Our Products
Potassium

At SQM Iodine Plant Nutrition

We have over 30 years of experience in the production and marketing of 100% natural industrial chemicals, especially high-purity refined nitrates.

Potassium makes crops more resistant to drought and produces healthier fruits and vegetables with a longer shelf life.

How do we produce it?

The brines extracted from the Atacama Salt Flat are deposited in solar evaporation ponds, where concentrated brines and salts are obtained using solar energy.

The concentrated brines are then reinjected into the salt flat’s underground deposits.

The salts deposited in the evaporation ponds are harvested and transported.

Potassium chloride, potassium sulfate, and boric acid are then obtained through grinding, flotation, drying, and compaction processes.

What are the main sources of potassium for use in fertilizers?

POTASSIUM NITRATE (KNO₃)

Obtained through the reaction of sodium nitrate and potassium chloride. Used in enamels, coatings, metal treatment, and in the manufacture of gunpowder.

POTASSIUM CHLORIDE (KCl)

Primarily used in oil well drilling as a stabilizer.

POTASSIUM SULFATE (K₂SO₄)

It is obtained from the brines of the Atacama Salt Flat and is used in the manufacture of plasterboard in the construction industry.

Frequently Asked Questions

Potassium is produced from natural brines extracted from the Salar de Atacama, which are concentrated through solar evaporation. The resulting salts are then harvested and processed through crushing, flotation, drying, and compaction to obtain products such as Potassium Chloride (KCl), Potassium Sulfate (K₂SO₄), and Potassium Nitrate (KNO₃).

Potassium improves crop resistance to drought, enhances water and nutrient uptake, and helps produce healthier fruits and vegetables with better quality and longer shelf life. It is an essential nutrient in efficient fertilization programs.

Potassium Nitrate (KNO₃): A combined source of nitrogen and potassium, used in both agricultural and industrial applications. Potassium Chloride (KCl): Widely used in oil well drilling and as a raw material in fertilizers. Potassium Sulfate (K₂SO₄): Ideal for chlorine-sensitive crops and also used in the construction industry.

High-purity potassium is used in sectors such as: Agriculture and specialty fertilizers. Oil drilling. Construction (gypsum board manufacturing). Metal treatment and coatings. Enamel production and specific chemical applications.

The Salar de Atacama has unique geological and climatic conditions that enable a highly efficient and sustainable solar evaporation process. This ensures consistent production, high purity, and energy optimization in the extraction of potassium salts.