Potassium Hydroxide Flakes ACS Grade

Product Overview

Potassium Hydroxide Flakes ACS Grade is a white crystalline solid base with the chemical formula KOH. It is a highly soluble inorganic compound renowned for its strong alkaline properties, making it a critical reagent in chemical synthesis, pH control, and industrial processing. This ACS-grade product is validated to meet high-purity requirements, with typical assay around 98% and stringent impurity controls to minimize contaminants that could affect sensitive processes. Its low residue after ignition and controlled moisture sensitivity support reliable performance in laboratory and production environments, while its stable solid form simplifies handling and dosing in bulk operations.

The flakes are widely employed across water treatment, chemical manufacturing, electronics, and food processing to drive pH adjustments, base-mediated reactions, and electrolyte formulations. Quality attributes such as trace metal limits (e.g., iron, heavy metals) and chloride content are specified to align with industry standards (ACS Reagent Grade; USP-NF Monograph), ensuring consistency for critical applications. With a molecular weight of 56.11 g/mol and a density of approximately 0.85 g/mL at 25°C, the material presents predictable behavior in solution and well-characterized preparation routines for scaling and automation.

Key Properties

• Appearance: White crystalline flakes
• Odor: Odorless
• CAS: 1310-58-3
• Chemical Formula: KOH
• Molecular Weight: 56.11 g/mol
• Boiling Point: 1320°C
• Specific Gravity: 0.87 (20°C)
• Density (25°C): 0.85 g/mL
• Solubility: Soluble in water, ethanol, and glycerol
• Assay (min–max): 85–100% (typical 98%) by titration with standardized NaOH
• Color (APHA): Max 10 (typical 4) by APHA/Hazen
• Residue After Ignition: Max 0.05% (typical 0.01%)
• Chloride (Cl⁻): Max 0.5 ppm (typical 0.1 ppm)
• Nitrate (NO₃⁻): Max 1 ppm (typical 0.2 ppm)
• Ammonium (NH₄⁺): Max 1 ppm (typical 0.2 ppm)
• Sulfate (SO₄²⁻): Max 2 ppm (typical 0.5 ppm)
• Phosphate (PO₄³⁻): Max 1 ppm (typical 0.2 ppm)
• Arsenic (As): Max 0.01 ppm (typical 0.002 ppm)
• Heavy Metals (as Pb): Max 0.2 ppm (typical 0.05 ppm)
• Iron (Fe): Max 0.2 ppm (typical 0.05 ppm)
• Copper (Cu): Max 0.2 ppm (typical 0.05 ppm)
• Manganese (Mn): Max 0.5 ppm (typical 0.1 ppm)
• Nickel (Ni): Max 0.5 ppm (typical 0.1 ppm)
• Lead (Pb): Max 0.2 ppm (typical 0.05 ppm)
• Zinc (Zn): Max 0.5 ppm (typical 0.1 ppm)
• Aluminum (Al): Max 1 ppm (typical 0.2 ppm)
• Chromium (Cr): Max 0.5 ppm (typical 0.1 ppm)
• Cobalt (Co): Max 0.5 ppm (typical 0.1 ppm)
• Calcium (Ca): Max 40 ppm (typical 15 ppm)
• Magnesium (Mg): Max 40 ppm (typical 15 ppm)
• Potassium (K): Max 1 ppm (typical 0.3 ppm)
• Sodium (Na): Max 1 ppm (typical 0.3 ppm)

Common Applications

• Application Category: pH Adjustment — Water Treatment: Used to raise or stabilize pH to meet environmental discharge and process requirements in coagulation, disinfection, and taste/odor control schemes.
• Application Category: Chemical Synthesis — Chemical Manufacturing: Acts as a strong base for deprotonation, transesterifications, and various base-catalyzed reactions in batch and continuous processes.
• Application Category: Electrolyte in Batteries — Electronics: Employed as an electrolyte component in alkaline battery chemistries, contributing to ionic conductivity and performance consistency.
• Application Category: Food Processing — Food Industry: Utilized in controlled acidity adjustments in cocoa, chocolate, and other processed food applications where buffering is needed while maintaining safety profiles.
• Application Category: Laboratory Reagent — Research Laboratory: Standard reagent for analytical methods, titrations, and preparation of strong alkaline media for qualitative and quantitative assays.

Safety Precautions

Storage and handling should follow standard chemical hygiene practices. Store in a cool, dry place away from moisture and incompatible materials using HDPE or glass containers. Maintain adequate ventilation and use appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) such as chemical-resistant gloves, splash goggles, and a lab coat. Keep containers tightly closed when not in use and prevent exposure to acids or organic materials to avoid exothermic reactions.

In addition, follow SDS guidelines: the product is classified as a hazardous material with a DANGER signal word. It may cause severe skin burns and eye damage; use emergency showers and eye wash stations in proximity. In case of skin or eye contact, rinse immediately with copious water and seek medical attention. For inhalation or ingestion exposure, move to fresh air and seek medical care promptly; do not induce vomiting unless directed by medical personnel. Transportation conforms to UN 1814, Potassium hydroxide solution, Class 8, PG II.

Benefits

✔ ACS Grade Purity – Meets ACS Reagent Grade and USP-NF monograph standards for high-purity potassium hydroxide, ensuring reliable performance in critical applications.
✔ Low Impurity Profile – Stringent limits on chloride, metals, and anions minimize contamination risks in sensitive processes.
✔ Consistent Quality – Verified assay, specific gravity, and residue-after-ignition parameters support reproducibility in formulation and processing.
✔ Wide Compatibility – Highly soluble in water, ethanol, and glycerol, enabling flexible use across laboratories, plants, and field operations.