I have some potassium hydroxide that I have had for a several years. How long will it keep and still be usable?
I have it stored in plastic bucket in cool environment.
I have it stored in plastic bucket in cool environment.
How long will Potassium Hydroxide last
- Thread starter BettyW
- Start date
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As long as the KOH flakes flow freely or there are only a few clumps that fall apart fairly easily, it's fine to use.
An alkali like KOH and NaOH doesn't "go bad" like food does. Keep the stuff tightly sealed to protect it from the moisture and the carbon dioxide in the open air. It will stay good for many many years.
If the alkali is clumped up into hard balls, it's reacted with water and CO2 and that's a problem.
An alkali like KOH and NaOH doesn't "go bad" like food does. Keep the stuff tightly sealed to protect it from the moisture and the carbon dioxide in the open air. It will stay good for many many years.
If the alkali is clumped up into hard balls, it's reacted with water and CO2 and that's a problem.
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Once my Sodium Hydroxide starts clumping it is marked for cleaning and pretzel making. Luckly so far it hasn't happened often and I have had bottles sit on the shelf for over 5 years before using. (I am cheap so by lye in quantities larger than I will use within a decent amount of time)
Zany_in_CO
Saponifier
Amen to that! Early on, I wasn't careful about putting the lid back on immediately after weighing. It went down hill fast after that! 
Flakes flow freely - clumps. When I add to liquid there is no crackle sound. The heat from the lye mixture is only warm never hot.
Sorry miss type "No Clumps"
Zany_in_CO
Saponifier
Hi @BettyW
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