University of Technology

Chemical engineering department

Chemical process branch

Production of Potassium hydroxide

Supervised by
Dr. Basheer Yousif

Done by
Hassan Mohammed
Tabark Salam

Iraq/Baghdad
2022
 Introduction 3

Production methods 4

Flowsheet 5

Material and energy balance 6

2
Introduction:
Potassium hydroxide is also known as caustic potash, lye, and potash lye. This alkali metal
hydroxide is a very powerful base. In its aqueous form, its appearance is that of a clear
solution. In its solid form, KOH can exist as white to slightly yellow lumps, flakes, pellets, or
rods. No characteristic odour can be attributed to this compound in its solid-state

3
Production methods:
1. Diaphragm cells :In the diaphragm cell process, asbestos or other suitable materials were used to separate the caustic soda
from the chlorine. The diaphragm cell produced caustic soda solution of around 12%, but its major drawback was the high salt
content in its caustic soda.(fig1)
2. Mercury Cells:The process within a mercury cell differs somewhat from that in a diaphragm cell. The mercury cell is
composed of an electrolyzer and a denuder or sometimes called a decomposer (Fig2).
The reactions in the electrolyzer are as follows:-

3. Membrane Cells:The power consumption in the membrane cell is the lowest comparing the three technologies. However
certain industries such as the rayon industry consider the caustic soda quality from membrane cells to be slightly inferior to
that produced via the mercury cell method due to the higher chloride and chlorate content.(fig3)

We will chose the membrane cell in this project because of it’s low energy consumption and the KCl feed in in liquid phase
otherwise in mercury cells (solid phase) which is more useful to handle and have less impurities that if it present it will cost us
more treating processes.

4
Fig1:Diaphragm Cell process Fig2:Mercury cell process flow diagram

Fig3:Membrane cell process flow 5

diagram
Flowsheet:

12

11
16
5
2
4
1 3
17
9
13 15
18 6
14 7

6
Material and energy balance:
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 9 12
KOH - - - - 1875 1875 1875 1875 -
(KG)
KCl (KG) 3744.26 3744.26 3744.26 3744.26 1250 1250 - 1250 -
H2O (KG) 16017 16017 6039.46 6039.46 9375 9375 2291.7 9375 5833.3
H2 (KG) - - - - - - - - -
Cl2 (KG) - - - - - - - - -
Imp. (KG) 1040.1 1040.1 - - - - - - -
Total 20801.46 20801.46 9783.72 9783.72 12500 12500 4166.7 12500 5833.3
(KG)
Temp. 38 38 38 65 85 85 25 85 100
(Co)
Pressure 1 1 1 1 3 1 1 1 1
(bar)

7
Material and energy balance:
13 14 15 16 17 18
KOH (KG) - - - - - 1875
KCl (KG) - - - - - 1250
H2O (KG) 412 6039.46 541 - - 9375
H2 (KG) - - - - 33.48 -
Cl2 (KG) - - - 1188.45 - -
Imp. (KG) - 1040.1 - - - -
Total (KG) 412 7079.56 541 1188.45 33.48 12500
Temp. (Co) 100 38 38 85 85 85
Pressure (bar) 1 1 1 1 1 1

8
References:
1. Kirk-othmer , Encyclopedia of chemical technology : 3rd edn 1984 : vol 16
2. Perry : chemical engineer’s hand book : 6th edn 1985
3. Shreve : chemical process industries : 5th edn 1983
4. Coulson : chemical engineering ; vol 6 1986