Sciencemadness Discussion Board

Extraction of sodium sulfate from powder detergent

Dr.Arz - 17-10-2014 at 19:13

I cannot find Na2SO4 from anywhere but I realized powder detergents contain a lot of it. But it also contains a lot of other stuff that must be removed. List of MSDS:

sodium sulfate
sodium carbonate
sodium silicate
zeolite
trideceth 3 and 8
sodium tallowate
Sodium acrylic acid polymer
Cellulose
Parfumes

Is it possible to isolate sodium sulfate from this pile of gunk? Most if all are soluble in water. And yes I know I can make sodium sulfate from sulfuric acid and sodium carbonate but I want to try to safe my acids for more important needs.

Texium - 17-10-2014 at 21:42

If you can get copper sulfate, you can use it and sodium carbonate to produce sodium sulfate and copper carbonate. Just use an excess of sodium carbonate and then add just enough sulfuric acid to the solution to neutralize it. You'll end up using a lot less acid, and you obtain two useful compounds.

Dr.Arz - 18-10-2014 at 00:03

Wow thanks! I thought some metathesis but didnt figure out any. Copper sulfate is very otc.

AJKOER - 6-11-2014 at 20:42

Add NaCl to a solution of Epsom salt (not too concentrated to avoid any possible double salt formation). Freeze and separate out Na2SO4(H2O)10.

Reaction:

MgSO4(aq) + 2NaCl = Na2SO4 + MgCl2

Some possible double salts upon employing a warm high viscosity (concentrated) solutions with an excess of MgSO4 and lots of stirring (to visibly increase the creation of a white salt as you stir):

Langbeinite Na2SO4•2MgSO4
Bloedite Na2SO4•MgSO4•4H2O
Blodite Na2SO4•MgSO4•7H2O

[Edited on 7-11-2014 by AJKOER]