What is Potassium Hydroxide used for?

Answer 1

* Correction of the pH of acidic soils[7] * As a fungicide[8] * As a herbicide[9] * KOH test[10] (to diagnose fungal infections). * Whiff test[11] (to diagnose bacterial vaginosis). * In botany and mycology, an aqueous solution (typically 10% or less) of KOH is used to rehydrate dried herbarium material in preparation for microscopy. * In palynology, an aqueous solution of KOH is used to deflocculate soil particles aggregated onto pollen grains. * wart and cuticle solvent. * (veterinary medicine) disbudding calves horns; dissolving scales and hair. Food uses of KOH include: * Washing or chemical peeling of fruits and vegetables * Chocolate and cocoa processing * Caramel color production * Poultry scalding * Soft drink processing * Thickening ice cream * Soaking of olives to soften them and neutralize natural acids * Glazing of pretzels and German lye rolls before baking to make them crisp. * Soaking of cod to make the Scandinavian delicacy known as lutefisk (from lutfisk, "lye fish"). Cod is soaked in KOH to a jelly-like consistency, then served with bacon fat, potatoes, brown cheese (brunost) sauce and mushy peas. * Making of hominy, which is dried maize (corn) kernels reconstituted by soaking in KOH. KOH is a major industrial chemical because it is used as a base in a wide variety of chemical processes. Some uses of KOH include: * Acrylate ester copolymer coating * Anti-foaming agent used in the manufacture of paper [12] * saponifying oils for liquid soap * Formulation aid for food[13] * pH control agent (raises pH by neutralizing acids) * Making polyethylene resins * Textile processing * As a catalyst in reactions like the production of biodiesel[14]. * Manufacture of many cleaning products[15], such as: ** Washing powders ** Cleansers (for tubs, tile, etc) ** Some denture cleaners ** Non-phosphate detergents ** Drain or pipe cleaners (clog dissolvers) ** Widely used in carpet cleaning degreasers * Manufacture of alkaline batteries, which use an aqueous solution of KOH as an electrolyte[16]. Thus, potassium hydroxide helps to power flashlights, smoke detectors, and other battery-powered household items. * As an anisotropic etchant of silicon[17], exposing octahedral planes. This technique can create pyramids[18] and regularly-shaped etch pits for uses such as microelectromechanical systems. * An anisotropic etchant of GaAs[19], exposing Ga and As {111} planes. This technique can create rectangular etch pits by etching As (111) plane faster.

Taken from Wikipedia