PK2835 Potassium Methoxide (CH3KO) Powder (CAS: 865-33-8)

Potassium Methoxide Powder Description:

Potassium Methoxide (CH3KO) (CAS: 865-33-8) is a white powder and used as a chemical intermediate. Potassium methoxide is the alkoxide of methanol with the counterion potassium and is used as a strong base and as a catalyst for transesterification, in particular for the production of biodiesel.

Potassium Methoxide Powder Specifications:

Potassium Methoxide Powder Applications:

The main application of potassium methoxide is used as a basic transesterification catalyst in biodiesel synthesis (as a 25-32% methanolic solution). Triglycerides of vegetable and animal origin are reacted with methanol in the presence of alkali metal methanolates to form the corresponding fatty methyl esters.

Potassium methoxide allows a facilitated formation of fatty soaps in comparison to the (lower-priced) sodium methoxide (here potassium salts of the fatty acids from the triglycerides) and higher yields are obtained with potassium methoxide. The optimum conditions for biodiesel production from canola oil are reported as being 1.59% by weight of potassium methoxide, a reaction temperature of 50 °C and a methanol/oil ratio of 4.5: 1. The biodiesel yield is 95.8% with a fatty acid content of 0.75% by weight[1]

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