How to Buy Sodium Bicarbonate: Grades, Specs and COA
Sodium bicarbonate (CAS 144-55-8, NaHCO3) is a commodity, so buying well is mostly about choosing the right grade and buying against a clear specification and certificate, not about brand. This guide sets out what to fix before you request a quotation.
1. Choose the grade for the end use
| Grade | Choose when | Key controls |
|---|---|---|
| Food grade (E500) | Baking, beverages, food, effervescent | Arsenic 0.0001% max; heavy metals 0.0005% max; whiteness; clarity |
| Feed grade | Animal feed, rumen buffering | Feed-safety metal limits |
| Technical / industrial | Flue-gas, water treatment, cleaning | Assay and form; less stringent metals |
Grade is the first decision: a technical-grade material is not interchangeable with food grade in a food or feed application. State the grade you need on the enquiry.
2. Buy against a specification
Use a written specification and check it on the COA. The parameters below are the ones that matter.
| Parameter | What to look for |
|---|---|
| Content (as NaHCO3) | 99% min for food grade |
| Chloride (Cl) | 0.4% max (residual salt) |
| Arsenic / heavy metals | 0.0001% / 0.0005% max (food safety) |
| Loss on drying | 0.20% max (moisture) |
| pH value | 8.5 max |
| Whiteness / clarity | 85 min / pass (appearance) |
For non-food uses, agree the assay and the physical form (powder or granular) rather than a full food-grade spec.
3. Physical form and particle size
Sodium bicarbonate is supplied as a powder or as granules of different particle sizes. Form matters for flow, dust and dissolution: granular material flows and handles better and is common for bulk dosing (for example dry injection), while powder dissolves and blends faster. Agree the form and, if it matters, the particle size on the order.
4. Packaging and documentation
| Item | Standard |
|---|---|
| Packaging | 25 kg PP/PE bags; 1000 kg jumbo bags; palletised for containers |
| Documentation | Per-batch COA and SDS; other certificates on request |
| Incoterms | FOB and CIF |
| Storage | Sealed, dry and cool; keep away from acids |
For export, ask for the COA of the actual batch and confirm the packing that suits your unloading (bags vs jumbo bags) – it changes the delivered cost per tonne.
5. What drives the price
Bicarbonate is a commodity: price tracks soda-ash feedstock, carbon dioxide, energy, packaging and freight. Committed tonnage and full container loads give the best terms; part loads cost more per tonne. Because the material is bulky and non-hazardous, freight – not the chemical – often decides the delivered cost.
6. A short enquiry checklist
- Product and grade (food / feed / technical) and CAS 144-55-8.
- Specification or the key parameters you must meet.
- Physical form and particle size.
- Packaging and palletisation, and the delivery port.
- Tonnage and required Incoterm (FOB / CIF).
- Documents needed (COA, SDS, others).
Frequently Asked Questions
What grade should I buy for food use?
Food grade to a specification with arsenic 0.0001% max and heavy metals 0.0005% max; it carries the E500(ii) designation.
Do you provide a COA per batch?
Yes – a certificate of analysis for each batch, plus an SDS, is available.
What is the minimum order?
We quote on tonnage and delivery basis; contact us with your requirement and port.
Can I get samples?
Ask us – sample arrangements depend on the grade and destination.
How do you pack for export?
Typically 25 kg bags or 1000 kg jumbo bags, palletised for container shipment.
Related reading
- Sodium bicarbonate (CAS 144-55-8): properties, production and applications
- Sodium bicarbonate in food and baking
- Sodium bicarbonate in animal feed
- Sodium bicarbonate vs sodium carbonate
- Sodium bicarbonate (CAS 144-55-8) – product page
PolyBlueChem supplies food-grade sodium bicarbonate (CAS 144-55-8) with per-batch COA and SDS, competitive pricing on bulk volumes and FOB/CIF delivery. Contact us with your grade, tonnage and delivery port.