There are three main industrial methods for producing sodium sulfide:
Reduction of Sodium Sulfate with Coal
Reaction of Hydrogen Sulfide with Sodium Hydroxide (Caustic Soda)
Electrolysis of Sodium Chloride and Reaction of Sodium Amalgam with Sulfur
The choice of production method depends on factors such as availability of raw materials, process type, product quality, reaction efficiency, and economic feasibility.
1. Reduction of Sodium Sulfate with Coal
This method uses sodium sulfate and coal as the primary raw materials. These are mixed in a 2:1 ratio, and approximately 5% sodium carbonate (Na₂CO₃) is added to:
Accelerate the reaction process
Neutralize any free acid in the mixture
The blend is placed in a reverberatory furnace at 1000°C for about 2 to 2.5 hours to complete the reduction reaction.
The resulting product, known as black ash, is cooled, crushed, and washed multiple times with hot water. The sodium sulfide is then extracted at around 50°C.
This method yields yellow to light brown sodium sulfide. If white crystalline sodium sulfide is desired, 0.5% sodium cyanide (NaCN) can be added to the solution before crystallization.
2. Reaction of Hydrogen Sulfide with Sodium Hydroxide
In this process, 38% sodium hydroxide solution is injected into a tower where it reacts with hydrogen sulfide gas (H₂S). The initial product formed is sodium hydrosulfide (NaHS).
Reaction conditions:
Temperature: 50°C
Pressure: 3 atm
This intermediate (NaHS) can either be:
Collected, concentrated, and sold as a separate product
Or further reacted with additional sodium hydroxide to form sodium sulfide
Final Processing into Flake Sodium Sulfide
The resulting sodium sulfide solution is passed through evaporators to remove vapor. The concentrate is then pumped into a cooling drum where it forms a layer on a cold-water-cooled cylinder.
As the sodium sulfide cools and crystallizes on the cylinder surface, a blade scrapes it off into thin flakes. These flakes are then sent to the flake cutting machine, packaged into 25–50 kg bags, and stored in the warehouse.