This section provides an overview for potassium as well as their applications and principles. Also, please take a look at the list of 16 potassium manufacturers and their company rankings. Here are the top-ranked potassium companies as of November, 2024: 1.Santa Cruz Biotechnology, Inc., 2.Compass Minerals, 3.Canpotex Limited.
Table of Contents
Potassium, with atomic number 19, belongs to group 1 of the periodic table, making it an alkali metal. Discovered in 1807 by Humphry Davy, it plays a crucial role in plant nutrition as a primary fertilizer component alongside nitrogen and phosphorus. Essential for human health, potassium regulates osmotic pressure in cells but is highly reactive, existing only in compound form in nature.
Potassium salts, such as potassium sulfate and potassium chloride, are extensively used in agriculture, while potassium nitrate is a key ingredient in soap making. Potassium carbonate is employed in glass manufacturing, with potassium also finding applications in photoengraving, fireworks, and matches due to its reactivity and various compounds.
This soft metal is lighter than water, with a low melting point of 63.7°C (146.66°F) and a boiling point of 774°C (1425.2°F). Potassium's reactivity is intermediate within the alkali metals, rapidly oxidizing in air and reacting explosively with water. It is stored under mineral oil or argon to prevent reaction with air.
Symbolized as K, with an atomic weight of 39.10, potassium features a silvery-white appearance and a body-centered cubic structure. It easily forms cations due to its low first ionization energy, with 24 known isotopes, including the stable 39K and 41K, and the radioactive 40K.
While not found freely in nature, potassium is the seventh most abundant element in the Earth's crust, extracted primarily as potassium chloride from various mineral sources.
Metallic potassium is produced through the electrolysis of potassium hydroxide, with potassium salts mined from ores like carnallite and langbeinite. Seawater, despite its low potassium content compared to sodium, serves as another source.
The metal reacts violently with water, posing explosion risks. It requires careful handling to prevent ignition or explosion when in contact with air or water.
*Including some distributors, etc.
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Santa Cruz Biotechnology, Inc., established in 1991 and headquartered in Dallas, Texas, is an American manufacturer and supplier specializing in biological products for medical research. Initially providing antibodies to the research community, they expanded their offerings to include gene silencers like siRNA and shRNA (plasmid and lentiviral), targeting all known mouse and human genes. Over time, Santa Cruz Biotechnology provides over 175,000 research biochemicals under the brand ChemCruz, including protein-interacting inhibitors, substrates, and activators, tailored for studying protein functions. The company offers monoclonal primary antibodies, designed for various mammalian and non-mammalian protein targets, along with corresponding binding secondary antibodies.
Kishida Chemical Co. Ltd., established in 1924 and headquartered in Osaka, Japan, is a manufacturer of reagents and high-purity chemicals and also does drug discovery support activities. Its product portfolio includes fine chemicals, research chemicals, ionic liquid, organic micro-analytical reagents, and chemical reagents for analysis. The products support several industries, including reagent business, battery material, drug discovery, and life science. The company is ISO 14001 certified and supplies several companies worldwide, including Meterion Advanced Chemicals Inc., Acros Organics, ChemBridge Corporation, Decon Laboratories, and InerBioScreen Ltd.
Biosynth is a Swiss manufacturer of life science reagents established in 1966 and headquartered in Staad. The company sources and manufactures biochemical products such as carbohydrates, nucleosides, and enzyme substrates, as well as various peptides and biologics. They also operate as a contract manufacturer offering custom synthesis and manufacturing services for their clients in the pharmaceutical, diagnostic, food, and agrochemical sectors. Biosynth has regional sales offices and specialized facilities in Europe and North America, including in the Netherlands, United Kingdom, and United States.
Millipore Sigma, formerly known as Sigma-Aldrich, was created in 175 through the merger of Sigma Chemical Company and Aldrich Chemical company and today is a subsidiary of Merck. Millipore Sigma is a life science and biotechnology company serving the industry with several products and services. Some of their product categories include peptide synthesis materials, biochemicals, building blocks, catalysts, chemical biology, chemical synthesis, flavors & fragrances, formulation, lab chemicals, lab safety, APIs, and stable isotopes. Services include characterization, contract manufacturing, custom products, software, support, testing, and mRNA development & manufacturing.
Compass Minerals, headquartered in Overland Park, Kansas, and established in 1993, is a manufacturer and supplier of essential minerals. The company is organized into two key segments: salt and plant nutrition. The salt segment specializes in manufacturing salt products, including sodium chloride and magnesium chloride. These salts find application as deicers for roads, water treatment agents, nutrition supplements for humans and animals, ingredients in chemical production, and much more. In the Plant Nutrition segment, it produces sulfate of potash specialty fertilizers, which are sold under the Protassium+ brand. These fertilizers are used in broadcast spreaders, direct applications, and liquid fertilizer solutions.
Vynova, established in 2015, stands as a European manufacturer in the chemical industry, that specializes in the production of chlor-alkali products and PVC resins. With over 1,275 employees across multiple production sites in five countries, Vynova has positioned itself as a major supplier with a diverse chemicals portfolio. Their offerings encompass multiple grades of suspension PVC (S-PVC), potassium derivatives, caustic soda (NaOH), and sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl). While relatively young, Vynova draws on decades of experience from sites operating under major international chemical companies.
Nacalai Tesque Inc., founded in 1846 and headquartered in Kyoto, Japan, is a manufacturer of research chemicals, fine chemicals, diagnostics, and the related instruments. Some of its products include cytokines, nucleic acid electrophoresis, cell dissociation reagents, and sialic acid-related products, and it also offers custom and bulk service for bulk reagents and cell culture media. The company has more than 50 domestic distributors and several worldwide, including Asia, the Middle East, Oceania, Europe, and Africa. It is ISO 9001 and ISO 9002 certified, while the Kyoto South brand and Tesque factory are ISO 14001 certified.
Alfa Aesar is based in Lancashire, United Kingdom. Alfa Aesar is part of Thermo Fisher Scientific, is a manufacturer and supplier of chemicals, metals, and life science products for research and development. Alfa Aesar’s product lines include chemicals, life science, materials & metals, catalysts, and analytical & lab ware. Chemical offerings include inorganic compounds, organic compounds, organometallic, and solvents. Life sciences include biotechnology products, cellular & molecular biology, genomics, and immunology. Materials & metal include alloys, carbon, etchants, and more. Catalysts include ferrocenes, fuel cell products, and precious metals & catalysts. Alfa Aesar also offers custom manufacturing options.
Industrias Químicas Fervalle S.L., established in Spain, is a chemical manufacturer and supplier founded in 1981. The company specializes in designing products to the nutritional efficiency of plants and prevent the appearance of diseases to improve the vegetative cycle. It serves various sectors, including manufacturing, construction, and agriculture, offering essential chemical solutions, and provides products as water conditioners, soil conditioners, bio-insecticides, bio-fungicides and bio-stimulants. It offers solutions for businesses seeking chemical products for organic, biodynamic and conventional agriculture.
Prakash Chemicals Agencies Private Limited, established in 1966 and situated in Vadodara, Gujarat, India, operates as a distributor and supplier of an extensive range of chemicals. The company has a portfolio exceeding 200 chemicals that find applications across various industries, including Coatings, Oil & Gas, Food, Pharmaceuticals, Personal Care, and more. It places a strong emphasis on maintaining an efficient supply chain and has implemented state-of-the-art ERP and in-house CRM systems to standardize its business processes, thereby ensuring prompt turnaround times.
Headquartered in India, Sri Raam Chemicals Private Limited is a company that specializes in Calcium and Magnesium Chloride. Founded in 2013, they manufacture, supply, export, and import these naturally occurring minerals. Sri Raam Chemicals Private Limited satisfies customer needs by providing simple payment options and competitive prices, enabling open communication, and delivering larger orders. They are certified to export to European Union countries and the USA, and are the only 100 percent Expert Oriented Unit that is approved by the Indian government.
Rishi Chemical Works is an Indian- based company that manufactures a comprehensive range of Pharmaceutical Chemicals and Industrial Fine Chemicals for industries all over the world. Their production facility is in Northern India, and their extensive product line includes Monopotassium Phosphate, Trisodium Phosphate, and Monosodium Phosphate, Potassium Acetate, among many more. They have a diverse range of plant and equipment, some of which are semi-automatic, to carry out various unit processes and operations.
Agrifeed SRL, founded in 2015 and headquartered in Modena, Italy operates as a trader and supplier of products for zootechnical and fertilizer use. The company offers a wide range of products including feed materials, additives, premixes, protein concentrates, and complementary feeds. These products are used for animal nutrition. The company is also able to produce complementary feeds and premixes for zootechnical use, customized according to the customer’s request. Products sold always undergo analysis of qualitative control to avoid the presence of undesired dangerous substances.
NINGXIA STAR BIOTECHNOLOGY CO., LTD. is an ISO 9001 certified manfuacturer and supplier of organic soil conditioners and crop supplements The company provides more than 23 countries with its original fulvate acid & Humate acid bio-stimulants and related services, including soil improvement and remediation, as well as crop balance nutrition diagnosis tech and green agricultural input. The company's offerings play a vital role in soil enhancement, crop nutrition, and sustainable agriculture practices.
Ranking as of November 2024
Derivation MethodRank | Company | Click Share |
---|---|---|
1 | Santa Cruz Biotechnology, Inc. |
17.8%
|
2 | Compass Minerals |
10.9%
|
3 | Canpotex Limited |
8.9%
|
4 | Industrias Químicas Fervalle S.L. |
7.9%
|
5 | MilliporeSigma |
7.9%
|
6 | Prakash Chemicals Agencies Private Limited |
6.9%
|
7 | Biosynth |
5.9%
|
8 | Kishida Chemical Co.,Ltd. |
5.9%
|
9 | Vynova |
5.0%
|
10 | nacalai |
5.0%
|
Derivation Method
The ranking is calculated based on the click share within the potassium page as of November 2024. Click share is defined as the total number of clicks for all companies during the period divided by the number of clicks for each company.Number of Employees
Newly Established Company
Company with a History
*Including some distributors, etc.
*Including some distributors, etc.
Country | Number of Companies | Share (%) |
---|---|---|
Japan | 2 | 20.0% |
United States of America | 1 | 10.0% |
Switzerland | 1 | 10.0% |
United Kingdom | 1 | 10.0% |
Spain | 1 | 10.0% |
India | 1 | 10.0% |
Canada | 1 | 10.0% |
Italy | 1 | 10.0% |
China | 1 | 10.0% |