Potassium carbonate, also known as potash or pearl ash, appears as a white powder or as colorless solid crystal with salty taste and deliquescence. It can be dissolved in water to form a strongly alkaline solution. However it is insoluble in organic solvents such as ethanol. It has strong hygroscopicity. It is easily caked and turns into potassium bicarbonate by absorbing carbon dioxide when expose to air for a long time.
| Test Item | Unit | Food Grade | Tech. Grade |
| Appearance | -- | White crystalline powder | White crystalline powder |
| K2CO3 | % | 99Min. | 99Min. |
| Chloride | % | 0.01Max. | 0.03Max. |
| Sulphate | % | 0.01Max. | 0.04Max. |
| Iron | % | 0.001Max. | 0.001Max. |
| Insoluble in Water | % | 0.02Max. | 0.04Max. |
| Loss on Drying | % | 0.6Max. | 0.8MAx. |
In industry: potassium carbonate is used as raw material in manufacturing electro tube, TV kinescope, computer display. It is applied in optical glass improving clarity, strength and refractive index. It is also used in electrode avoiding electric arc breaking-off during welding. In dyeing industry, it is used to produce vat dyestuff and discharge of ice dyeing, etc.
In food industry, potassium carbonate can serve as an effective alkaline agent and dough conditioner and is capable of hindering the fermentation process in noodles. It can be applied to pasta food.
Potassium carbonate is also used in detergents, pesticides, feeds, and fertilizer industry.
