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) for example features coarser powder sizes and tighter control over such contaminants as calcium, magnesium, copper, aluminum, and organics.

FMC brings many strengths to its customers in this market. FMC has a long term commitment to the business and is back-integrated into two important raw materials for sodium bicarbonate production; soda ash and carbon dioxide. This level of integration assures you as our customers of stable capacity to meet your needs today and tomorrow. Also this integration provides a the level of control to insure the sodium bicarbonate products produced by FMC are of the highest quality.