250g Potassium Bromide Powder Lab Grade 99+% Purity

Potassium bromide (KBr) has a wide range of applications across various industries and scientific fields. In spectroscopy, it is most commonly used to prepare KBr pellets for Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), where its transparency to infrared light allows for the analysis of solid samples. It is also used to create optical lenses, windows, and prisms for infrared spectroscopic instruments due to its broad spectral transmission range from the near ultraviolet to long-wave infrared (0.25–25 μm).

In medicine and veterinary science, potassium bromide has a long history as an anticonvulsant and sedative. It was one of the first effective treatments for epilepsy, used extensively in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, and was available over-the-counter in the US until 1975 due to concerns over chronic toxicity and a narrow therapeutic index. Although it is no longer approved by the US FDA for human use, it remains an approved antiepileptic drug in Germany, particularly for severe forms of epilepsy in children and adolescents. In veterinary medicine, it is still widely used, especially for treating epilepsy in dogs, either as a first-line treatment or in combination with phenobarbital, particularly when phenobarbital is ineffective. Its use in cats is limited due to a risk of causing lung inflammation (pneumonitis).

In photography, potassium bromide acts as a restrainer in black-and-white film development, where it controls the rate of development and prevents fogging by reducing the number of unexposed silver halide crystals. It is also used in the manufacture of silver bromide, a key component in photographic emulsions.

In industrial applications, potassium bromide is used as a dense brine fluid in oil and gas drilling operations to control well pressure and prevent blowouts, offering a less corrosive alternative to other brines. It serves as a reagent in chemical synthesis, including the production of flame retardants, dyes, and specialty coatings. It is also used in water treatment as a disinfectant and biocide to control microbial growth. Additionally, it functions as a laboratory reagent in buffer solutions, titrations, and the synthesis of other compounds.

Potassium bromide is also used in the production of X-ray contrast agents and radiographic imaging chemicals. Its hygroscopic nature requires storage in airtight containers to prevent moisture absorption and clumping. While historically used in human medicine, its use has declined due to the availability of safer alternatives, but it remains a valuable compound in scientific, industrial, and veterinary contexts.