Product Overview
Potassium Hydroxide Flakes ACS Grade is a solid, strongly alkaline inorganic compound used across industrial and laboratory operations wherever a concentrated caustic potash source is needed. Shipped as dry flakes under CAS 1310-58-3, this form dissolves readily in water, generating significant heat — a property that matters for dosing and dissolution planning in water treatment, chemical synthesis, and analytical work. Available from Alliance Chemical in sizes from 2 lbs for bench-scale work through 55 lbs for production volumes.
Why This Grade
ACS Grade is the procurement designation that laboratories, QC departments, and controlled-process operations typically specify when analytical consistency matters. Buyers ordering ACS Grade potassium hydroxide flakes are selecting a tier recognized in research, analytical chemistry, and manufacturing workflows that call for higher purity than a technical or industrial grade — though the grade label itself does not constitute a certification or guarantee of conformance to a specific standard. Confirm suitability for your application by reviewing the product's Certificate of Analysis and Technical Data Sheet.
The flake form offers practical advantages for operators: flakes dissolve quickly with controlled addition, resist bridging in hoppers, and ship as a solid — simplifying the DOT classification under the "solid" proper shipping name. For high-volume caustic applications where analytical-tier purity is unnecessary, a technical grade may be more cost-effective.
Chemical Profile
Potassium hydroxide (formula KOH, molecular weight 56.106 g/mol, CAS 1310-58-3) is a solid, odorless material supplied here in flake form. The solid has a density of 1.45 to 1.50 at 68 °F and dissolves readily in water, with a solubility of 107 g/100 cc at 59 °F. Vapor pressure is negligible under normal handling conditions, reaching only 1 mmHg at 1326 °F. These properties make KOH flakes straightforward to weigh, transfer, and dissolve in process vessels, though the strongly exothermic dissolution demands controlled addition rates and adequate cooling in the receiving vessel.
Industrial Applications
Potassium hydroxide flakes serve a range of industrial and laboratory processes. The common thread is a need for a strong, highly soluble base that introduces potassium rather than sodium ions.
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pH Adjustment — Water Treatment: KOH flakes are dissolved into process water or wastewater streams to raise pH. Because potassium hydroxide is fully soluble and leaves no calcium-based scale residues, it is preferred over lime in systems where downstream fouling is a concern. Operators typically prepare a stock solution at a known concentration, then meter it into the treatment train.
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Chemical Synthesis: Caustic potash serves as a strong base in synthesis reactions including biodiesel production (transesterification) and soap manufacturing — where KOH produces soft or liquid soaps, distinct from the bar soaps made with sodium hydroxide. The flake form allows precise weighing for stoichiometric calculations in batch reactors.
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Electrolyte in Alkaline Batteries: KOH in aqueous solution functions as the electrolyte in alkaline battery cells. Its high ionic conductivity supports efficient charge transfer between electrodes.
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Laboratory Reagent: In analytical and research settings, potassium hydroxide flakes are dissolved to prepare titration standards, glassware cleaning solutions (KOH/isopropanol baths), and reagent solutions for qualitative and quantitative analysis.
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Food Processing: KOH is used in food manufacturing for steps such as cocoa alkalization (Dutch processing), olive curing, and soft pretzel preparation. The ACS Grade designation alone does not certify fitness for food-contact use — buyers with food-grade requirements should confirm suitability with their quality and regulatory teams and review the product documentation.
Handling & Storage
Signal word: Danger (per the product's GHS classification). This product carries the following hazard statements (per the product's GHS classification):
- H290 — May be corrosive to metals
- H302 — Harmful if swallowed
- H314 — Causes severe skin burns and serious eye damage
Store KOH flakes in a cool, dry location, tightly sealed against moisture. This material is hygroscopic — it will absorb water from ambient air, eventually forming a caustic film on the flake surfaces that degrades purity and creates a handling hazard. Use HDPE containers or other alkali-compatible materials; glass is acceptable for laboratory quantities. Keep away from acids (violent exothermic neutralization), and from aluminum, zinc, and tin, which generate hydrogen gas on contact with strong bases.
Wear chemical-splash goggles, face shield, and chemical-resistant gloves (neoprene or nitrile) during transfer. Ensure ventilation adequate for dust control when handling dry flakes — fine KOH dust is corrosive to the respiratory tract.
Hazmat & Shipping
Potassium hydroxide flakes are regulated for transport as a Class 8 corrosive. The full DOT classification:
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UN Number: UN1813 (per 49 CFR 172.101)
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Proper Shipping Name: Potassium Hydroxide, solid (per 49 CFR 172.101)
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Hazard Class: 8 (per 49 CFR 172.101)
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Packing Group: II (per 49 CFR 172.101)
All outbound shipments from our Taylor, TX facility include compliant shipping papers, DOT-required labeling, and packaging rated for Packing Group II corrosives. Our warehouse team handles Class 8 shipments daily.
Documentation
A Safety Data Sheet (SDS) ships with every order, available in English, Spanish, French, and Japanese. A lot-specific Certificate of Analysis (COA) is available on request so buyers can verify the specific lot against their incoming-material specifications. A Technical Data Sheet (TDS) is also available for this product.
Why Buy from Alliance Chemical
This product ships in pack sizes from 2 lbs to 55 lbs with full DOT-compliant hazmat documentation — shipping papers, proper packaging, and labeling for UN1813 Class 8 corrosives included with every order. Alliance Chemical has served over 50,000 customers since 1998, operating from our warehouse in Taylor, Texas. Shipping and handling guidance for this product is reviewed by Andre Taki, DOT Hazmat Specialist.
