How To Make Crack With Sodium Bicarbonate
Background
Baking soda is a white crystalline powder (NaHCO 3 ) better known to chemists as sodium bicarbonate, bicarbonate of soda, sodium hydrogen carbonate, or sodium acid carbonate. It is classified as an acid salt, formed by combining an acid (carbonic) and a base (sodium hydroxide), and it reacts with other chemicals as a mild alkali. At temperatures above 300 degrees Fahrenheit (149 degrees Celsius), baking soda decomposes into sodium carbonate (a more stable substance), water, and carbon dioxide.
The native chemical and physical properties of baking soda account for its wide range of applications, including cleaning, deodorizing, buffering, and fire extinguishing. Baking soda neutralizes odors chemically, rather than masking or absorbing them. Consequently, it is used in bath salts and deodorant body powders. Baking soda tends to maintain a pH of 8.1 (7 is neutral) even when acids, which lower pH, or bases, which raise pH, are added to the solution. Its ability to tabletize makes it a good effervescent ingredient in antacids and denture cleaning products. Sodium bicarbonate is also found in some anti-plaque mouth-wash products and toothpaste. When baking soda is used as a cleaner in paste form or dry on a damp sponge, its crystalline structure provides a gentle abrasion that helps to remove dirt without scratching sensitive surfaces. Its mild alkalinity works to turn up fatty acids contained in dirt and grease into a form of soap that can be dissolved in water and rinsed easily. Baking soda is also used as a leavening agent in making baked goods such as bread or pancakes. When combined with an acidic agent (such as lemon juice), carbon dioxide gas is released and is absorbed by the product's cells. As the gas expands during baking, the cell walls expand as well, creating a leavened product.
In addition to its many home uses, baking soda also has many industrial applications. For instance, baking soda releases carbon dioxide when heated. Since carbon dioxide is heavier than air, it can smother flames by keeping oxygen out, making sodium bicarbonate a useful agent in fire extinguishers. Other applications include air pollution control (because it absorbs sulfur dioxide and other acid gas emissions), abrasive blastings for removal of surface coatings, chemical manufacturing, leather tanning, oil well drilling fluids (because it precipitates calcium and acts as a lubricant), rubber and plastic manufacturing, paper manufacturing, textile processing, and water treatment (because it reduces the level of lead and other heavy metals).
Imported from England, baking soda was first used in America during colonial times, but it was not produced in the United States until 1839. In 1846, Austin Church, a Connecticut physician, and John Dwight, a farmer from Massachusetts, established a factory in New York to manufacture baking soda. Dr. Church's son, John, owned a mill called the Vulcan Spice Mills. Vulcan, the Roman god of forge and fire, was represented by an arm and hammer, and the new baking soda company adopted the arm and hammer logo as its own. Today, the Arm & Hammer brand of baking soda is among the most widely recognized brand names.
Sodium bicarbonate in research studies have shown that 650 mg. Bicarbonate 2-3x/day prevented or reversed need for dialysis in people who have trouble excreting acids. 650 is equal to about 1/8 tsp of baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) in a glass of water. You can make sodium carbonate for these solutions yourself at home simply by heating sodium bicarbonate, or household baking soda. When you heat it to above 80 degrees Celsius (176 degrees Fahrenheit), the sodium bicarbonate breaks down into sodium carbonate, carbon dioxide and water vapor.
Named after Nicolas Leblanc, the French chemist who invented it, the Leblanc process was the earliest means of manufacturing soda ash (Na 2 CO 3 ), from which sodium bicarbonate is made. Sodium chloride (table salt) was heated with sulfuric acid, producing sodium sulfate and hydrochloric acid. The sodium sulfate was then heated with coal and limestone to form sodium carbonate, or soda ash.
In the late 1800s, another method of producing soda ash was devised by Ernest Solvay, a Belgian chemical engineer. The Solvay method was soon adapted in the United States, where it replaced the Leblanc process. In the Solvay process, carbon dioxide and ammonia are passed into a concentrated solution of sodium chloride. Crude sodium bicarbonate precipitates out and is heated to form soda ash, which is then further treated and refined to form sodium bicarbonate of United States Pharnacopoeia (U.S.P.) purity.
Warnings For Sodium Bicarbonate
Although this method of producing baking soda ash is widely used, it is also problematic because the chemicals used in the process are pollutants and cause disposal problems. An alternative is to refine soda ash from trona ore, a natural deposit.
Raw Materials
Baking soda, or sodium bicarbonate, comes from soda ash obtained either through the Solvay process or from trona ore, a hard, crystalline material. Trona dates back 50 million years, to when the land surrounding Green River, Wyoming, was covered by a 600-square-mile (1,554-square-kilometer) lake. As it evaporated over time, this lake left a 200-billion-ton deposit of pure trona between layers of sandstone and shale. The deposit at the Green River Basin is large enough to meet the entire world's needs for soda ash and sodium bicarbonate for thousands of years.
Because the synthetic process used in the Solvay method presented some pollution problems, Church & Dwight Co. Inc. is basing more and more of its manufacturing on trona mining. Another large producer of soda ash, the FMC Corporation, also relies on trona to manufacture soda ash and sodium bicarbonate. Trona is mined at 1,500 feet (457.2 meters) below the surface. FMC's mine shafts contain nearly 2,500 (4,022.5 kilometers) miles of tunnels and cover 24 square miles (62 square kilometers). Fifteen feet (4.57 meters) wide and nine feet (2.74 meters) tall, these tunnels allow the necessary equipment and vehicles to travel through them.
The Manufacturing
Process
Making soda ash
- 1 Soda ash can be manufactured chemically using the Solvay process, or it can be made from trona ore. If trona ore is used, it must first be mined. After it has been brought to the surface, the trona ore is transported to a variety of processing plants. There, the ore is refined into a slurry of sodium sesquicarbonate, an intermediate soda ash product that actually contains both soda ash (sodium carbonate) and baking soda (sodium bicarbonate).
Making baking soda
- 2 Next, the intermediate soda ash solution is put into a centrifuge, which separates the liquid from the crystals. The crystals are then dissolved in a bicarbonate solution (a soda ash solution made by the manufacturer) in a rotary dissolver, thereby becoming a saturated solution. This solution is filtered to remove any non-soluble materials and is then pumped through a feed tank to the top of a carbonating tower.
- 3 Purified carbon dioxide is introduced into the bottom of the tower and held under pressure. As the saturated sodium solution moves through the tower, it cools and reacts with the carbon dioxide to form sodium bicarbonate crystals. These crystals are collected at the bottom of the tower and transferred to another centrifuge, where excess solution (filtrate) is filtered out. The crystals are then washed in a bicarbonate solution, forming a cake-like substance ready for drying. The filtrate that is removed from the centrifuge is recycled to the rotary dissolver, where it is used to saturate more intermediate soda ash crystals.
- 4 The washed filter cake is then dried on either a continuous belt conveyor or in a vertical tube drier called a flash dryer. The theoretical yield from the process, according to the Church & Dwight Company, is between 90 and 95 percent, and the baking soda manufactured is more than 99 percent pure.
Sorting and storing the
different grades
- 5 Next, the dried crystals of sodium bicarbonate are separated into various grades by particle size. Standard grades of sodium bicarbonate and special grades are manufactured to meet customers' specific requirements, and particle size is the major determinant of grades. Powdered #1 and fine granular #2 have a wide range of uses in foods, chemicals, and pharmaceuticals. Granular grades #4 and #5 are found in foods and doughnuts, cleaning compounds, pharmaceuticals, and many other products. Industrial grade sodium bicarbonate is used in diverse applications, including oil well drilling fluids, fire extinguishing materials, and water treatment.
- 6 Each grade goes to a holding bin wherein atmosphere, carbon dioxide, and moisture content are controlled to 'cure' the product. Once cured, the grades are ready to be packaged and shipped.
Quality Control
The quality of sodium bicarbonate is controlled at every stage of the manufacturing process. Materials, equipment, and the process itself are selected to yield sodium bicarbonate of the highest possible quality. According to FMC sources, when the company constructed plants, it chose materials and equipment that would be compatible with the stringent quality requirements for making pharmaceutical grade sodium bicarbonate. FMC also uses Statistical Process Control (SPC) to maintain unvarying daily quality, and key operating parameters are charted to maintain process control. Product quality parameters are recorded by lot number, and samples are kept for two to three years.
All U.S.P. grades meet the United States Pharmacopoeia and Food Chemicals Codex specifications for use in pharmaceutical and food applications. In addition, food grade sodium bicarbonate meets the requirements specified by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration as a substance that is Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS).
The Future
At the turn of the twentieth century, 53,000 tons (48,071 metric tons) of baking soda were sold annually. While the population increased dramatically, sales by 1990 were down to about 32,000 tons (29,024 metric tons) per year. Self-rising flour and cake and biscuit mixes have decreased the demand for baking soda as an important baking ingredient. Nevertheless, demand for the product is still significant. Commercial bakers (particularly cookie manufacturers) are one of the major users of this product. One of the most important attributes of sodium bicarbonate is that, when exposed to heat, it releases carbon dioxide gas (CO 2 ) which makes the baking goods rise. Sodium bicarbonate is also used in the pharmaceutical and health industries, and it has other industrial applications as well. It therefore continues to be an important product for today and for the future.
Where To Learn More
Books
Coyle, L. Patrick, Jr. The World Encyclopedia of Food. Facts on File, 1982.
Root, Waverley and Richard de Rochemont. Eating in America: A History. William Morrow & Co., Inc., 1976.
Periodicals and Pamphlets
Grosswirth, Marvin. 'The Wonders of NaHCO 3 ,' Science Digest. March, 1976.
History of the Arm & Hammer Trademark. Church & Dwight Co., Inc.
Sodium Bicarbonate. FMC Corporation.
Sodium Bicarbonate — Chemical Properties, Manufacturing. Church & Dwight Co., Inc.
Sodium bicarbonate is a natural compound found throughout nature—in the ocean, in the soil, in our foods, and in our bodies. Baking soda is a neutralizer of many other compounds, which makes it extremely helpful as a medicine in this age of toxicity that we are all presently passing through. Its backbone characteristic is to maintain balance of carbon dioxide, bicarbonate and pH. Sodium bicarbonate is a chemical compound with the formula NaHCO3. CO2 levels in the blood, which is increased by intake of sodium bicarbonate, is one vital key to oxygen delivery to the cells. So something as simple as baking soda can often give almost instant relief for a wide range of medical situations.
2. How can I administer Sodium Bicarbonate?
Sodium Bicarbonate is one of the most flexible medicinals in terms of methods and modes of administration. It can be injected in emergency room situations, taken orally, nebulized, used transdermally as a lotion or paste, put in enemas and in larger quantities in therapeutic baths. (preferably with magnesium)
3. Who should take sodium bicarbonate? and why it is good for health ?
Everybody. Sodium bicarbonate is a universal medicine that is nutritional as well as safe and is of help no matter what syndrome we are facing. As we age our bodies produce less thus we need to supplement more to balance bicarbonate deficiencies.
4. What is the difference of sodium bicarbonate and baking soda ?
No difference. Sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) is probably one of the most useful substances in the world.
5. Where can I find Sodium Bicarbonate?
Sodium bicarbonate is available and sold in every supermarket and pharmacy in the world;
6. What are the side effects of sodium bicarbonate ?
Sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) is generally well tolerated. However, high doses may cause headache, nausea or irritability. If any of these effects continue or become bothersome, inform your doctor. Notify your doctor if you develop: muscle weakness, slow reflexes and confusion, swelling of the feet or ankles, black tar-like stools, coffee-ground vomit. If you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor or pharmacist.
Adverse reactions to the administration of sodium bicarbonate can include metabolic alkalosis, edema due to sodium overload, congestive heart failure, hyperosmolar syndrome, hypervolemic hypernatremia, and hypertension due to increased sodium.
7. What is the best type of sodium bicarbonate ?
Bob’s Red Mill, Arm and Hammers (both aluminum free), and good combination formulas like pH Adjust, which includes potassium bicarbonate and magnesium.
8. Can I take it every day in order to maintain my health ?
Do not use the maximum dosage for more than 2 weeks. Other Information: Each 1/2 teaspoon contains 616 mg sodium. Many ask what a maintenance dosage would be or a cancer prevention dosage. Again, this would vary widely but one teaspoon split into two doses could be a standard but one still has to measure one’s pH for guidance.
Long term use of sodium bicarbonate is not recommended or necessary in every case and you must understand the warnings about doing this. All of this information is included in the book Sodium Bicarbonate and in Treatment Essentials.
A break from using sodium bicarbonate should also be taken every 2 weeks and the necessary lifestyle and dietary changes should be made to remain more alkaline without needing so much bicarbonate.
9. What is the recommended dose ?
The best guidance for dosages for sodium bicarbonate is provided by one’s own urinary and salivary pH, which one takes in the morning or several times during the day when doing a heavy course of dosages for cancer or other serious diseases.
The recommendation is 1/4 to ½ teaspoon per 8 oz. glass with lemon (to balance the sodium with potassium) and no more than 1 1/2 to 2 teaspoons per 24 hour period.
Please observe the maximum doses of 7 half teaspoons/day if under age 60 and of 3 half tsp/day if over age 60.
Sodium bicarbonate should be taken 1-2 hours before or after a meal so as not to interfere with the hydrochloric acid needed for digestion. Sodium bicarbonate will temporarily neutralize hydrochloric acid. So if you are taking it for general maintenance take it early am or before bedtime. This should not affect the mealtime production of hydrochloric acid.
10. How can I measure my pH and what is the pH good for health?
Buy some simple and inexpensive pH strips and see for yourself how acid you are and start practicing pH medicine, or what could be called bicarbonate medicine. Bring yourself back up to a healthy pH using sodium bicarbonate and magnesium chloride and see how much better you feel.
The first step with regards to pH medicine and using baking soda is to find out for sure if your body is acidic or not. If your body is acidic then follow the guidelines for restoring as near to 7.4 PH as you can.
11. Why caffeine drinks are related to the pH ? how it affects my body ?
Coffee tends to push people into acid conditions. It also tends to dehydrate the body.
12. What are the other sources of sodium bicarbonate?
Sodium and Potassium Bicarbonates
13. Why there is a relationship between kidney diseases and sodium bicarbonate?
The kidneys alone produce about two hundred and fifty grams (about half a pound) of bicarbonate per day in an attempt to neutralize acid in the body.
The kidneys monitor and control the acidity or 'acid-base' (pH) balance of the blood. If the blood is too acidic, the kidney makes bicarbonate to restore the blood’s pH balance. If the blood is too alkaline, then the kidney excretes bicarbonate into the urine to restore the balance. Acid-base balance is the net result of two processes, first, the removal of bicarbonate subsequent to hydrogen ion production from the metabolism of dietary constituents; second, the synthesis of 'new' bicarbonate by the kidney.
Sodium bicarbonate in research studies have shown that 650 mg. bicarbonate 2-3x/day prevented or reversed need for dialysis in people who have trouble excreting acids. 650 is equal to about 1/8 tsp of baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) in a glass of water.
14. Is bicarbonate a good cancer treatment? Why?
The principal lesson to learn for anyone facing cancer is that there are hundreds of ways to kill cancer cells and get the body back in balance. What all cancer patients need to understand is that nothing will heal or actually cure cancer until we address and treat the underlying cause of the cancer.
Ten years ago, I wrote Sodium Bicarbonate – Rich Man’s Poor Man’s Treatment For Cancer. Since then, many researchers have sustained the assertion that it would be deplorable to leave this most basic substance out of anyone’s cancer treatment, even if one is using toxic chemotherapy and radiation. Said another way, bicarbonates should be used in EVERY cancer protocol.
I am not suggesting that anyone should follow Dr. Tullio Simoncini’s bicarbonate treatments administered intravenously. There is little flexibility in the blood for pH changes. Simoncini got into serious trouble for over alkalizing the blood of a patient, a condition that easily ends in death. Using oral and transdermal administration is preferable not only because of safety issues but also because one can get bicarbonate to all the cells in the body, which is impossible if one adds bicarbonate directly into the blood.
Ten years later we have more reason than ever to focus on bicarbonate therapy for cancer. A new Ludwig Cancer Research study said, “If you want to clean cancer’s clock—that is, defeat it decisively—you may want to really clean it—that is, restore it to proper working order. Only cancer cells that remain active, in sympathy with the tick-tock of their internal circadian mechanisms, remain susceptible to cancer therapies. So, how might these circadian mechanisms be kept in motion? Sodium bicarbonate now promises to awaken cancer cells that have gone to sleep deep inside tumors, where oxygen deprivation and acidic conditions go hand in hand. By buffering against acidification sodium bicarbonate rescues circadian oscillation.”
15. Should I mix it with water? Maple Syrup? Black Molasses?
Though I have published about the folk formula using maple syrup I do not recommend that. I recommend either black strap molasses (because you don’t have to cook it and because of its rich mineral status) or just with mineral or distilled water. Most cancer patients will want to cut sugar from the diets to starve cancer of glucose but in some people, especially those dying from starvation, it might help last ditch efforts to save people’s lives.
16. Can sodium bicarbonate be used during my pregnancy?
This medication should be used only if clearly needed during pregnancy. Small amounts of sodium bicarbonate have been found to be present in breast milk. A little carbonation in all of one’s water is healthy and the same applies to pregnant women.
17. How do I give sodium bicarbonate to babies? How much?
Do not administer to children under age 5 without careful consideration and low dosages appropriate to each child.
18. How do you know if your body is low in bicarbonates?
Bicarbonate deficiency is the most unrecognized medical condition on earth even though it is extraordinarily common. Problems from acid pH levels (relative deficiency in bicarbonate ions) take a large toll from human physiology and the more acid a person gets, the larger the problem for cell physiology. Every biochemical reaction is pH sensitive with enzymes being especially sensitive. Our diet plays an important role in maintaining appropriate pH levels in the body.
Sodium Bicarbonate Iv Uses
19. Will taking bicarbonate in water help all types of pain?
Sodium Bicarbonate has attractive and potent analgesic qualities. Many people have found bicarbonate to be significant to relieve unrelenting headaches as well as pain relief due to physical injury. Within minutes headaches begin to subside and are often completely gone within 30-60 minutes.
Sodium bicarbonate can be used orally in doses of 1/2 tsp in 4 oz of water every two hours for pain relief as well as gastrointestinal upset, not to exceed 7 doses per day. That’s basically the receipt on every box of Arm and Hammers sold in every supermarket in the country.
20. How to use sodium bicarbonate for treating asthma?
The bronchial secretions during attack of bronchial asthma are acidic and the acidity imparts stickiness to the secretions. Sodium bicarbonate is an excellent choice for nebulization offering it’s powerful and instant pH changing effects. Dr. Tullio Simoncini recommends aerosol use of bicarbonate for lung and bronchial adenocarcinoma.
21. What is the Lemon Bicarbonate formula?
This simple formula will normalize many biological parameters, pH, ORP, phosphates, bicarbonates and antioxidants of vitamin C. It’s potential miracle water. One whole lemon freshly squeezed. Keep adding baking soda slowly bit by bit until the fizz stops. Then you will add water to one half glass. This is often taken twice a day. To be taken once in the morning and once before bedtime on an empty stomach. Lime can be substituted. Basically, this lemon/lime juice idea is also good for people who fear some sodium retention issues. Since the lemon is already high in potassium, adding the sodium to neutralize the acid along the way will also create a sodium potassium balance.
22. Will the sodium in sodium bicarbonate affect my blood pressure?
The Journal of Nutrition study found that the drinking of the sodium-rich mineral water did not lead to any increase in blood pressure. That said anyone will high blood pressure should constantly monitor when adding sodium bicarbonate.