Potassium Chloride Supplier from Turkey and Dubai-UAE
What is potassium chloride?
KCl, or potassium chloride, potassium salt, and muriate of potash, is a crystalline compound that contains potassium and chlorine. Basically, this is an odorless, white, or colorless crystal with a highly salty taste. Potassium chloride dissociates in water into potassium K⁺ and chloride Cl⁻ ions, making it very soluble and a vital source of potassium.
Potassium chloride is naturally occurring primarily in ancient dried lake deposits and prehistoric sea beds. These deposits are basically formed by the evaporation of ancient water bodies, leaving behind concentrated salts. Key mineral sources of potassium chloride include sylvite (KCl) and carnallite (KCl·MgCl₂·6H₂O), both of which play a significant role in the global production of potassium.
potassium chloride History
The natural occurrence of potassium chloride has been known for millennia, though its early uses were largely unrecognized. Man’s early civilizations probably used it as a salt lick for animals and as an agricultural fertilizer. There are historical records of the Romans using a form of potassium nitrate, more correctly known as saltpeter, for the production of gunpowder, which demonstrates the foundational role of potassium in early chemical applications. It obtained commercial and industrial recognition in the year 1861 as a sterilizing agent. In the mid-20th century, it began to be used broadly in medicine to treat conditions of potassium deficiency. Today, potassium chloride is among the most vital materials in agriculture, health, and industry.
potassium chloride properties
Physical Properties
- The potassium chloride crystals are made up of face-centered cubic (FCC) unit cells.
- The molar mass of KCl is 74.5513 grams/mol.
- Its density in the solid, crystalline form is 1.984 grams per cubic centimeter.
- The melting and boiling points of potassium chloride are 1040 K and 1690 K respectively.
- At 0oC, 20oC, and 100oC, the solubility of KCl in water corresponds to 217.1 g/L, 253.9 g/L, and 360.5 g/L respectively.
- Potassium chloride is highly soluble in alcohols but not soluble in ether (organic compounds with the formula R-O-R’).
Chemical Properties
- Since potassium chloride is completely ionized into K+ and Cl– ions in water, the resulting aqueous solution exhibits high values of electrical conductivity.
- The reduction of potassium chloride into metallic can be achieved with the help of metallic sodium, despite the lower electropositivity of sodium when compared to potassium.
- This is achieved by heating the KCl with metallic sodium to a temperature of 850 o
- The chemical equation for this reaction is: KCl + Na ⇌ NaCl + K
Applications
Agriculture (Fertilizers):
- It finds wide application in agricultural fertilizers as a vital source of potassium, one of the three primary macronutrients needed by plants for growth, the other two being nitrogen and phosphorus. Potassium enhances root development, improves disease resistance, and boosts the quality and yield of crops. Potassium deficiencies, when corrected, prevent stunted growth, wilting, and reduced productivity, hence potassium chloride has become indispensable in modern agriculture.
Medical Applications:
- Potassium chloride is applied in healthcare to restore the potassium levels in the patient. It is utilized in intravenous solutions and oral drugs to manage diseases like hypokalemia, characterized by low levels of potassium that arise as a result of excessive dehydration, chronic diarrhea, or certain medications. Potassium is highly important in maintaining cellular fluid balance, proper nerve and muscle functions, and normal cardiac rhythms.
Food Processing:
- Potassium chloride is highly used in the production of food as an additive: E508. It works as an anticaking agent and a flavor enhancer. Its use in low-sodium products as a salt substitute is particularly notable, though its taste differs slightly from that of sodium chloride, which may limit its direct substitution in some applications.
Scientific Research:
Due to the ionic properties and highly soluble nature, it is inevitable in scientific research. Controlled ionic environments created with potassium chloride are put to use in biological and chemical experiments, cell culture development, and research studies dealing with the behavior of electrolytes in physiological systems.
Water Softeners:
Potassium chloride may also be used as an alternative to sodium chloride in water softeners. This chemical is pretty good for water hardness reduction by replacing the calcium and magnesium ions with potassium ions. This may also reduce the content of sodium in the softened water, especially for people on a low-sodium diet.
Industrial Applications:
Used in manufacturing processes like glass production. Potassium chloride serves as a key ingredient in the production of certain types of glass, influencing its clarity, durability, and electrical properties. It can also be used in the production of chemicals, dyes, and other industrial products.
Potassium grades
Potassium chloride (KCl) is a versatile mineral with numerous industrial and agricultural applications. To ensure optimal performance in each use case, KCl is categorized based on two key properties: chemical purity and particle size.
Chemical Purity Grades:
Fertilizer Grade:
- The fertilizer grade is the most widely produced grade of KCl, accounting for about 90% of the total KCl produced in the world. With a minimum K2O content of 60%, it is a source of this nutrient for plants. Impurities present within make it unsuitable for consumption by humans. It mainly finds its application in agriculture, like crop fertilization.
Food Grade:
- Food-grade potassium chloride, on the other hand, contains more than 99% KCl and is considered safe for human consumption, as it follows strict safety regulations. It is used in many food products as a salt substitute or flavor enhancer, offering a much healthier alternative to traditional common salt-sodium chloride.
Pharmaceutical Grade:
- The pharmaceutical grade of KCL is the highest purity available and is specially prepared for medical purposes. As KCl is utilized to treat or prevent potassium deficiencies within patients, it is under the strictest pharmacopeial guidelines to ensure efficacy and safety at its highest levels.
Technical Grade:
- The technical grade of potassium chloride comes in between fertilizer and food grade; industrial uses include the softening of water, electroplating, the manufacture of chemicals, and other fields where demands for purity are rigid but not quite as exacting as those for food or pharmaceutical grades.
Particle Size Grades for Fertilizer Applications
Within the fertilizer grade category, particle size becomes a crucial factor influencing application methods and ease of handling. The available options include:
- Granular: Large spherical particles are best suited for mechanized spreading and, therefore, assure the best application of products in extended fields. The size and shape homogeneity enable appropriate distribution, reducing losses and improving the consistency of crop yield.
- Coarse: Slightly smaller than granular particles, coarse potassium chloride is nevertheless suitable for bulk spreading by machinery and offers ease of handling. Its larger particle size ensures dissolution is slow, providing nutrient availability to crops in the soil over a longer period.
- Standard: Medium-sized particles will provide a balanced solution to optimize handling and spreading characteristics for general agricultural use. This grade is normally used in standard agricultural applications since it provides the perfect balance between cost-effectiveness and efficiency.
- Fine: Finely ground particles are ideal for fertilizer blends because of their homogeneous distribution and effective nutrient uptake by plants. This grade is effective in delivering nutrients fast to the root systems of sensitive plants, thus helping to improve overall plant health.
- Soluble: Soluble potassium chloride, designed for fertigation systems, is therefore quickly dissolved in water for efficient application through irrigation systems. It ensures preciseness in the delivery of nutrients right at the root zone of plants for better growth and productivity.
Safety Tips
- Wear appropriate PPE.
- Ensure good ventilation.
- Avoid skin and eye contact.
- Keep out of reach of children and pets.
- Store in a cool, dry place.
- Follow specific guidelines based on product form and use.
- Seek immediate medical attention for serious reactions.
Packing
PP BAGS:
Smaller bags made of plastic or paper are often used for easier handling. These bags are commonly palletized and shrink-wrapped for stability during shipping.
FIBC:
These large bags can hold 500 kg to 2,000 kg of potassium chloride. They are made of woven polypropylene and are designed for easy handling and transport.
Drums and Barrels:
Less common but sometimes used for specific applications, these can be made of metal or plastic.
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