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Natural Soda

Natural Soda produces pure natural sodium bicarbonate from its extensive nahcolite leases which cover more than 9,400 acres.  Our processing facility is located about 54 miles northwest of Rifle, Colorado, in an area known as the Piceance Creek Basin.  Nahcolite deposits, nestled 1,900 feet below ground, are a naturally-occurring form of pure sodium bicarbonate.  The recovery of this natural sodium bicarbonate uses the simple process of injecting hot water into the nahcolite beds, dissolving the nahcolite which is subsequently extracted as pure sodium bicarbonate crystals as the hot brine is cooled.

The Piceance Creek Basin contains North America’s only known significant deposit of nahcolite and is the only commercially significant resource.  For customers and distributors, this means our recovered nahcolite guarantees you a pure and reliable source of natural sodium bicarbonate.

Natural Soda, with its access to this world-class natural resource, has become a major producer of sodium bicarbonate products to the food, pharmaceutical, industrial and animal feed markets.

Natural Soda is committed to providing our customers and distributors with superior customer service.

As a member of the Chemical Manufacturers Association, Natural Soda produces pure, high quality product while ensuring the health and safety of our workforce and the protection of the environment.

History

The company was founded in 1990 as NaTec Resources. In 1992 North American Chemical Company acquired 50 percent of NaTec's interest in the project, creating White River Nahcolite Minerals, Ltd. In 2003 Ameralia, Inc. partnered with The Sentient Group, an experienced international resource investment company, to acquire the company from IMC Global, the acquisition occurring through Ameralia’s subsidiary, Natural Soda, Inc. (Natural Soda). Ameralia’s partner in this venture brings a wealth of experience in resource management and its team has accumulated experience through a history of investing in sodium based minerals businesses.

Natural Soda's plant was completed in 1991 and began production that same year. It was designed to produce 125,000 tons annually from inception, but it was some years, following a continuous improvement process, before this full capability was achieved.  The spirit that encouraged the original development of the facility remains, and today Natural Soda’s commitment to continuous improvement can be seen in its focus on enhancing product quality and attention to customer service to reflect changing market requirements and customer needs.

Process

Natural Soda recovers sodium bicarbonate using a process known as solution mining.  This involves pumping hot water approximately 1900 feet underground to dissolve the underlying nahcolite beds and return the saturated liquor to the surface.  By reducing the temperature of the liquor, sodium bicarbonate is crystallized in solution.  Excess water is then removed by high speed centrifuging (spin drying).  The resultant damp crystal mass is further dried, screened and packed in accordance with industry designated specifications, while maintaining stringent quality accreditation standards.  Product is packaged in 50 lb./25kg bags, 1 ton/metric ton "supersacks," or in bulk, and is transport to our customers by truck or rail.  At our present facility, Natural Soda is capable of reliably producing 125,000 tons of sodium bicarbonate per year.

Product Summary

Natural Soda can produce five U.S. Pharmacopoeia (USP) grades of sodium bicarbonate in addition to both industrial and animal feed grades.  We supply most of our products throughout the United States, Canada and Mexico.

In the food and pharmaceutical industries, sodium bicarbonate uses include baking products and baking product premixes, personal care products, including dental products, toothpaste and antacid tablets.  Household product applications include deodorizers, cleaning products, detergents, carpet cleaners and bath salts.

Industrial uses include leather tanning, fire retardation, soda blast media, waste water treatment and flue gas emission control (flue gas desulphurization and hydrogen chloride reduction).