Why is koh used instead of naoh

How much more? However, it will take roughly grams of KOH for the same oil. So, not only do you use more KOH when you make Biodiesel, but it costs more too.

KOH can be seen in the glycerin layer. Glycerin from NaOH reacted oil tends to be much thicker and can even solidify into a thick gooey mess. F and it boiled like crazy which can be potentially dangerous. So, a good rule of thumb is that if the ambient temps are above Deg. So which one do I recommend? I just like the fact that it dissolves faster. These chemicals kickstart saponification and encourage fats and water to mix.

Without one of these two chemicals, you would just be left with a gooey mess. Here are some key similarities that sodium hydroxide and potassium hydroxide share:. On a molecular level, potassium hydroxide is slightly smaller. KOH is also more water-soluble and able to rinse away grease , especially with hot water.

It costs more to produce the compound potassium chloride. This price difference is a large reason why most manufacturers choose sodium hydroxide for the majority of soapmaking processes today.

The art of soapmaking is older than the hills. One of the earliest accounts of soap was in B. They created their own form of potash lye by mixing hardwood ashes and water. They collected fat and drippings from farm animals, combined this with their homemade potash, and boiled it to make their own soft soaps.

Like all strong bases, the reaction of both Potassium Hydroxide and Sodium Hydroxide with water is strongly exothermic; in other words, they generate heat and give off hydrogen.

But the reaction with Sodium Hydroxide is slightly more exothermic, which can make up for other more positive factors that Potassium Hydroxide possesses. The biggest difference between them is in cost because of certain factors, such as their production process by electrolysis, where potassium chloride costs more than sodium chloride table salt.

In ton quantities, potassium hydroxide is about three times more expensive than sodium hydroxide. Since they are also more soluble, the oils can be rinsed away easier, especially when using hotter water or steam equipment. The metal in potassium hydroxide is heavier than the metal in sodium hydroxide. Potassium has an atomic weight of This weight difference reflects the difference in the number of protons in each metal.

Potassium has 19 protons and sodium has only Both reactions generate heat and give off hydrogen.