Potassium Hydroxide
Potassium hydroxide, commonly known as caustic potash, has the chemical formula (KOH). It is an inorganic compound produced by an electrolytic process using a potassium chloride salt and water (brine) feedstock. It is most commonly available at a range of 45 to 50% concentrated solution though other formulations and products exist. The solution is corrosive to body tissue and readily reacts with a variety of metallurgy. It is commonly shipped via pipeline, vessel, barge, rail tank car, cargo tank (truck), and other smaller containers.
Potassium hydroxide has a wide variety of applications in many industries, including agricultural fertilizers, runway re-icing fluid, alkaline batteries, petroleum refining, cosmetics, soaps and detergents, and water treatment (pH adjustment).
CI Resources
The Institute has produced the below materials for storage, shipping, handling, and use. Refer to CI's Resource Catalog for fuller details and visit the CI Bookstore.
- Pamphlet 87) Recommended Practices for Handling Sodium Hydroxide Solution and Potassium Hydroxide Solution (Caustic) Tank Cars
- Pamphlet 88) Recommended Practices for Handling Sodium Hydroxide Solution and Potassium Hydroxide Solution (Caustic) In Bulk Highway Transports
- Pamphlet 94) Sodium Hydroxide Solution and Potassium Hydroxide Solution (Caustic) Storage Equipment and Piping Systems
- Pamphlet 164) Reactivity and Compatibility of Chlorine, Sodium Hydroxide, and Potassium Hydroxide with Various Materials
- FACT-6) Potassium Hydroxide Fact Sheet
- Wall Chart 4) Handling Sodium & Potassium Hydroxide
HCS-VIDEO) Handling Caustic Safely
Provides guidelines, recommended practices and other information for the safe handling, storage, loading and unloading of caustic soda tank cars and tank trucks. This video also includes caustic soda properties, reactivity, suitable materials of construction, and common uses.
CAUS-VIDEO) Preventing Non-Accident Releases by Properly Securing Caustic Railcars
This video provides guidance for reducing non-accident releases (NARs) from tanks car shipments of caustic (sodium hydroxide (NaOH) and potassium hydroxide (KOH)). Topics covered include the definition of an NAR, U.S. Department of Transportation incident reporting requirements, loader and unloader responsibilities, best practices to reduce caustic tank car NARs and available guidance and resources, such as additional Chlorine Institute guidance.
CTS-VIDEO) Preventing Chlor-Alkali Releases during Cargo Tank Operations
This video provides an overview of best practices to prevent releases during cargo tank shipments of certain CI mission chemicals, namely sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, hydrochloric acid, and sodium hypochlorite. Viewers, including plant operators and drivers, will learn requirements for reporting hazmat transportation releases to DOT, review related DOT-reported cargo tank incident data, understand the sources and cause of common releases during cargo tank transport and operations, and learn best practices for preventing these types of releases.