Potassium chloride

Potassium chloride (CAS 7447-40-7), commercially known as muriate of potash or by its designation E508, is a mineral salt sourced from natural evaporite deposits and produced synthetically for industrial use.

Where is Potassium chloride used?

• Food manufacturing: replaces or extends sodium chloride
• Reduced-sodium products: saltiness without increasing sodium content in processed meats, dairy, and snack formulations
• Agriculture: primary potassium fertilizer supplying the nutrient directly to soil or in blended NPK fertilizers
• Pharmaceutical and IV solutions: electrolyte active in oral rehydration salts, dialysis fluids, and parenteral preparations
• Water treatment: sodium-free regenerant for resin beds in ion exchange softening systems
• It functions as a potassium source, electrolyte replenisher, flavor enhancer, and processing aid.
• Production of chlorine and potassium hydroxide by electrolysis.
• Component in concrete admixtures to accelerate the setting of concrete at low temperatures.
• Electrolyte in aqueous reaction systems in emulsion polymerization, supporting emulsion stability.
• Replaces sodium ions in clay with potassium ions, reducing swelling and preventing disintegration.

Formulation notes

• In some applications, can help reduce sodium presence by up to 70%.
• More environmentally friendly and healthier alternative to sodium chloride for water softening because it does not produce sodium-containing wastewater.
• Excellent swelling inhibition compared to sodium chloride (moderate) and calcium chloride (good).

Typical specification

• Particle size of 0.5–2 mm or custom mesh.
• Moisture content of less than 0.5%.
• Drilling Grade purity of 98–99.5%.

Technical content is compiled and updated by the SoleChem product team from public technical sources; the certificate of analysis (COA) governs product-specific specifications.