Potassium bicarbonate

Potassium bicarbonate	Last updated: 27/08/2025
(Also known as: potassium acid carbonate; potassium hydrogen carbonate)

Hazard alerts

The following alerts are based on the data in the tables below. An absence of an alert does not imply the substance has no implications for human health, biodiversity or the environment but just that we do not have the data to form a judgement. These hazard alerts do not take account of usage patterns or exposure, thus do not represent risk.

Environmental fate	Ecotoxicity	Human health
Environmental fate High alert: Drainflow: Very mobile	Ecotoxicity Moderate alert: Birds acute ecotoxicity: Moderate; Bees acute oral ecotoxicity: Moderate	Human health Low alert Warning: Significant data are missing

GENERAL INFORMATION

Description

Naturally occurring substance used for the control of several important fungal diseases of fruit and vegetables

Example pests controlled

Powdery mildew; Blight; Anthracnose, Grey mold

Example applications

Fruit including grapes, strawberries; apples; Vegetables; Aubergine; Tomatoes; Hemp

Efficacy & activity

Products have been available in the EU for over 10 years and assessed inline with Uniform Principles

Appearance and life cycle

Taxonomic classification

GB regulatory status

GB COPR regulatory status

Approved as a commodity substance and via COPR

Date COPR inclusion expires

31/08/2027

GB LERAP status

None

EC Regulation 1107/2009 (repealing 91/414)

EC Regulation 1107/2009 status

Approved

Dossier rapporteur/co-rapporteur

Netherlands/Greece

Date EC 1107/2009 inclusion expires

31/10/2036

EU Candidate for substitution (CfS)

Listed in EU database

Yes

Approved for use (✓) under EC 1107/2009 in the following EU Member States

ATAustria	BEBelgium	BGBulgaria	CYCyprus	CZCzech Republic	DEGermany	DKDenmark	EEEstonia	ELGreece
✓	✓	✓		✓	✓	✓		✓
ESSpain	FIFinland	FRFrance	HRCroatia	HUHungary	IEIreland	ITItaly	LTLithuania	LULuxembourg
✓		✓	✓	✓	✓		✓	✓
LVLatvia	MTMalta	NLNetherlands	PLPoland	PTPortugal	RORomania	SESweden	SISlovenia	SKSlovakia
✓		✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓

Approved for use (✓) under EC 1107/2009 by Mutual Recognition of Authorisation and/or national regulations in the following EEA countries

ISIceland	NONorway

Additional information

Known to be also used in the following countries

USA, Morocco

Chemical structure

Isomerism

None

Chemical formula

KHCO₃

Canonical SMILES

C(=O)(O)[O-].[K+]

Isomeric SMILES

International Chemical Identifier key (InChIKey)

TYJJADVDDVDEDZ-UHFFFAOYSA-M

International Chemical Identifier (InChI)

InChI=1S/CH2O3.K/c2-1(3)4;/h(H2,2,3,4);/q;+1/p-1

2D structure diagram/image available?

Yes

Cambridge Crystallographic Data Centre diagrams

Common Name	Relationship	Link
potassium bicarbonate	-

General status

Biopesticide type

Fungicide

Substance groups

Inorganic compound

Minimum active substance purity

99.5%

Known relevant impurities

EU dossier - Arsenic < 3 mg kg⁻¹; Lead < 10 mg kg⁻¹

Substance origin

Natural

Mode of action

Protectant and eradicant, bicarbonate causes the collapse of hyphal walls and shrinkage of fungal conidia

Substance source

Potassium bicarbonate occurs naturally in salt beds, sea water, silicate rocks, and a number of foods, primarily fruits and vegetables

Uses

Crop protection

Target pests

Powdery mildew; Blight; Anthracnose, Grey mould

Target host

Fruit including grapes, strawberries; apples; Vegetables; Aubergine; Tomatoes; Hemp

Farming system suitability

CAS RN

298-14-6

EC number

206-059-0

CIPAC number

853

US EPA chemical code

073508

PubChem CID

516893

CLP index number

No data found

Molecular mass

100.12

PIN (Preferred Identification Name)

IUPAC name

potassium hydrogen carbonate

CAS name

carbonic acid, monopotassium salt

Forever chemical

Other status information

Permitted in organic systems, UK Basic commodity substance implemented under the UK's Plant Protection Products Regulations 2011; EU Low-risk active substance

Relevant Environmental Water Quality Standards

Herbicide Resistance Class (HRAC MoA class)

Not applicable

Herbicide Resistance Class (WSSA MoA class)

Not applicable

Insecticide Resistance Class (IRAC MoA class)

Not applicable

Fungicide Resistance Class (FRAC MOA class)

Examples of recorded resistance

Physical state

White granules, crystals or powder

Commercial

Property

Value

Availability status

Current

Introduction & key dates

1994, introduced USA

Example manufacturers & suppliers of products using this active now or historically

Bioworks Inc.
Hellena Chemical Company
Certis
Arysta LifeScience North America LLC.
BioWorks, Inc.

Example products using this active

Armicarb 100
Eco-mate Armicarb O
Milstop
Carb-O-Nator
Kaligreen
MilStop

Formulation and application details

Usually supplied as a soluble powder

Commercial production

Produced commercially by passing carbon dioxide through an aqueous potassium carbonate solution.

Impact on climate of production and use

The estimated GHG emissions from the commercial production of potassium bicarbonate are approximately 0.5 to 1.2 kg CO₂e per kg of product. This range reflects typical industrial processes where potassium carbonate or potassium hydroxide is reacted with carbon dioxide in aqueous solution.

ENVIRONMENTAL FATE

Property

Value

Source; quality score; and other information

Interpretation

Solubility - In water at 20 °C (mg l⁻¹)

332000

High

Solubility - In organic solvents at 20 °C (mg l⁻¹)

20000

n-Heptane

10000

Toluene

10000

Methanol

10000

Ethyl acetate

Melting point (°C)

292

Boiling point (°C)

Degradation point (°C)

>156

Flashpoint (°C)

Octanol-water partition coefficient at pH 7, 20 °C

Not applicable

Log P

Not applicable

Fat solubility of residues

Solubility

Data type

Density (g ml⁻¹)

2.17

Dissociation constant pKa) at 25 °C

Vapour pressure at 20 °C (mPa)

Henry's law constant at 25 °C (Pa m³ mol⁻¹)

Volatilisation as max % of applied dose lost

From plant surface

From soil surface

Maximum UV-vis absorption L mol⁻¹ cm⁻¹

Surface tension (mN m⁻¹)

Degradation

Property

Value

Source; quality score; and other information

Interpretation

General biodegradability

Soil degradation (days) (aerobic)

DT₅₀ (typical)

0.1

Non-persistent

DT₅₀ (lab at 20 °C)

0.1

Non-persistent

DT₅₀ (field)

DT₉₀ (lab at 20 °C)

DT₉₀ (field)

DT₅₀ modelling endpoint

Note

General literature quotes very rapid degradation especially in the presence of water

Dissipation rate RL₅₀ (days) on plant matrix

Value

Note

Dissipation rate RL₅₀ (days) on and in plant matrix

Value

Note

Aqueous photolysis DT₅₀ (days) at pH 7

Value

Note

Aqueous hydrolysis DT₅₀ (days) at 20 °C and pH 7

Value

Note

Water-sediment DT₅₀ (days)

Water phase only DT₅₀ (days)

Sediment phase only DT₅₀ (days)

Air degradation

As this parameter is not normally measured directly, a surrogate measure is used: ‘Photochemical oxidative DT₅₀’. Where data is available, this can be found in the Fate Indices section below.

Decay in stored produce DT₅₀

Soil adsorption and mobility

Property

Value

Source; quality score; and other information

Interpretation

Linear

K_d (mL g⁻¹)

K_oc (mL g⁻¹)

Notes and range

Freundlich

K_f (mL g⁻¹)

Very mobile

K_foc (mL g⁻¹)

1.0

¹/_n

Notes and range

pH sensitivity

Known metabolites

None

ECOTOXICOLOGY

Terrestrial ecotoxicology

Property

Value

Source; quality score; and other information

Interpretation

Mammals - Acute oral LD₅₀ (mg kg⁻¹)

> 2064

Rat

Low

Mammals - Short term dietary NOEL

(mg kg⁻¹)

(ppm diet)

Mammals - Chronic 21d NOAEL (mg kg⁻¹ bw d⁻¹)

Birds - Acute LD₅₀ (mg kg⁻¹)

> 1000

Unknown species

Moderate

Birds - Short term dietary (LC₅₀/LD₅₀)

Birds - Chronic 21d NOEL (mg kg⁻¹ bw d⁻¹)

Earthworms - Acute 14 day LC₅₀ (mg kg⁻¹)

> 1000

Low

Earthworms - Chronic NOEC, reproduction (mg kg⁻¹)

Soil micro-organisms

Collembola

Acute LC₅₀ (mg kg⁻¹)

Chronic NOEC (mg kg⁻¹)

Non-target plants

Vegetative vigour ER₅₀ (g ha⁻¹)

Seedling emergence ER₅₀ (g ha⁻¹)

Honeybees (Apis spp.)

Contact acute LD₅₀ (worst case from 24, 48 and 72 hour values - μg bee⁻¹)

> 368

Apis mellifera

Low

Oral acute LD₅₀ (worst case from 24, 48 and 72 hour values - μg bee⁻¹)

> 24

Apis mellifera as sodium salt

Moderate

Unknown mode acute LD₅₀ (worst case from 24, 48 and 72 hour values - μg bee⁻¹)

Chronic as 10-day LC₅₀ µg bee⁻¹ day⁻¹

272.64

Apis mellifera

Notes

Bumblebees (Bombus spp.)

Contact acute LD₅₀ (worst case from 24, 48 and 72 hour values - μg bee⁻¹)

Oral acute LD₅₀ (worst case from 24, 48 and 72 hour values - μg bee⁻¹)

Mason bees (Osmia spp.)

Contact acute LD₅₀ (worst case from 24, 48 and 72 hour values - μg bee⁻¹)

Oral acute LD₅₀ (worst case from 24, 48 and 72 hour values - μg bee⁻¹)

Other bee species (1)

Acute LD₅₀ (worst case from 24, 48 and 72 hour values - μg insect⁻¹)

Mode of exposure

Other bee species (2)

Acute LD₅₀ (worst case from 24, 48 and 72 hour values - μg insect⁻¹)

Mode of exposure

Beneficial insects (Ladybirds)

Beneficial insects (Lacewings)

Beneficial insects (Parasitic wasps) as Mortality LR₅₀ g ha⁻¹, Extended lab study

> 7438

Aphidius rhopalosiphi

Low

Beneficial insects (Predatory mites) as Mortality LR₅₀ g ha⁻¹, Extended lab study

5568

Typhlodromus pyri

Low

Beneficial insects (Ground beetles)

Aquatic ecotoxicology

Property

Value

Source; quality score; and other information

Interpretation

Temperate Freshwater Fish - Acute 96 hour LC₅₀ (mg l⁻¹)

> 1200

Oncorhynchus mykiss

Low

Temperate Freshwater Fish - Chronic 21 day NOEC (mg l⁻¹)

Tropical Freshwater Fish - Acute 96 hour LC₅₀ (mg l⁻¹)

Temperate Freshwater Aquatic invertebrates - Acute 48 hour EC₅₀ (mg l⁻¹)

> 860

Daphnia magna

Low

Temperate Freshwater Aquatic invertebrates - Chronic 21 day NOEC (mg l⁻¹)

Tropical Freshwater Aquatic invertebrates - Acute 48 hour EC₅₀ (mg l⁻¹)

Aquatic crustaceans - Acute 96 hour LC₅₀ (mg l⁻¹)

Low risk

Sediment dwelling organisms - Acute 96 hour LC₅₀ (mg l⁻¹)

271.86

Chironomus riparius 48 hr EC₅₀

Low

Sediment dwelling organisms - Chronic 28 day NOEC, static, water (mg l⁻¹)

Sediment dwelling organisms - Chronic 28 day NOEC, sediment (mg kg⁻¹)

Aquatic Plants (free-floating, fonds growth, fresh) - 7 day (mg l⁻¹)

Aquatic plants (rooted, growth rate, fresh) - 14 day (mg l⁻¹)

Algae - Acute (growth rate, fresh; mg l⁻¹) (72 hr ErC₅₀, Static)

> 87.5

Raphidocelis subcapitata

Low

Algae - Chronic (growth rate, fresh; mg l⁻¹)

Mesocosm study data

NOEAEC mg l⁻¹

Marine bivalves

HUMAN HEALTH AND PROTECTION

General

Property

Value

Source; quality score; and other information

Interpretation

Threshold of Toxicological Concern (Cramer Class)

High (class III)

Mammals - Acute oral LD₅₀ (mg kg⁻¹)

> 2064

Rat

Low

Mammals - Dermal LD₅₀ (mg kg⁻¹ body weight)

2000

Rat

Mammals - Inhalation LC₅₀ (mg l⁻¹)

> 4.88

Rat 4 hr (whole body)

Other Mammal toxicity endpoints

ADI - Acceptable Daily Intake (mg kg⁻¹ bw day⁻¹)

None allocated

ARfD - Acute Reference Dose (mg kg⁻¹ bw day⁻¹)

None allocated

AAOEL - Acute Acceptable Operator Exposure Level (mg kg⁻¹ bw day⁻¹)

None allocated

AOEL - Acceptable Operator Exposure Level - Systemic (mg kg⁻¹ bw day⁻¹)

128

Dermal penetration studies (%)

10-50

concentration dependent

Dangerous Substances Directive 76/464

Exposure Routes

Public

No identified risks

Occupational

No identified risks

Mammalian dose elimination route and rate

Health issues

Specific human health issues

Carcinogen

Genotoxic

Endocrine disruptor

; ; ; ;

No data found

Reproduction / development effects

Acetyl cholinesterase inhibitor

Neurotoxicant

No data found

Respiratory tract irritant

Skin irritant

Skin sensitiser

No data found

Eye irritant

Phototoxicant

No data found

General human health issues

No further information available

Handling issues

Property

Value and interpretation

General

Not flammable, explosive or oxidising

CLP classification 2013

Health: H319, H335

WHO Classification

Not listed (Not listed)

UN Number

Waste disposal & packaging

Shelf-life, storage, stability and reactivity

TRANSLATIONS

Language

Name

English

potassium bicarbonate

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Swedish

Hungarian

Dutch

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Record last updated:	27/08/2025
Contact:	aeru@herts.ac.uk
Please cite as:	Lewis, K.A., Tzilivakis, J., Warner, D. and Green, A. (2016) An international database for pesticide risk assessments and management. Human and Ecological Risk Assessment: An International Journal, 22(4), 1050-1064. DOI: 10.1080/10807039.2015.1133242