Potassium persulfate is the inorganic compound with the formula K2S2O8. Also known as potassium peroxydisulfate or KPS, it is a white solid that is highly soluble in water. This salt is a powerful oxidant, commonly used to initiate polymerizations.
Potassium persulfate being a strong oxidant, has been very nicely employed used to initiate polymerization reactions, which can indeed found application in the polymer making industries for the synthesis of important polymers, beneficial in medicinal chemistry, or for commercial use.
Polymerisation:
Initiator for the emulsion or solution polymerisation of acrylic monomers, vinyl acetate, vinyl chloride etc. and for the emulsion copolymerisation of styrene, acrylonitrile, butadiene etc. Dosage: 0.1-0.5% KPS-5 (PPS). Temperature: 75-95°C. In combination with redox systems (ascorbic acid, Rongalit, sulfites or sugar - possibly in combination with heavy metal salts such as Fe2+ it can also be used for polymerisation reactions carried out at lower - and even at ambient - temperatures. To reduce the residual monomer content, a combination of KPS-5 (PPS) with TBHP-70-AQ is recommended, particularly in cases where redox systems are used.
Cosmetics: Essential component of bleaching formulations.
Paper: Modification of starch; Repulping particularly of wet-strength paper.
Textile: Desizing agent and bleach activator - particularly for cold bleaching (e.g. bleaching of Jeans).
Others:
- Chemical synthesis
- Water treatment (decontamination)
- Waste gas treatment; oxidative degradation of harmful substances (e.g. Hg)
Properties :
| Appearance | White, finely crystalline salt |
| KPS (PPS) content (typically) | 99.0 % w/w |
| Active oxygen (typically) | 5.9 % w/w |
| Acid content (based on H2SO4,typically) | 0.05 % |
| Iron content (typically) | 1 mg/kg |
| Bulk density (typically) | 1100 g/l |
| Melting point | Decomposition At above 65 °C |
| Solubility in water at 10/20/40/60°C | 30/50/105/210 g/l |
| pH of a 1% solution in water (typically) | 3.7 |
| pH of a 10% solution in water (typically) | 3.1 |
| Recommended storage temperature | Below 30 °C |
| Moisture content (typically)% | |
| Molecular Weight | 270.3 kg/kmol |
|
Specific Gravity |
2,480 kg/m³ |
Potassium Persulfate, Potassium Peroxydisulfate, KPS
