Sodium sulfide is the chemical compound with the formula Na2S, or more commonly its hydrate Na2S·9H2O. Both are colorless water-soluble salts that give strongly alkaline solutions. When exposed to moist air, Na2S and its hydrates emit hydrogen sulfide, which smells like rotten eggs.
Sodium sulfide is used in the pulp and paper industry, water treatment, textile industry, and various chemical manufacturing processes including the production of rubber chemicals, sulfur dyes and oil recovery. Along with its hydrate form, sodium sulfide releases hydrogen sulfide (H2S) when in contact with moist air.
Sodium sulfide market size may exhibit growth of about 6.5% till 2024. The product finds extensive use as an assistant in sulfide dyeing, chemical fiber devulcanization, and as an ingredient for manufacturing organic chemicals. The product is also used in rubber, engineering plastics, pharmaceuticals, chemical cleansers, and food additive manufacturing which may accelerate Na2S market growth.
Another factor that drives the sodium sulfide market is rising use of sodium sulfide in pulp and paper industry during Kraft process for cooking of pulp. Moreover, use of sodium sulfide for removal of hair from hides during leather processing is expected to offer growing opportunity for it in tanning industry. Sodium Sulfide are the source of sodium that are moderately soluble in acid and water. These sulfides are the esters of the sulfuric acid that are formed by replacement of hydrogen atoms by metal (sodium).
Sodium sulfide finds widespread application in ore processing as it is used to produce ferrous (iron and steel) and non-ferrous (magnesium, copper, zinc, lead) metals particularly during the process of ore flotation. Sodium sulfide is especially important in copper mineral flotation. The manufacturing and construction industry in North America as well as Asia Pacific should fuel the demand for copper in the next decade or so.
Some of the key players in the global sodium sulfide market are PJ Chemicals, Athiappa Chemicals, Shaanxi Fuhua Chemical Co., Ltd., Sichuan Shenhong Chemical Industry Co., Ltd., Iran Sodium Sulphide Company, Sankyo Kasei, Hebei Xinji Chemical Group Co., Ltd., Solvay, Longfu Group, Nafine Group International Co., Ltd., and others