Potassium hydroxide is an inorganic compound with the chemical formula KOH. It is a common inorganic base and is highly alkaline. The pH of a 0.1mol/L solution is 13.5. It is soluble in water, ethanol, slightly soluble in ether, and can easily absorb air. It deliquesces due to medium moisture and absorbs carbon dioxide to form potassium carbonate. It is mainly used as a raw material for the production of potassium salts, and can also be used for electroplating, printing and dyeing, etc.
1. Used for electroplating, engraving, lithography, etc.
2. Used as raw materials for potassium salt production, such as potassium permanganate, potassium carbonate, etc.
3. In the pharmaceutical industry, it is used to produce potassium borohydride, spironolactone, saparinol, testosterone propionate, progesterone, vanillin, etc.
4. Used in light industry to produce potassium soap, alkaline batteries, and cosmetics (such as cold cream, cream, and shampoo).
5. In the dye industry, it is used to produce vat dyes, such as vat blue RSN, etc.
6. Used as analytical reagents, saponification reagents, carbon dioxide and moisture absorbers.
7. In the textile industry, it is used for printing, dyeing, bleaching and mercerization, and is widely used as the main raw material for manufacturing man-made fibers and polyester fibers. It is also used for manufacturing melamine dyes.
8. It is also used as a metallurgical heating agent and leather degreasing.