Lye – Uses and Benefits of Sodium Hydroxide

Having become an incredibly versatile and useful ingredient in everything from food preparation to drain cleaning, it’s no wonder that the world produced 60 million metric tons of sodium hydroxide in 2004. A brief overview of the many uses include:

Food – It can be used to wash or chemically peel fruits and vegetables. Furthermore, it is often used to soften foods like olives or baked goods.

Cleaning – In liquid form, it is used to de-clog drains, dissolve metals and strip paint off a surface. It can also be used to de-grease stainless steel and glass bake ware.

Hair – In liquid form, it is mixed with other ingredients to create a hair straightening substance (often referred to as a “relaxer”).

Tissue – It is often used to dissolve tissue, specifically to break down the tissue of dead animals in carcass removal.

Paper – It is a key ingredient in the creation of paper from wood pulp.

Soap – Typically for cold-process soap making, lye is essential. It can also be used in hot-process soap making when mixed with the appropriate fat and oils. Caustic soda (lye) creates a chemical reaction known as saponificiation. This process is what breaks down the oils and turns them into soap.