Production of potassium hydroxide from banana peels

Abstract

This study takes a look at making use banana peels for the production of potassium hydroxide (KOH). Combustion of banana peels into ashes was done to enhance the extraction of potassium carbonate from the ashes. The potassium carbonate was caustified into potassium hydroxide by reacting it with calcium hydroxide to precipitate carbonates as calcium carbonate. The produced potassium hydroxide had a concentration of 2.520gdm-3 with purity of 84.89%. Potassium hydroxide was then characterized so that it can be compared with commercially produced potassium hydroxide and was found to have similar characteristics in terms of physical appearance, pH, purity and melting point.