Potassium chlorate

Potassium chlorate (CAS 3811-04-9) is an inorganic oxidising salt composed of potassium and the chlorate anion, commercially known under trade names including Fekabit, Potcrate, and Berthollet salt. It carries no assigned E-code and is not approved for food applications.

In textile and paper processing, potassium chlorate functions as a chemical bleaching agent by releasing active oxygen under controlled conditions, oxidising chromophores in cellulose fibres and pulp to achieve whitening. It is also used in printing and packaging operations to prepare surfaces and modify substrate reactivity prior to ink adhesion treatments.

Potassium chlorate is supplied in technical and industrial grades, typically as a crystalline powder or granulate. As a strong oxidiser, it falls under REACH regulation and is subject to strict classification, labelling, and packaging requirements under CLP. Procurement must account for applicable precursor control regulations in relevant EU member states.