Potassium bicarbonate has the chemical formula KHCO₃. It exists as white crystals at room temperature and is an odorless compound. Potassium bicarbonate is an ionic compound consists of HCO₃-. KHCO₃ is similar to sodium bicarbonate and mono-potassium salt of H₂CO₃.

Potassium bicarbonate tastes slightly salty and leaves a bitter aftertaste. It is highly water-soluble and used as an alternative to sodium bicarbonate. It gives potassium salt when reacted with acids, but it is insoluble in alcohol and other organic solvents because of its inorganic nature.

Potassium bicarbonate has rarely found in its rare form called kalicinite. But it has been prepared in the laboratory by treating a solution of K2CO3 with carbon dioxide gas. There is another method for producing potassium bicarbonate by conducting carbon dioxide under pressure into the neutral solution of potassium chloride carbonate or magnesium oxide. Where potassium bicarbonate is obtained by decomposing the produced double salt, this process is called the Engel process.

 The food industry uses potassium bicarbonate as an alternative to baking soda as the leavening agent in raising bread and baking. It also has an application in agriculture where it is used for soil neutralization by regulating its ph.  Potassium bicarbonate has also used in fire extinguishers.

Potassium carbonate has considered a slightly toxic compound because inhalation causes swelling and irritation in the respiratory tract. On contact with skin, it may cause redness and irritation of the skin. Contact with eyes can be fatal and results in redness and swelling of eyelids. So, all safety measures are necessary while handling potassium bicarbonate.

SIGNIFY Chemicals supplies 99.5% of pure potassium bicarbonate for industrial use.

CAS NO :- 298-14-6

USES AND APPLICATIONS FOR POTASSIUM BICARBONATE

INDUSTRIES

It is used in numerous industrial applications like: –

• Leavening agent
• Fire extinguisher
• pH regulator
• Buffering agent
• Additive in winemaking
• Neutralization of soil in agriculture.

… and many more.