Potassium hydroxide
General Product Information
| Article | Potassium hydroxide |
| Synonyms | Caustic potash, Potash lye, Potassia, Potassium hydrate |
| CAS No. | 1310-58-3 |
| EEG No. | 019-002-00-8 |
| EINECS No. | 215-181-3 |
| IMO | Class 8 (C). |
| Tariff Code | 281520 |
| UN No. | 1813 |
| VLG/ADR | Class 8, Packing Group II |
Description
Potassium hydroxide is an inorganic compound that meets strict specifications for pharmaceutical use. It is a strongly basic compound, often in the form of granules or a solution, that is widely used in industrial, chemical and pharmaceutical processes. Potassium hydroxide has a wide range of Applications, from the production of soaps and detergents to neutralizing acids and producing potassium compounds in the Chemical Industry.
Characteristics
- Grade: Pharmaceutical.
- BP Grade: High purity and meets stricter standards for solvent residues and other contaminants.
- High purity: Meets pharmaceutical requirements for use in medicinal applications.
- Strongly basic
- Corrosive: Potassium hydroxide is corrosive and can cause severe chemical burns at contact with skin or eyes. It should be handled only with appropriate safety precautions, such as wearing protective gloves, eye protection and appropriate clothing.
Physical & Chemical Properties
| Chemical Structure | KOH |
| Molar Weight | 56.11 g/mol |
| Melting Point | 360 °C |
| Boiling Point | – |
| Solubility | Highly soluble in water; the solution is highly exothermic (produces a lot of heat). |
| Density | 2.12 g/cm³ (at 20 °C) |
| pH | Solutions of potassium hydroxide in water are strongly basic with a pH typically between 12 and 14. |
| Color | White (in granular form) |
| Shape | Pellet or Liquid |
Applications
Potassium hydroxide is applied in various ways, for instance:
1. Pharmaceutical Industry
It is used in the production of pharmaceuticals, for example at the preparation of soaps and as a neutralizer in medicines. It is also used in the manufacture of potassium salts, such as potassium bromide and potassium iodide, which are used in various drugs.
2. Cleaning & detergents
Potassium hydroxide is used at the production of soap and other cleaning agents because of its ability to saponify fats.
3. Food Industry
In the food industry, potassium hydroxide is sometimes used for food processing, such as producing certain additives or dissolving fats and oils.
4. Chemical Industry
Potassium hydroxide is widely used in the Chemical Industry for the production of potassium soaps, in the mineral oil industry for deacidifying oil and at the production of potassium carbonates and other potassium compounds.
Interessing Links
- British Pharmacopoeia (BP) of the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA)
- Codex Alimentarius (FAO/WHO) – Guidelines and standards for food additives and food ingredients.
- European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) – For chemical information and regulations.
- European Food Information Council (EFIC) – Food facts for healthy choices.
- European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) – Information about safety and application of food additives.
- European Pharmacopoeia (EP) of the European Directorate for the Quality of Medicines & HealthCare.
- PubChem – Potassium Hydroxide of the National Library of Medicine by the National Center for Biotechnology Information.
- U.S. Pharmacopoeia (USP)
- Wikipedia – Potassium hydroxide