Soda Ash
Mobile handling for light and dense soda ash across natural brine, synthetic plants and terminals.
SANTO supplies mobile conveying, stacking and loading equipment engineered for soda ash — from receiving and stockpiling to reclaim and load-out. The notes below cover the properties that matter, the problems that typically appear on site and the machines we recommend.
Why Mobile Conveying Suits Soda Ash
Soda ash (sodium carbonate) is a fine, free-flowing powder of bulk density 0.5–1.1 t/m³ that is alkaline and dusts heavily. The radial telescopic stockpiler trims the pile with low drop and enclosed chutes that contain the alkaline dust.
- Enclosed transfer contains alkaline, airborne dust
- Low-drop telescopic trimming limits aeration
- Sealed bearings resist alkaline attack
- Mobile units serve calciner, silo and shipload
- Clean changeover protects food/glass-grade ash
Physical Properties and Handling Behaviour
The table below summarises the properties that decide belt specification, chute geometry and stacking method for this material. Values are typical ranges — actual figures vary with source and moisture content, so we test your sample before finalising a design.
| Property | Typical Value / Handling Impact |
|---|---|
| Bulk density | 0.5–1.1 t/m³ (light to dense grade) |
| Particle size | Predominantly < 0.5 mm powder |
| Abrasiveness | Moderate; erodes seals, alkaline |
| Angle of repose | Very steep; floods when aerated |
| Handling note | Fully enclose; control aeration and alkaline dust |
Handling Challenges with Soda Ash — and How SANTO Solves Them
Soda ash is flour-fine and alkaline, aerating into a flooding, dust-laden cloud that attacks seals and breaches permits. Grade purity matters for glass and food uses.
SANTO radial telescopic stockpilers and conveyors use fully enclosed transfer, sealed alkaline-resistant bearings and low-drop trimming to move ash cleanly. The mobile train links calciner, silo and ship without fixed infrastructure.
- Fully enclose transfer to contain alkaline dust
- Use sealed, alkaline-resistant bearings
- Keep drop low to avoid aeration and flooding
Recommended SANTO Equipment
For soda ash we most often supply the machines listed below. Each can be configured with the belt width, boom length and drive power your tonnage requires, and each is available on wheeled, tracked or crawler chassis.
- Radial Telescopic Stockpiler — configured for soda ash duty
- Tracked Radial Stacker — configured for soda ash duty
- Mobile Ship Loader — configured for soda ash duty
- Feeder Track Stacker — configured for soda ash duty
Typical Stockpiling and Loading Setups
A well-planned soda ash yard keeps receiving, stacking and reclaiming on separate paths so trucks never queue behind a loader. In the most common layout, a mobile conveyor receives from the tipper or hopper and feeds a radial telescopic stacker that builds a layered stockpile, while a second conveyor reclaims to the loading point.
- Receiving: hopper or direct truck discharge into a mobile conveyor
- Stacking: radial or telescopic stacking to build layered, drainable stockpiles
- Reclaim: front-end loader feeding a mobile conveyor, or direct reclaim conveyor
- Load-out: conveyor to truck, wagon, barge or vessel hold
Frequently Asked Questions
How is soda ash dust contained?
Fully enclosed transfer, sealed bearings and low-drop trimming keep the fine alkaline powder from becoming an airborne cloud.
Why avoid aeration?
Aerated soda ash floods and flushes uncontrollably; gentle, low-turbulence feed keeps it manageable.
Can the same system serve ship loading?
Yes. The mobile train links calciner, silo and shipload with clean changeover protecting grade purity.
Need the right machine for your site?
Send us your material, required capacity and site layout. SANTO engineers will size the equipment and return a configuration proposal within 12 hours — no obligation.