Potassium Hydroxide (KOH), also known as caustic potash, is a highly corrosive, strongly alkaline chemical used across battery production, chemical manufacturing, petrochemical processing, pH adjustment, soap and detergent manufacture, textiles, leather processing, and selected agricultural, cosmetic, food, pharmaceutical, and laboratory applications.
For industrial buyers, sourcing Potassium Hydroxide means planning carefully around grade, purity, packaging condition, moisture protection, storage compatibility, technical documentation, and delivery timing. KOH absorbs water and carbon dioxide from air quickly, so poorly protected material can turn sticky, lose handling quality, and create process-control issues on site.
OGSCM supports Potassium Hydroxide procurement through specification alignment, packaging planning, documentation readiness, and delivery coordination across GCC and MENA markets.
Required grade, purity, and assay
Solid form and particle-size requirement
Moisture-protected packaging
Dry warehouse storage and humidity control
KOH is highly hygroscopic and deliquescent. When exposed to air, it absorbs moisture and carbon dioxide, which can change the material's condition and affect handling, weighing, dissolution, and process consistency.
For industrial operations, key procurement considerations include:
OGSCM supports coordination around these operational variables so that the product remains suitable for the intended process when it reaches site.
Potassium Hydroxide is a white, deliquescent solid commonly supplied in pellet, flake, or solid form depending on the product specification. It is highly soluble in water and produces strongly alkaline solutions.
Its industrial value comes from its ability to provide potassium-based alkalinity for chemical reactions, neutralization, pH adjustment, saponification, and specialized formulation processes. In chemical manufacture, KOH can serve as a feedstock for potassium-based chemicals. In battery and fuel-cell applications, it may be used within defined electrolyte systems. In soaps and personal-care formulations, it can support controlled saponification and alkaline processing.
The grade required depends on the application. Industrial-grade, food-grade, pharmaceutical-grade, laboratory-grade, and specialized electrolyte-grade material must be evaluated separately and should not be treated as interchangeable.
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
Product Name |
Potassium Hydroxide |
Common Abbreviation |
KOH |
Chemical Formula |
KOH |
CAS Number |
1310-58-3 |
Molecular Mass |
56.105 g/mol |
Chemical Type |
Strong alkali / caustic inorganic base |
Appearance |
White, deliquescent solid |
Melting Point |
410°C |
Boiling Point |
1,327°C |
Water Behavior |
Highly soluble in water; absorbs moisture and carbon dioxide from air |
Other Names |
Caustic Potash, Potash Lye, Potassium Hydrate, Lye |
Primary Functional Role |
Potassium-based alkalinity, pH adjustment, chemical intermediate |
Packaging |
25 kg bags |
Documentation |
COA and SDS/MSDS availability to be confirmed during RFQ |
Actual purity, potassium hydroxide assay, carbonate content, chloride content, iron content, particle form, and grade requirements should be confirmed for the offered material. Product suitability for food, pharmaceutical, medical, cosmetic, laboratory, or battery applications must not be assumed without explicit confirmation.
KOH is used as a feedstock and alkaline reagent in the manufacture of selected potassium-based chemicals and industrial products. Its operational role is to provide controlled alkalinity for reactions, neutralization, and chemical synthesis.
Potassium Hydroxide may be used in specific battery and fuel-cell electrolyte systems. These applications can require defined purity, controlled impurity limits, and application-specific documentation.
Buyers should specify electrolyte requirements and technical standards in the RFQ. General industrial-grade KOH should not be assumed suitable for every battery or fuel-cell application.
KOH can be used in soap production, saponification, detergent manufacture, and selected cosmetic or personal-care formulations. Its role depends on the formulation chemistry and the desired product characteristics.
Food, cosmetic, or personal-care suitability must be confirmed through the appropriate grade, specification, and regulatory documentation
Potassium Hydroxide is used for pH adjustment in industrial processes and chemical formulations. Its performance depends on concentration, dosing system, water quality, process chemistry, and safety controls.
In textile and leather operations, KOH may be used in alkaline processing, treatment, cleaning, or formulation steps. The material should be assessed against the process design, substrate compatibility, wastewater controls, and worker-safety procedures.
KOH may be used in selected petrochemical, process-chemical, and laboratory applications where strong alkalinity is required. Product grade and impurity limits should be selected according to the actual process requirement.
KOH may be used in specific agricultural formulations or regulated industrial products. Such use requires confirmation of grade, permitted application, relevant documentation, and applicable local regulations.
Potassium Hydroxide is supplied in 25 kg bags. Bags should be sealed, protected from damage, and stored in dry conditions until use.
Before shipment, buyers should assess:
-Dry, covered warehouse capacity
-Protection from humidity and water ingress
-Bag-handling and dust-control arrangements
-Required quantity and consumption schedule
-Dissolution or dosing equipment
-Receiving inspection and batch-release procedures
-Compatibility of storage, transfer, and process equipment
-Delivery timing and destination requirements
For KOH solutions, storage and transfer systems should be compatible with strong alkali. Polyethylene and polypropylene containers are commonly used for appropriate KOH solutions; compatibility should always be confirmed against the actual concentration, operating temperature, and site equipment.
OGSCM supports procurement coordination through:
-Grade and application alignment
-25 kg bag supply planning
-Quantity and delivery scheduling
-COA and SDS/MSDS documentation support
-Batch and shipment-document preparation
-Cross-border logistics planning
-Receiving-site storage readiness
-Communication between procurement, quality, warehouse, safety, and operations teams
Destination-specific import, transport, food-grade, pharmaceutical-grade, laboratory-grade, or regulated-use requirements should be reviewed according to the intended application and delivery route.
For Potassium Hydroxide procurement, documentation supports product evaluation, safe receiving, and batch traceability. Depending on the agreed supply scope, buyers may request:
-Certificate of Analysis (COA)
-Safety Data Sheet (SDS/MSDS)
-KOH assay and purity confirmation
-Carbonate, chloride, or other impurity information, where required
-Particle-form information
-Batch or lot identification
-Packing list
-Commercial invoice
-Certificate of origin, where required
-Shipment documents aligned with agreed delivery terms
OGSCM does not assume a specific grade, purity, food-use approval, pharmaceutical suitability, battery compatibility, laboratory certification, or regulatory clearance unless it is confirmed for the actual offered product.
Potassium Hydroxide is highly corrosive. It can cause severe skin burns and serious eye damage, and its dissolution in water releases substantial heat. Handling, solution preparation, transfer, emergency response, and disposal must follow the current SDS/MSDS and the site's approved safety procedures.
Key operational considerations include:
-Use suitable alkali-resistant gloves, goggles, face protection, and chemical-resistant protective clothing.
-Maintain appropriate ventilation during bag opening, powder transfer, and solution preparation.
-Keep bags tightly sealed and protect from moisture and carbon dioxide exposure.
-Store in a dry, controlled area away from incompatible chemicals.
-Use compatible containers, pumps, pipes, hoses, valves, and seals.
-Prevent release to drains, soil, and watercourses.
-Maintain appropriate spill-containment and emergency-response arrangements.
-Dispose of KOH residues and contaminated materials through approved waste-management procedures.
KOH is harmful to aquatic environments at low concentrations because it can rapidly increase pH. Uncontrolled releases must therefore be prevented and managed under site and environmental procedures.
Potassium Hydroxide procurement may be connected to wider industrial supply requirements, including:
-Alkalis and pH-adjustment chemicals
-Potassium-based chemical intermediates
-Detergent and soap-manufacturing materials
-Battery and fuel-cell process chemicals
-Textile and leather-processing chemicals
-Water-treatment and industrial formulation chemicals
-Dry chemical logistics
-Technical documentation and supply-chain coordination
OGSCM supports industrial buyers that require caustic chemical supply to be coordinated around real operating requirements. For Potassium Hydroxide, this includes grade selection, moisture-protected packaging, document readiness, storage planning, delivery scheduling, and coordination between procurement, logistics, safety, and receiving-site teams.
For industrial operations across GCC and MENA, this approach helps reduce avoidable risk related to moisture exposure, incompatible storage, incorrect grade selection, incomplete documentation, and supply interruption.
Potassium Hydroxide is used in chemical manufacturing, potassium-based chemicals, pH adjustment, soap and detergent production, batteries, fuel cells, textiles, leather processing, petrochemical applications, and selected regulated applications.
KOH rapidly absorbs water and carbon dioxide from air. This can make the material sticky or deliquescent and may affect handling, weighing, dissolution, and process consistency.
Based on the available product information, Potassium Hydroxide is supplied in 25 kg bags.
The RFQ should state the intended application, required grade, purity or assay requirement, quantity, packaging preference, delivery destination, requested documents, and any impurity or particle-form requirements.
Buyers may request a COA, SDS/MSDS, KOH assay, impurity information where relevant, batch identification, packing list, commercial invoice, certificate of origin where applicable, and shipment documents relevant to the agreed delivery terms.
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