1. Product Description: Sodium sulphide is widely used in the leather industry for removing hairs from hides and skins. The product also finds extensive use or application in the textile industry as well as in the synthesis of sulphur dies and reduction of amino compounds. Sodium sulphide is also used in the paper industry, lithography and engraving manufacture of sulphur black dies. It is flammable, dangerous, fire risk, strong irritant to skin and tissues.
2. Rationale: Two major potential sources of industrial development in the Amhara Region are the leather and textiles industries. The livestock and cotton resources of the Region can generate enough output which can be converted to different industrial products thereby enhancing the industrial development of the Region. Even now, the main industrial outputs of the region are textiles and semi-processed leather. There is also a potential to develop a paper industry for the Region’s consumption using the Region’s natural resources. For the existing as well as for future textile, leather and paper factories, the presence of sodium sulphide plant in the Region will be necessary.
3. Potential Market: The textile, paper and leather industries of the county use imported sodium sulphide for their operations. Every year a substantial amount of foreign exchange resource is spent for importing this product. The two branches of manufacturing-textile and leather have the highest potential for development in the country. To enhance the development of these and the paper industry, domestic production of sodium sulphide is necessary. The existing demand for sodium sulphide in the country is more than sufficient to absorb the production of a medium size sodium sulphide making plant.
4. Source of Raw Material: Sodium sulphide can be manufactured from (a) caustic soda and sulphur (b) barytes and soda ash and (c) sodium sulphite and coal. Of these groups of inputs, soda ash, coal and sulphur are found in our country in their natural state. Caustic soda is being produced by a plant in Oromia Region. Hence, it is possible to obtain the major raw materials for sodium sulphide from domestic sources.
5. Process & Technology: The process described here is based on sodium sulphate and coal as inputs. In the ratio of 2:1, sodium sulphete and coal are mixed together thoroughly and pulverized properly. The mixture is transferred to a reverberate furnace. At about 1000oc, sodium sulphate is reduced to sodium sulphide and carbon-non-oxide, which again reacts with the remaining molecule of sodium sulphate to give sodium sulphide and carbon di-oxide. The material is now transferred into cooling bogies. After cooling it is crushed in a jaw crusher and then transferred to leaching tanks containing hot water. After leaching the clear liquid is run into evaporators. Then the material is crystallized to get yellowish brown crystals. Plant and machinery needed include disintegrator with all accessories including 7.5 H.P motor, jaw crusher with 7.5 H.P motor, evaporators (steam heated), reverbratory furnace with chimney and other accessories, M.S trolley settling M.S thank, leaching tanks, tube-well for water with pump overhead tank and pipe fittings, steam boiler with accessories, fire extinguishers…., tools and equipment.
6. Estimated Investment: For a plant that will produce 1 metric ton of sodium per day, the estimated investment will be as follows.
§ Building/Shade 300m2 at Birr 1500/m2 = Birr 450,000
§ Machinery = Birr 700,000
§ Working Capital = Birr 200,000
1,350,000
7. Benefits: Stimulates the development of the textile, leather and paper industries in the Region, saves foreign exchange and regional financial sources, introduces new skills and technology, and utilizes natural resources of the Region.
8. Location: Near major raw material center or major consumption center of the product