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Dr. N. K. Patel
Module: 10
Lecture: 41
POTASSIUM CHLORIDE
INTRODUCTION
Potassium chloride (KCl) is a metal halide salt composed of potassium and
chlorine. It is odorless and has a white or colorless vitreous crystal appearance, with
a crystal structure that cleaves easily in three directions. Potassium chloride crystals
are face centered cubic. "Muriate of potash" is name which is occasionally
association with its use as a fertilizer containing 60% plant food as K2O.
Potash varies in colour from pink or red to white depending on the mining and
recovery process used. White potash or soluble potash is usually higher in analysis
and is used primarily for making liquid starter fertilizers. It occurs naturally as the
mineral sylvite and in combination with sodium chloride as sylvinite.
MANUFACTURE
Raw Materials
Manufacture
1. Leaching process
2. Flotation process
NPTEL
262
Module: 10
Lecture: 41 Potassium chloride
Dr. N. K. Patel
Leaching process
Flotation process
Sylvinite
Water
Starch
Amine acetate
Flotation
chamber
Crusher
Water
Uncoated particles
Air
Water
KCl
NPTEL
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Module: 10
Lecture: 41 Potassium chloride
Dr. N. K. Patel
The crystalline potassium chloride is free flowing and does not normally pose
any problem in handling and storage. Potassium chloride is imported as bulk cargo
and transported to NPK fertilizer and mixing plants in open trucks or in bags.
It is stored in bulk in closed storage yards. Caking occurs in presence of
impurities when humidity is high and the mass tends to become like rock. Retrieval
from such storage may pose problems and sometimes explosives may have to be
used.
PROPERTIES
Molecular formula
Molecular weight
Appearance
Odour
Boiling point
Melting point
Density
Solubility
Moisture
USES
NPTEL
: KCl
: 74.55gm/mole
: white crystalline solid
: Odourless
: 14200C
: 7700C
: 1.984gm/ml
: Soluble in glycerol and water, slightly soluble in alcohol,
insoluble in ether
: 0.5% by wt. (Max.)
As a fertilizer
Used as thickeners, stabilizer, mineral salts, gelling agents and acidity
regulator in food
Used as a salt replacer in foods, for recovery of potassium in the human body,
It's used in brewing, as a salt substitute (as salt free, sodium free, and low
sodium products), gelling agent, and in reduced sodium breads.
Used in various pharmaceutical preparations to correct potassium deficiency.
It used as a substitute for table salt in the diet of people with cardiovascular
disorders, in administration of the potassium ion, and as a constituent of
Ringer's solution.
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