POTASSIUM HYDROXIDE/ KOH

Potassium hydroxide 48 % solution, 90 % flake

Component in the production of potassium carbonate (K2CO3), rubber, soap, pharmaceuticals and food.

TRADE NAME : Caustic Potash Solution

CHEMICAL FORMULA : KOH

PRODUCT SPECIFICATION
ITEM          UNIT        SPECIFICATION
KOH            % w/w     40-48.0 min.
K2CO3         % w/w    0.2 max.
KCI              % w/w    0.01 max.
Fe2O3          % w/w    0.001 max.

APPLICATION

Caustic Potash solution is a raw material which is utilised in the soap manufacture, bleaching, manufacture of potassium carbonate and tetrapotassium pyrophosphate, electrolyte in alkaline storage batteries and some fuel cells, absorbent for carbon dioxide and hydrogen sulfide, dyestuffs, liquid fertilizers, food additive, herbicides, electroplating, mercerizing, paint removers.

KOH has mainly industrial uses. On a global level the main uses are (Occidental Chem. Corp., 2000):

• Potassium carbonate: 26 % 
• Chemical manufacturing: 16 % 
• Potassium chemicals: 12 % 
• Fertilizers: 11 %
• Phosphates: 9 % 
• Detergents: 8 % 
• Agricultural chemicals: 7 % 
• Alkaline batteries: 6 %
• All other: 5 %.

More than 95% of the KOH production is for non dispersive use, and is consumed by the industry, mainly by large enterprises. KOH is used in these applications as an intermediate and do not leave the plant where it is used. In these applications, KOH is consumed in a reaction and is no more present in the product that goes to the market. KOH is still present in the alkaline batteries, but here this substance is strictly confined in the battery screening and doesn’t come in contact with the consumer.

Less than 5% of the KOH production is for wide dispersive use and enters in the composition of consumer products (eventually to be consumed in small enterprises like garages or farms): paint and varnish removers (ICCA-HPV KOH Consortium, 2001), drain cleaners (Howell, 1991; Leape et al., 1971), degreasing agents (Swanson et al., 1995) and dairy pipeline cleaners (Edmonson, 1987).

Potassium hydroxide is a food additive, listed as E525 in Annex 1 of Directive 95/2/EU. This means that KOH is a general food additive to be used following the “quantum satis” principle: as much as necessary according to GMP (European Union, 1995).

STORAGE CONDITION

Store in a cool, dry, well ventilated area. Store away from incompatible
materials such as strong acids, mitroaromatic, nitroparaffinic
or organohalogen compounds.

STANDARD PACKAGING

Plastic drum 300 kg for solution
25 kg/zak for flake 90 %

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