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Potassium nitrate

Potassium nitrate suppliers and sourcing guide

Potassium nitrate is a white, water-soluble crystalline salt. It is made mainly by reacting potassium chloride with nitric acid or sodium nitrate and crystallizing the product, and some is mined from natural deposits. Oral care brands buy pharmacopeial or high-purity grades as the declared active in toothpastes for sensitive teeth; food and technical grades serve curing and fertilizer markets.

See suppliersWhat to ask for on the COA
Also known as
Saltpeter · Niter · KNO3 · CAS 7757-79-1
Facts checked
November 2026

Forms and grades of potassium nitrate

Suppliers sell different products under the same name. Specify the one you need.

  • Pharmacopeial grade

    USP or Ph. Eur. potassium nitrate, used as a drug or natural health product active in dentifrices.

  • Food grade

    Material meeting Food Chemicals Codex specifications for food uses such as curing.

  • Technical and fertilizer grades

    Lower-purity grades for agriculture and industry; not suitable for oral care.

What to check on the COA

Compare each result with your own specification when the lot arrives.

Assay
Potassium nitrate content on a dried basis by the compendial method.
Chloride, sulfate and nitrite
Limit tests for these anions; nitrite is a key impurity.
Loss on drying
Moisture content; the salt can cake in humid storage.
Heavy metals
Lead and other metals by ICP-MS.
Particle size
Sieve analysis, which affects dissolving speed in toothpaste batching.

Storage, lots and expiry

Storage and shelf life

Store potassium nitrate in closed containers in a cool, dry place away from combustible materials, reducing agents and heat; it is an oxidizer. Keep it dry to prevent caking. Shelf life and retest dates come from the supplier's specification.

Lots and expiry dates

Record assay, moisture and nitrite for each lot. Keep oral-care grade lots separate from food or technical grades in the warehouse to avoid mix-ups.

Regulatory status

Facts from regulators and standards bodies, each linked to its source.

This is general information, not regulatory advice. Status differs by country and by how the ingredient is used, so check the rules for your product and market.

Potassium nitrate suppliers

Manufacturers and distributors whose own websites say they sell it.

We are checking potassium nitrate suppliers now

Every listing is checked against the supplier’s own website before it goes live, so this list fills in over the coming weeks. The specs and COA checklist above are ready today.

Sell potassium nitrate? Request a listing

Frequently asked questions

What forms of potassium nitrate can brands buy?

Common forms include pharmacopeial grade, food grade and technical and fertilizer grades. Ask each supplier for the specification sheet of the exact grade they quote.

What should the COA for potassium nitrate include?

Expect assay, chloride, sulfate and nitrite, loss on drying, heavy metals and particle size, each with its method, specification and result for that lot.

How should potassium nitrate be stored?

Store potassium nitrate in closed containers in a cool, dry place away from combustible materials, reducing agents and heat; it is an oxidizer. Keep it dry to prevent caking. Shelf life and retest dates come from the supplier's specification.

What is the regulatory status of potassium nitrate?

21 CFR 172.160 permits potassium nitrate as a food additive used as a curing agent in processing cod roe, at no more than 200 ppm of the finished roe. Health Canada's Oral Health Products Monograph lists potassium nitrate at 5% w/w in dentifrices, for adolescents 12 to 17 years and adults. FDA's Substances Added to Food inventory lists potassium nitrate (CAS 7757-79-1) with technical effects including antimicrobial agent and cites 21 CFR 172.160.

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