Potassium nitrate

Raw materials

1. Ammonium nitrate

2. Potassium hydroxide

Process 

Potassium nitrate can be made by combining ammonium nitrate and potassium hydroxide.

NH₄NO₃ (aq) + KOH (aq) → NH₃ (g) + KNO₃ (aq) + H₂O (l)

An alternative way of producing potassium nitrate without a by-product of ammonia is to combine ammonium nitrate and potassium chloride, easily obtained as a sodium-free salt substitute.

NH₄NO₃ (aq) + KCl (aq) → NH₄Cl (aq) + KNO₃ (aq)

Potassium nitrate can also be produced by neutralizing nitric acid with potassium hydroxide. This reaction is highly exothermic.

KOH (aq) + HNO₃ → KNO₃ (aq) + H₂O (l)

Product

Potassium nitrate

Used for 

Black powder, fertilizer, food preserver, oxidizer, tree stump remover

Production facility

Rockhampton, QLD 

Export

Brazzaville, Congo