KOH vs NaOH

[Reborn]

So SWIM has access to pure KOH easily but not so much NaOH.
For a STB extraction would KOH work well?
I read NaOH is good at breaking powder up but seems to me KOH would work as well.

 

[Reborn]

Think I found answer to this so sorry for redundant question but still feel free to weigh in.

 

[benzyme]

most definitely, simply because it's much more soluble in water. swim would rather get KOH, but naoh was cheaper and supplied in-house.

 

[Reborn]

Lucky SWIM, tons of KOH no NaOH.

 

[azn921]

Hi, i have received KOH instead of NaOH in the mail for my extraction. i plan on having 100g of MHRB, 600 mL of water, and 100g of KOH. the tek calls for 100g of NaOH, but i was wondering if i coudl just use 100g KOH instead of NaOH.
A simple yes would suffice, an explication on yields/difficulties with KOh instead of NaOH is much appreciated.
i searched it, i got an answer, but it didn answer my questions.
Thanks.

 

[benzyme]

do you have a pH meter?
it would be a better idea to prep a quart of basic solution with a pH of 13.5.
you don't necessarily need a 1:1 ratio.

 

[۩]

Without a meter pH can be indicated by whether or not the layers separate almost immediately. If they don't, you need to add more base. KOH has been successfully used in extractions and you should not have any problems.

 

[endlessness]

just add till solution is black, KOH should raise the pH enough for that.

 

[thick-light]

Has anyone done an experiment to test the difference in yields when using NaOH vs. KOH?

I read NaOh packs a little more punch than KOH when making biodiesel fuels. Is there a difference when extracting?

 

[elphologist1]

I have not tested the use of KOH for extractions, but I do know that NaOH and KOH are very similar chemically. If I was in need of NaOH for an extraction but only had KOH I would not hesitate to use it.

The reason NaOH might be said to pack "more punch" is that sodium has a lower molecular weight than potatium. The molecular weight of NaOH is 23 + 16 + 1 = 40. The molecular weight of KOH is 39 + 16 + 1 = 56. Thus you are going to need 56 grams of KOH to equal the amount chemically of 40 grams of NaOH. Other than that, I don't suspect there are any issues.

 

[thick-light]

Thanks elph!!!