The current COVID-19 Coronavirus pandemic has rocked the world in recent months. Many industries have been changed or transformed by the pandemic - and the chemicals supply industry is no exception.  Indeed, the chemicals supply industry has seen a key change in the demand for various stock during the public efforts to manage the pandemic. One of the key ways in which the virus is being controlled is through a greater public emphasis and awareness on regular vigorous hand washing, currently advised by government legislation to be both often and last for a duration of minimum twenty seconds at a time. As a result, the demand for handwash, hand sanitizers and soap has skyrocketed during the pandemic, both at a commercial scale and an industrial scale, as manufacturers struggle to keep up with demand.  

The products which have seen a marked uptick in market demand are the cleaning chemicals associated with producing antibacterial handwash and hand sanitiser. These are: 

 

Lactic Acid

 

Lactic Acid, is also sometimes known as Milk Acid, and is used in both  the Cosmetic and Detergent industries as well as Food and Pharmaceutical industries. It is also used as a polymer precursor. Norkem is able to offer grades for both Pharmaceutical and Technical solutions, in various strengths and in 1,000 litre IBC's or bulk road tankers, with custom packaging available if required. Demand for Lactic Acid today, in some cases, has increased from 5 x IBCs a year to 5 x IBCs per week during the pandemic. Norkem is able to continue supplying Lactic Acid to manufacturers during this crisis. To find out more about our Lactic Acid supplies, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us. 

 

 

Trisodium Citrate

 

Trisodium Citrate has uses in the Food, Medical and Cleaning sectors. In the latter, as in its application in cleaning products, it has been found to be a highly effective agent in removing carbonate scale from kettles and in the cleaning of automobile radiators. Trisodium Citrate is also used in detergents for cleaning clothes as well as dishwasher tablets, and is both a pH regulator and water softener. Norkem can supply Trisodium Citrate at 10:40 mesh, in addition to the more commonly-used 30:100 mesh. This product is available in both 25 kilo and 1000 kilo nett big bags, with custom packaging if required. If you would like to find out more about our supplies and stock of Trisodium Citrate, you can enquire here. 

 

Citric Acid

 

Citric Acid is a weak organic acid, which is used in the Food and Drink industries as well as the Cleaning sector. Citric acid can also be used in detergents, pharmaceuticals and biotechnology. Norkem is able to supply the following grades of Citric Acid:  Anhydrous with a standard mesh size of 10-40 or 40-100; monohydrate with a standard mesh size of 8-80; or a solution in varying strengths from 20% up to 50%. The material is available in 25 kilo and 1000 kilo nett big bags for solid, as well as 1,000 litre IBC's or bulk road tankers for solution. If you need Citric Acid during this period, Norkem continues to have a strong supply link and will be able to meet your needs - enquire here. 

 

 

Xanthan Gum

 

Xanthan Gum is a gelling and thickening agent used in a range of industries, including food, pet food, homecare, oil drilling and cosmetic industries. Xanthan gum is created from simple sugars using a batch fermentation process, and is used most commonly in the household toiletries industry as a gelling agent for soaps.  As well as helping to bind ingredients together, Xanthan Gum has excellent water retention which gives it good skin hydration properties, perfect for use in soaps and shampoos to produce that much sought-after lather. If you are interested in purchasing Xanthan Gum supplies, you can enquire on this page. 

 

 

Copper Carbonate

 

Finally, Copper Carbonate is a blue-green compound, which is mainly used to produce wood preservatives, catalysts and pigments. Copper Carbonate is being used primarily today in the production of mask filters, which filter the air that we breathe in through their insertion in face masks and face coverings. These are in high demand during the COVID-19 crisis, which is why global stocks of Copper Carbonate have run low. Norkem, however, is able to continue providing both dry and damped products, with different bulk densities to suit your requirements.The material is also available in 25 kilo, 1,000 kilo or 1,200 kilo nett bulk bags.

 

 

If you require any of the above to continue your supply chain, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us. Norkem stocks all of the above products, and is working hard to keep supply undisrupted for key industries including healthcare and pharmaceuticals during these turbulent times.