Since 1975, two of the three western European plants shut down and China emerged as a major player in the production of the chemical potassium permanganate. According to Ullmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry, the world product capacity is between 43,000 and 51,000 tons per year. Actual demand is less than 30,000 tons per year. All this potassium permanganate has many industrial uses.
Water Treatment
In the U.S., western Europe and Japan, one of the chief uses of potassium permanganate is purifying drinking water and treating waste water. Potassium permanganate removes iron, manganese, hydrosulfide, phenols and other wastes from water and removes offensive tastes and smells. It is also used in air purification.
Chemical Production
In Eastern Europe, India and other parts of the world, potassium permanganate is used in the synthesis of other chemicals, including ascorbic acid, saccharine, isonicotinic acid, pyrazinoic acid and the drug chloramphenicol. Many of the chemical intermediates required for drug and pesticide production are synthesized via oxidation with potassium permanganate.
Film and Theatre
Potassium permanganate can be mixed with water and applied to surfaces to age them because the color tends to form brownish hues quickly. Designers such as Victor DeLor experiment with different ratios of potassium permanganate and water to deepen the color of wood and give it a weathered appearance. Potassium permanganate can be used to age theater props as well.
Former Uses
A May 1936 issue of the "Evening Post" reported that Condy's crystals should be taken on all expeditions over snow because it could be used to produce signal flares. "Condy's crystals" is an antiquated name for potassium permanganate. A 1920 article in the Journal of American Medicine indicated that potassium permanganate was used to treat gonorrhea in men. This use has long been abandoned.
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