Potassium Sulphate (Standard) - Taiwan

Brief overview

Potassium sulfate (K₂SO₄), also known as potassium sulphate in British English, sulphate of potash, arcanite, or potash of sulfur in the past, is a white, crystalline salt that is soluble in water and non-flammable. This chemical, which provides sulfur and potassium, is widely used in fertilizers.

Manufacturing Process

The procedure utilized to make potassium sulfate is comparable to that of making sodium sulfate. The Leblanc method may be used to create potassium sulfate by reacting potassium chloride with sulfuric acid. The following reaction results in the production of potassium sulfate:

2KCl + H₂SO₄ → 2HCl + K₂SO₄

Sulfur dioxide, oxygen, water, and potassium chloride are the raw ingredients used in the Hargreaves process to create potassium sulfate. Acid hydrochloric dissolves. Burning sulfur produces sulfur dioxide (SO₂).

Agriculture Industry

Potassium sulfate is mostly used as fertilizer. Chloride, which can be detrimental to some crops, is absent from K₂SO₄. For these crops, which include tobacco and a few fruits and vegetables, potassium sulfate is recommended. Less sensitive crops could nevertheless need potassium sulfate for healthy development if the soil gets chloride buildup from irrigation water. There are also rare occasions when glass is made with crude salt.

Other Applications

Potassium sulfate is also used as a flash reducer in artillery propellant charges. It reduces muzzle flash, flareback and blast overpressure.