What is Potash?
The name “Potash” comes from how the substance originated. From the industrial era, potash was created from leaching wood ashes in a pot. During this time, the uses for potash ranged from manufacturing soap and glass to gunpowder. What is Potash? Potash is comprised of several inorganic compounds of potassium within a water-soluble form. Potash uses are essential for different industries. However, to understand how useful this substance is we will look at the facts and various ways it is used.
Things to know about Potash
Today, minerals containing potassium are mined then processed to create various potash uses. One fact about potash is that a large amount of it is produced as potassium chloride. Potassium is a basic nutrient for plants which is why potash is used to produce fertilizer. Additionally, potash is also an essential element throughout the world, with its production reaching 30 million tons per year.
Uses for potash
The most widely recognized potash use is within the agricultural industry. A large portion of potash is used to create fertilizer. Due to the substances’ high levels of plant nutrients that help crops with things like root strength and disease resistance using potash within fertilizer is a must. Potash uses span from agricultural to industrial chemicals. Other uses for potash include:
- Ceramics
- Water conditioners
- Detergents
- Manufacturing glass
- Snow and Ice Melting
Importance of Potash
Potash use is important, especially within the agricultural industry. Potash contains large amounts of potassium, a mineral that is crucial to the growth and maintenance of human tissue, muscle, and organs. Potash use as an additional additive within our diet is important for overall health. Using potash within the agricultural industry as fertilizer helps crops sustainably produce food whereas without this substance a predicted percentage of the words population would suffer from a shortage of food producing. Potash is used for the production of the world’s food supply and currently, there is not substitute for this important substance.
Sources of Potash
Traditionally, potash was harvested by burning wood ashes, but today it can be extracted from a variety of sources. Dried up seas leaving residue of minerals on land contain sources of potash. Other sources of potash are mined through various potassium salt deposits found throughout the world.
Potash is a useful resource and important for many industries. Potash and its potassium-rich ingredients help plants and agricultural industries. In terms of the human diet and overall health, potash is known for its rich mineral and chemical composition. General Kinematics offers a variety of equipment to help with potash processing including our STM-SCREEN™ Two-Mass Vibratory Screens. To learn more about how GK can support your potash mining process read our case study or browse the general kinematics site to learn more about our equipment offerings.
