Sodium bicarbonate may be obtained very cheaply from the base of the Solvay tower, after the removal of the ammonium chloride. This process seeks to utilize the bicarbonate by treating it with chlorine to form sodium chlorate. The reaction between chlorine and sodium bi-carbonate at the proper temperature forms sodium chlorate and sodium chloride. The chlorate is recovered from the liquor by virtue of the difference in solubility between sodium chlorate and sodium chloride in the hot and cold. The salt and carbon dioxide are again used in the soda process
