Potassium Bicarbonate >
Grades: Food and Technical.
Packaging: Material is available in 25 kilo nett bags. Custom packaging available if required.
Availability: Normally a stock item.
Material: Also referred to as potassium hydrogen carbonate or potassium acid carbonate, potassium bicarbonate is a white solid with no discernible odour. It is an alkaline and can be found naturally occurring in seawater. Whilst it is soluble in water potassium bicarbonate is not soluble in alcohol.
Our producing partners manufacture by way of dissolving ammonium bicarbonate and potassium chloride in separate processes and passing each together through an ion exchange, helped by some clever chemistry, the ‘mother liquid’ of potassium bicarbonate solution is created, once dried and sieved we achieve our finished product.
Uses of Potassium Bicarbonate
Food
Potassium bicarbonate is well known as both a raising agent and leavening agent in baking. It is less commonly used in the latter instance due to the aftertaste it leaves, but the carbon dioxide it produces makes it the ideal raising agent. The carbon dioxide bubbles help to lighten the texture of the sponge. For example, it may be used instead of sodium bicarbonate in bakes where the sodium content of the food is already high, or where a quicker reaction is required.
Elsewhere in the food industry, potassium bicarbonate is frequently added to various different types of drinks. Some brands of bottled water use potassium bicarbonate in order to improve the taste, whilst in club soda it is used to reduce the effect of effervescence in the liquid, which can often cause an excess number of bubbles and too much fizzing. In this case, it is carbon dioxide causing those bubbles.
Potassium bicarbonate also helps to preserve colour in food.
In winemaking potassium bicarbonate is used as a pH regulator. If a particular wine is tasting too acidic, potassium bicarbonate can be used as an alkaline counterpoint.
Medical
Potassium bicarbonate is sometimes used as a supplement to treat and guard against potassium deficiency. Potassium can be naturally found in food like bananas and potatoes, and it plays a vital role in the health of our bones, muscles and digestion health. Individuals experiencing a deficiency can acquire potassium bicarbonate supplement over the counter. Its alkaline nature also means that it can be used as a short-term antacid, as well as an electrolyte replenisher.
Agriculture
Potassium bicarbonate has multiple uses within agriculture. Similarly to its use in wine-making, alkaline potassium bicarbonate can be spread over acidic soil. Soil that is too acidic will hinder crop growth and can result in plants being poisoned, and so should be treated in this manner. The bicarbonate element of the compound helps the soil to better absorb the vital potassium.
Some organic farmers have chosen to use potassium bicarbonate as a fungicide to combat apple crab and powdery mildew.
Potassium bicarbonate can be added to animal feed in order to combat potassium deficiencies and boost feed consumption, leading to weight gain.
Fire Extinguishers
Potassium bicarbonate is used in dry chemical fire extinguishers to help suppress fires. It can be used on both Class B (flammable liquids and gases) and Class C (electrical) fires. Far more effective than sodium bicarbonate at this task, it has been recognised as the preferred choice of the U.S. National Fire Protection Association for use at airport crash rescue sites.
Industry
Potassium bicarbonate is used as an accelerator in the cement drying process and a corrosion inhibitor in the metal industry. It also has a role to play as a catalyst, for example in the polymerisation of synthetic fibres, and in the leather tanning process.
