It is used in the production of soap, synthetic detergent, synthetic fatty acid and the refining of animal and vegetable oils. It is used as a desizing agent, scouring agent and mercerizing agent for cotton cloth in the textile printing and dyeing industry. It is used in the petroleum industry for chemicalbook refining of petroleum products and in oil field drilling mud. It is also used in the production of alumina, surface treatment of metallic zinc and metallic copper, as well as in glass, leather making, medicine, dyes and pesticides.