Product Overview
Potassium Hydroxide (KOH) — also called caustic potash — is a strong inorganic base supplied here as a Technical Grade solid. CAS 1310-58-3. It dissociates completely in water, producing a highly alkaline solution that drives reactions across soap making, pH control, chemical synthesis, and battery manufacturing.
This listing is built for the industrial buyer who needs a dependable caustic potash source in practical quantities: from 2 lbs for bench work and small-batch soap making, up to 55 lbs for production-scale water treatment or continuous process chemistry. Technical Grade is the standard industrial procurement tier — a cost-effective solid KOH suited to processes where analytical-grade traceability is not the driving requirement.
Why This Grade
Technical Grade Potassium Hydroxide is the workhorse designation for industrial operations. It is the grade most commonly specified for pH adjustment in water and wastewater systems, large-batch saponification, and general chemical synthesis where the process itself — not the incoming reagent certificate — defines the product quality.
Choosing Technical Grade means you are optimizing on delivered cost per pound rather than paying for documentation overhead that your process does not require. If your application calls for tighter procurement controls — food-contact process lines, pharmaceutical intermediates, or analytical reference work — you would look for a grade explicitly designated and documented for that purpose. For soap production, cleaning-compound formulation, battery electrolyte preparation, and routine pH control, Technical Grade is the practical pick.
Because solid KOH is hygroscopic, storage discipline matters more than grade in many operations. A well-sealed Technical Grade drum in a dry warehouse will outperform a higher-grade product left open on a humid dock.
Chemical Profile
Potassium Hydroxide is supplied as an odorless white solid. When dissolved, it forms a clear aqueous solution that is strongly alkaline and corrosive to metals and tissue. The molecular formula is HKO with a molecular weight of 56.106 g/mol. Density of the dissolved product runs 1.45 to 1.50 at 68 °F. Solubility is high — 107 g per 100 cc of water at 59 °F — which means it dissolves readily even at moderate temperatures. Vapor pressure is negligible at ambient conditions (1 mmHg at 1326 °F), so off-gassing is not a practical handling concern at room temperature. The material is noncombustible. CAS Number: 1310-58-3.
Industrial Applications
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pH Adjustment — Water Treatment: KOH raises pH in acidic process water and municipal treatment streams. Operators favor it over sodium hydroxide when the potassium ion itself benefits downstream chemistry — for example, in systems where sodium loading is a concern. Dose is controlled by inline pH metering; the solid is typically dissolved to a working-strength solution on site.
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Soap Making — Saponification: Caustic potash is the defining reagent for liquid soap. Where sodium hydroxide produces bar soap, KOH produces the soft, water-soluble potassium salts of fatty acids that form liquid castile and process soaps. Technical Grade solid is the standard starting material for soap makers working at batch scale.
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Chemical Synthesis: As a strong, fully dissociating base, KOH drives neutralization reactions, catalyzes ester hydrolysis, and serves as a reactant in the production of potassium-containing compounds — potassium carbonate, potassium permanganate, potassium phosphates, and a range of organic potassium salts.
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Alkaline Battery Electrolyte: Concentrated KOH solution serves as the electrolyte in alkaline batteries. Its high ionic conductivity and stability under repeated charge–discharge cycles make it the standard electrolyte chemistry for this application.
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Food Processing — pH Control: KOH is used in certain food-processing operations for pH adjustment — for example, in cocoa alkalization (Dutch processing) and olive curing. Buyers sourcing KOH for food-contact processes should verify that the grade and documentation match their facility's requirements before use.
Handling & Storage
Potassium Hydroxide carries a Danger signal word (per the product's GHS classification). The governing hazard statements are:
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H290 — May be corrosive to metals (per the product's GHS classification)
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H302 — Harmful if swallowed (per the product's GHS classification)
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H314 — Causes severe skin burns and serious eye damage (per the product's GHS classification)
Wear chemical-resistant gloves, splash goggles, and a face shield when handling solid or dissolved KOH. Work in a ventilated area. The solid is strongly hygroscopic — it will absorb moisture from the air and can deliquesce if left exposed. Keep containers tightly sealed in a cool, dry location away from incompatible materials. Compatible container materials include HDPE and glass. Avoid aluminum and zinc containers or fittings; KOH attacks both metals and generates hydrogen gas in the process, which is a flammability hazard in enclosed spaces.
If the solid has absorbed moisture or caked, handle it as a concentrated caustic — the same PPE and spill-response procedures apply.
Hazmat & Shipping
Potassium Hydroxide is a regulated hazardous material for transport. The classification details:
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UN Number: UN1813 (per 49 CFR 172.101)
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Hazard Class: 8 — Corrosive (per 49 CFR 172.101)
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Packing Group: II (per 49 CFR 172.101)
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Proper Shipping Name: Potassium Hydroxide, solid (per 49 CFR 172.101)
Every outbound shipment is classified, marked, and documented to DOT hazmat standards. Shipping guidance on this page is reviewed by Andre Taki, DOT Hazmat Specialist.
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 also available, tying the material in your drum to the actual production lot. If you need either document before placing an order, contact us and we will send it.
Why Buy from Alliance Chemical
This Potassium Hydroxide listing covers the full practical range — 2 lbs for bench-scale soap making or lab prep, up to 55 lbs for production use — with SDS and lot-specific COA included. Every package ships DOT-classified and hazmat-documented out of our warehouse at 204 S Edmond St, Taylor, Texas 76574. Alliance Chemical has been distributing industrial and specialty chemicals since 1998, serving over 50,000 customers across the United States.
