Potassium thiocyanate

Potassium thiocyanate (CAS 333-20-0, EC 206-370-1), also known as potassium rhodanide or potassium rhodanate, is an inorganic salt with the formula KSCN. It carries no assigned E-code and is commercially available as both a white crystalline solid and in liquid form.

In pharmaceutical manufacturing, potassium thiocyanate acts as a buffering agent to stabilise pH in formulation processes. In water treatment, it functions as a biocide by disrupting microbial enzyme activity. It also serves as a catalyst in specific organic synthesis reactions, accelerating nucleophilic substitution pathways.

Potassium thiocyanate is sourced in technical and reagent grades, with select batches meeting Ph.Eur. specifications for pharmaceutical applications. It falls under REACH regulation and is classified under HS code 28380000. Packaging typically ranges from laboratory quantities to bulk industrial formats depending on grade and application requirements.