Specification :

Agriculture

* Correction of the pH of acidic soils[7]
* As a fungicide[8]
* As a herbicide[9]

[edit] Biological and medical tests and diagnostics

* KOH test[10] (to diagnose fungal infections).
* Whiff test[11] (to diagnose bacterial vaginosis).
* In botany and mycology, an aqueous solution (typically 10% or less) of KOH is used to rehydrate dried herbarium material in preparation for microscopy.
* In palynology, an aqueous solution of KOH is used to deflocculate soil particles aggregated onto pollen grains.

[edit] Medical therapeutics (human and veterinary)

* wart and cuticle solvent.
* (veterinary medicine) disbudding calves horns; dissolving scales and hair.

[edit] Food preparation

Food uses of KOH include:

* Washing or chemical peeling of fruits and vegetables
* Chocolate and cocoa processing
* Caramel color production
* Poultry scalding
* Soft drink processing
* Thickening ice cream
* Soaking of olives to soften them and neutralize natural acids
* Glazing of pretzels and German lye rolls before baking to make them crisp.
* Soaking of cod to make the Scandinavian delicacy known as lutefisk (from lutfisk, "lye fish"). Cod is soaked in KOH to a jelly-like consistency, then served with bacon fat, potatoes, brown cheese (brunost) sauce and mushy peas.
* Making of hominy, which is dried maize (corn) kernels reconstituted by soaking in KOH.

* Making suman, a sweetened rice delicacy in the Philippines.

[edit] Manufacturing and commercial chemical processes

KOH is a major industrial chemical because it is used as a base in a wide variety of chemical processes. Some uses of KOH include:

* Acrylate ester copolymer coating
* Anti-foaming agent used in the manufacture of paper [12]
* saponifying oils for liquid soap
* Formulation aid for food[13]
* pH control agent (raises pH by neutralizing acids)
* Making polyethylene resins
* Textile processing
* As a catalyst in reactions like the production of biodiesel[14].
* Manufacture of many cleaning products[15], such as:
o Washing powders
o Cleansers (for tubs, tile, etc)
o Some denture cleaners
o Non-phosphate detergents
o Drain or pipe cleaners (clog dissolvers)
o Widely used in carpet cleaning degreasers
* Manufacture of alkaline batteries, which use an aqueous solution of KOH as an electrolyte[16]. Thus, potassium hydroxide helps to power flashlights, smoke detectors, and other battery-powered household items.
* As an anisotropic etchant of silicon[17], exposing octahedral planes. This technique can create pyramids[18] and regularly-shaped etch pits for uses such as microelectromechanical systems.
* An anisotropic etchant of GaAs[19], exposing Ga and As {111} planes. This technique can create rectangular etch pits by etching As (111) plane faster.