Where can I find Soidium Hydroxide in Riyadh

[Karen81]

Hi,

I know this is a long shot but I thought I would ask; I've recently moved out to Saudi and cannot find Lye anywhere. Everywhere I look has on,y about 75% sodium hydroxide and the rest is Sodium chloride (or something like that). I have searched on the Internet for where to buy it but it just comes up with warehouses etc that I wouldn't feel comfortable going to over here, especially as I haven't been here very long. Any help/advice would be greatly appreciated

Many thanks
Karen

 

[snappyllama]

Have you checked with any home improvement stores? In the plumbing section, look for drain cleaner, but you will need to make sure it is 100%. That's where most folks in other countries find it locally. If you don't see it, maybe they could order it for you??

 

[Karen81]

Hi,

Thank you, I'd forgotten about hardware stores, I'll give that a try. I've been going round all the supermarkets trying to find it and have been getting blank looks when I ask about it

 

[Seawolfe]

If the remaining percentage is just plain old salt, you could use the 75% lye, you would just have to adjust the recipe to use more of the lye - I know theres a simple mathematical equation, but its early and I haven't had my coffee. There might even be a lye calculator about that will accommodate 75% NaOH.

/me puts out the soap calculation signal for DeeAnna

 

[Saponista]

If the only other ingredient is sodium chloride and nothing harmful then you divide 100/75 (100% is the amount you want and 75% is what you have got) then times by the weight of lye soapcalc says you need.

Eg, if your batch needs 100g sodium hydroxide

100/75 = 1.33333

x 100 = 133.333

therefore you need to add 133.3g of the 75% mixture to your batch.

I think this is right using my limited maths skills but am happy to stand corrected!

If the other ingredient is sodium hypochlorite the do not use this under any circumstances.

 

[Karen81]

Thank you very much both of you, that's really helpful. I'm going to try and find some hardware stores just on the off chance that they will supply it, but if not then I'll give it a try what you have suggested as I really want to get making!