step ID="STEP_1"><Action>Initialize</Action></Step>
            <Step ID="STEP_2"><Action>Execute</Action></Step>
            <Step ID="STEP_3"><Action>Complete</Action></Step>
          </PhaseLogic>
        </Phase>
      </Operation>
      
      <Operation ID="OP_06">
        <Description>Operation 6</Description>
        <Phase ID="FINISH">
          <Description>Finish phase</Description>
          <PhaseLogic>
            <Step ID="STEP_1"><Action>Initialize</Action></Step>
            <Step ID="STEP_2"><Action>Execute</Action></Step>
            <Step ID="STEP_3"><Action>Complete</Action></Step>
          </PhaseLogic>
        </Phase>
      </Operation>
    </UnitProcedure>
  </MasterRecipe>
  
</BatchML>

**Key S88 Concepts:**
- **Process Cell**: The physical grouping containing all equipment for this process
- **Unit**: The major equipment that performs the synthesis
- **Equipment Modules**: Individual pieces of equipment (reactors, columns, etc.)
- **Unit Procedure**: The sequence of operations to produce the product
- **Phases**: The lowest level of procedural control (e.g., REACT, SEPARATE, PURIFY)

Key S88 Concepts:
• Process Cell: Physical grouping containing all equipment
• Unit: Major equipment performing synthesis
• Equipment Modules: Individual pieces (reactors, columns, etc.)
• Phases: Lowest level of procedural control (REACT, SEPARATE, etc.)

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This Synthesis Module is part of the 100chemicals Olefinverbund — an integrated chemical production network designed for extraterrestrial civilization on Moon and Mars.