Mead and Potassium Hydroxide (KOH) - Other Fermentables

I just had a few questions regarding the use of Potassium Hydroxide (KOH) in mead. I’ve seen this suggested in multiple sources:

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http://www.ahaconference.org/presentations//KrisEngland_NHC.pdf

Really these questions are more requests for confirmation that I’m going about things correctly and that I’m not a total boob.

In any event - what is a reputable source of KOH? I tried ordering 500 g flakes from Cynmar and they informed me that they don’t sell chemicals to individuals. Since then I’ve located this source which is food grade and it’s about 4x as much as Cynmar was selling for the exact same price:

http://www.amazon.com/Grade-Devil-Potash-Potassium-Hydroxide/dp/BCIQTI/ref=pd_sbs_auto_2

I did notice in that picture on Amazon that it says ‘minimum 90% KOH’ on the bottle - which begs the question, what’s the rest and is it OK to add this?

Also a quick question about using the stuff if/when I get it. It’s been a while since chemistry - since the molecular weight of KOH is 56.g/Mol, to get a 2M solution I would add 112.211g to a container and then add distilled water until the total volume reaches 1 Liter and the subsequent solution is KOH at a concentration of 2M, correct?

If that is correct, does this method scale in a liner way (i.e. if I mixed a 500mL solution with 56.g of KOH would that also have a molarity of 2? Or 28.g in a 250mL solution?).

After I get a 2M solution of KOH can I just add 10mL of directly to my fermenter or is there an intermediary step?

Thanks in advance for the responses.

[quote]Ahh… That makes sense. So one would need to check the pH to make sure, and not just blindly add KOH.
[/quote]

That’s another good question actually. Both of the sources I posted left me with the impression that KOH was a mandatory addition along with the staggered nutrient additions. Is my inference correct or would I need to take pH readings at 24, 48 and 72 hours and only add KOH if the pH is below 3? Or would I only need to take a pH reading if my final gravity was greater than I wanted and I suspected pH to be to blame?

[quote]It raises pH.  Helpful if you find your pH in the low 3’s and still expect the yeast to do something.
[/quote]

I saw that Kristen England posted in the ‘Jim’s Beer Kit’ forum that pH was only half of the reason that he used KOH. The quote from the forum is brief and unexplained in the thread:

The company is the world’s best Potassium Hydroxide Solution supplier. We are your one-stop shop for all needs. Our staff are highly-specialized and will help you find the product you need.

[quote]Potassium (K) really makes the yeast healthy
[/quote]

If anyone cares to expand on why KOH is more desirable than K2CO3 or the like that’d be really helpful information - is KOH’s ability to raise pH just greater?

Thanks guys.

[quote]I’d lean towards the carbonate myself.  It would change the pH more slowly.
[/quote]

IIRC, K2CO3 is a weak base and only partially dissociates into K2+ and CO3- and that dissociation is based on several factors including the current pH of the solution and only the CO3 can accept an H+ ion raising the pH (lowering the acidity) while KOH is a strong base that fully ionizes in solution contributing 1M of OH- per 1M of KOH solution raising the pH (lowering the acidity) because of the hydroxide contribution… I think…

Please correct this if I’m mistaken - I’m no scientist and the information above was pieced together from Wikipedia and Google.

Based on my strong Google skill it seems it would take more K2CO3 than KOH to achieve the same effect on pH.

The only reason I mention any of this is that the BJCP mead guide that I linked to above says:

[quote]Excess carbonate can also impart a metallic or soapy note in the flavor. Don’t use more than 5 grams of potassium carbonate when adjusting pH of the must.
[/quote]

Anyone have any experience with this or nuggets of chemistry knowledge to drop? Is 5g of K2CO3 enough to achieve the desired effect? Also, why does the BJCP mead guide have the above quote and also list:

[quote]6g K2CO3 or 150ppm KOH (30ml of 2M solution)
[/quote]

as one of the ingredients of the basic mead making process on page 86 of the pdf? Did it actually mean, “Up to 6g K2CO3 based on pH shift during fermentation”?

Edit: 8/31/10 - from lowering pH to raising pH - cause of my dumbness…

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I would like to try making shampoo. I am trying to find out any specific product (brand) names that I should look for or buy containing only potassium hydroxide. What stores would possibly carry it. I'm hoping to find it locally first before having to buy online. I'm not sure I understand your question. Are you looking for a potassium hydroxide supplier? I don't know of one, but I don't make soap. Why do you want potassium hydroxide in a shampoo? Are you looking to make a soap-based shampoo? Check out Swift's blog for a ton of info on shampoo making. Maybe someone else here can be of more help. KOH

KOH / Caustic Potash is typically only used for liquid soaps like for washing your hands. Most shampoos (that I know of) do not contain KOH.
Do you have a particular formulation you are looking at?

Most of your hair/ body wash formulations will be something like blends of gentle surfactants - coco glucoside / coco betaine and decyl glucoside, with some add'l conditioners and m aybe a thickening agent (salt if you are using sulfates I guess) Most of the recipes I have found making shampoo from scratch call for potassium hydroxide (koh). A few I have found call for sodium Hydroxide (na oh). I have also found a few using a castille soap base, from my understanding is pure olive oil and potassium hydroxide for a liquid soap base. I would mainly like to make the liquid shampoo- tho I am also interested in making a shampoo bar at some point when I have found a recipe that would be compatible to my hair.
It took a while for me to find the 100% sodium hydroxide(na oh) in a local store in a name brand product. I was hoping to do the same with the potassium hydroxide (koh), since I want to start with a liquid shampoo I need the potassium hydroxide (koh) not the sodium hydroxide (na oh). Annie, I assume you meant that most shampoos are not made WITH KOH, not CONTAIN because of course all the caustic is consumed in the reaction with the oil and the finished shampoo wouldn't contain any.

Commercial shampoos are detergent based (soaps and detergents are both surfactants), and these are generally kinder to your hair. But some people still prefer SOAP for their hair - liquid or bar. If it's liquid we still call it SHAMPOO.

Yes, you can make your own shampoo using KOH and oils. It's unlikely you will find a local source of KOH. I order mine from AAA Chemicals, but there are other soap suppliers from whom you can order it as well.