1.Deicing
Potassium acetate can be used as a deicer instead of chloride salts such as calcium chloride ormagnesium chloride. It offers the advantage of being less aggressive on soils and much less corrosive, and for this reason is preferred for airport runways. It is, however, more expensive. Potassium acetate is also the extinguishing agent used in class K fire extinguishers because of its ability to cool and form a crust over burning oils.
2.Food additive
Potassium acetate is used as a food additive as a preservative and acidity regulator. In the European Union, it is labeled by the E number E261;it is also approved for usage in the USA and Australia and New Zealand.Potassium hydrogen diacetate (CAS #4251-29-0 ) with formula KH(OOCCH3)2 is a related food additive with the same E number as potassium acetate.
3.Medicine and biochemistry
In medicine, potassium acetate is used as part of replacement protocols in the treatment of diabetic ketoacidosis because of its ability to break down into bicarbonate and help neutralize the acidotic state.
In molecular biology, potassium acetate is used to precipitate dodecyl sulfate (DS) and DS-bound proteins, allowing the removal of proteins from DNA. It is also used as a salt for the ethanolprecipitation of DNA.
4.Industry
Potassium acetate is used as a catalyst in the production of polyurethanes.