Potassium hydroxide

Core Application Areas

1. Chemical Raw Materials

Potassium salt synthesis: It is the basic raw material for preparing various potassium compounds, such as potassium permanganate (KMnO₄), potassium carbonate (K₂CO₃), potassium nitrate (KNO₃), potassium phosphate, etc. These potassium salts are widely used in fertilizers, dyes, fireworks, and other fields;

Organic synthesis: As a strong base catalyst, it is used in dehalogenation, neutralization, condensation, and other reactions (e.g., synthesis of pharmaceutical intermediates, fragrances), or for preparing alkoxides (e.g., potassium tert-butoxide, a strong organic base reagent).

2. Daily Chemicals and Light Industry

Detergents and soaps: It reacts with oils and fats to produce "potassium soaps" (main components of liquid soaps and body washes). Since the solubility of potassium salts is better than that of sodium salts (sodium soaps generated by sodium hydroxide), it is more suitable for preparing liquid detergents;

Cosmetics: Used to adjust the pH of skin care products and shampoos (maintaining a weakly alkaline environment), or as a raw material for emulsifiers (e.g., potassium stearate) to enhance product stability.

3. Textile and Paper Industries

Textile refining: In the "desizing" and "scouring" processes of cotton and linen fabrics, it removes impurities in the fibers (such as oils, waxes, pectin). Its strong alkalinity is utilized to destroy organic structures, improving the water absorption and dyeability of the fabrics;

Papermaking: Used for the delignification treatment of pulp (alkaline cooking) or to adjust the pH of the pulp to improve paper strength.

4. Pharmaceuticals and Agriculture

Pharmaceutical industry: Used as a neutralizing agent to adjust pH during drug synthesis (e.g., production of antibiotics, vitamins), or for preparing medicinal potassium salts (e.g., potassium chloride oral solution to supplement electrolytes);

Agriculture: Used as a raw material for potassium fertilizers (e.g., potassium hydroxide reacts with phosphoric acid to generate monopotassium phosphate), or directly for improving acidic soils (neutralizing soil acidity and improving crop resistance).

5. Energy and Laboratory

Battery industry: Used as an electrolyte in alkaline batteries (e.g., dry cells, nickel-metal hydride batteries) (concentrated KOH solution), providing conductive ions (K⁺), and the alkaline environment can slow down electrode corrosion;

Laboratory uses: As a strong alkaline reagent, used for acid-base titration, sample digestion (e.g., determining nitrogen content in organic matter), absorption of acidic gases (e.g., CO₂, SO₂), etc.

CAS NO: 1310-58-3;71769-53-4

EC NO: 215-181-3

Molecular Formula: KOH

Molecular Weight: 57.113

Alias: Caustic Potash; Caustic Alkali; Potash;

Structure Formula: