The use of bicarb as a buffering agent in the blood purification process is an important part of successful dialysis for the millions of people who depend on this procedure.

FMC is also the leading producer of hydrogen peroxide for the antiseptic market. Our Super-D® grade of hydrogen peroxide is used in the preparation of products that are widely available in drug stores and supermarkets for the treatment of skin infections, cuts and abrasions.

Also, our full line of sodium, ammonium and potassium persulfates is an important part of hair care products available to the consumer markets. And our peracetic acid products are used in bulk pharmaceutical manufacturing.

Sodium bicarbonate is a natural antacid, due to its excellent buffering and acid neutralization characteristics. The ability to tabletize sodium bicarbonate makes it an excellent effervescent ingredient, not only in antacids, but also in denture cleaning products. Sodium bicarbonate is also found in some anti-plaque mouthwash products and toothpaste. Bicarb is used in toothpaste as a mild abrasive to remove acid forming plaque.

FMC's newest sodium bicarbonate grade is used for filtering blood in dialysis machines. When human kidneys fail, dialysis machines are used to remove contaminants and allow clean blood to pass. This filtering process can make the blood more acidic. Safe mild sodium bicarbonate acts as a buffer to lower blood acidity so it does not shock the patient when it reenters the blood stream.  To meet the stringent requirements of hemodialysis, FMC had to go beyond the specifications of existing pharmaceutical (USP) grades. The new grade (HEMO) features coarser powder sizes and tighter control over such contaminants as calcium, magnesium, copper, aluminum, and organics.