What is Potassium Gluconate Used For?
Potassium gluconate (CAS 299-27-4) is an organic potassium salt formed by combining potassium with gluconic acid. As one of the most bioavailable and palatable potassium forms in the mineral supplement and functional food market, potassium gluconate is widely used in dietary supplements, sports and electrolyte beverages, and functional foods. Its organic salt form provides superior gastrointestinal tolerability compared to potassium chloride (KCl), which causes gastric irritation and pronounced saltiness that limits its use in consumer formulations at the doses required to deliver meaningful potassium nutrition.
WIS Biotech has supplied food-grade and feed-grade potassium gluconate from its Shandong, China production facility since 2015. With a 10,000 m² manufacturing complex and 60,000 MT/year combined gluconate capacity, our facility serves supplement brands, food manufacturers, and feed premix producers in over 80 countries. Our direct-manufacturer position eliminates middleman markups and gives B2B buyers direct access to production scheduling, custom documentation, and responsive technical support.
Key Applications
Dietary Supplements and Electrolyte Products
Potassium is an essential electrolyte for cardiovascular health, muscle contraction, and nerve transmission, and dietary potassium intake is consistently below recommended levels in Western populations. Potassium gluconate is the leading organic potassium form in dietary supplements — used in standalone potassium capsules and tablets, multi-mineral electrolyte products, and cardiovascular health formulas. Its clean, mild taste compared to the harsh bitterness of potassium chloride makes it the preferred choice for flavored powder and liquid supplement formats where consumer palatability determines repeat purchase. WIS Biotech’s food-grade potassium gluconate meets E577 and JECFA purity standards for supplement manufacturing globally.
Sports and Hydration Beverages
In sports nutrition, potassium gluconate is a key component of isotonic and hypertonic electrolyte formulas targeting hydration, cramping prevention, and post-exercise recovery. Its solubility across typical sports drink pH ranges (3.0–5.0) and neutral flavor profile allow formulators to include meaningful potassium doses — typically 100–200 mg elemental potassium per serving — without compromising drink palatability. WIS Biotech supplies potassium gluconate to sports beverage brands and co-manufacturers in North America, Europe, and Southeast Asia, with technical data sheets confirming solubility behavior and compatibility with common functional beverage ingredients.
Food Fortification and Sodium Reduction
Potassium gluconate serves dual roles in functional food applications: as a potassium mineral fortifier for health-positioned products, and as a partial sodium chloride replacer in salt-reduction programs. Unlike potassium chloride — which imparts a metallic, bitter taste at levels required to meaningfully reduce sodium — potassium gluconate contributes a clean, mild mineral note far less disruptive to finished product flavor. It is used in reduced-sodium soups, sauces, processed meats, and snack products by manufacturers reformulating toward recommended daily potassium targets without sacrificing consumer acceptability. Approved as EU food additive E577, GRAS in the USA, and listed in China GB 2760.
Animal Feed Electrolyte and Mineral Supplementation
Potassium is one of three major electrolytes in animal nutrition, critical for acid-base balance, fluid regulation, and muscle function across all livestock species. Feed-grade potassium gluconate is incorporated into oral rehydration electrolyte solutions for calves and piglets, and into performance-targeted mineral premixes for dairy cattle and intensive poultry operations. WIS Biotech’s FAMI-QS certified feed-grade potassium gluconate is manufactured on a segregated feed line and supported by documentation meeting EU compound feed regulations, exported to premix manufacturers and livestock nutritionists in Europe, the Gulf, and Southeast Asia.
Product Specifications
| Parameter | Specification |
|---|---|
| CAS Number | 299-27-4 |
| Molecular Formula | C6H11KO7 |
| Molecular Weight | 234.25 g/mol |
| Assay (dried basis) | 97.0% – 103.0% |
| Potassium (K) Content | 16.5% – 17.5% |
| Appearance | White crystalline powder |
| Solubility | Freely soluble in water (~60 g/100 mL at 25°C) |
| pH (5% solution) | 7.0 – 8.5 |
| Loss on Drying | 1.0% max |
| Heavy Metals (as Pb) | 20 ppm max |
| Arsenic (As) | 3 ppm max |
| Lead (Pb) | 2 ppm max |
| Available Grades | Food Grade (E577/JECFA), Feed Grade (FAMI-QS) |
Packaging & Supply
Potassium gluconate is available in 25 kg net multi-layer kraft paper bags with inner PE liner, or 500 kg / 1,000 kg FIBCs (ton bags). Nitrogen-flush packaging available on request. Storage: below 30°C, dry and well-ventilated, away from direct sunlight.
MOQ: 500 kg. Standard 20-foot FCL at 10–18 MT. Terms: FOB Qingdao (standard); CIF, CFR, DDP available for established accounts. Lead time: 7–14 business days from order confirmation. Samples (1–5 kg) dispatched by DHL/FedEx within 3–5 business days for qualification trials.
Quality & Compliance
WIS Biotech’s potassium gluconate production is covered under the following active certification programs:
- ISO 9001:2015 – Quality Management System covering procurement, in-process control, and final QC release
- FSSC 22000 – Food Safety System Certification (GFSI-recognized); governs food-grade production lines
- Halal – IFANCA – Islamic Food and Nutrition Council of America; valid for export to Muslim-majority markets globally
- Kosher – OU – Orthodox Union; required for US specialty retail and export to Israel
- FAMI-QS – Feed Additive and Premixture Quality System (feed-grade lines only)
WIS Biotech does not produce pharmaceutical-grade (USP/BP/EP) material. Products are intended for food, feed, and industrial use. Every shipment includes CoA, SDS, and origin documentation. Health Certificates, Fumigation Certificates, and ASEAN Form E available on request.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between potassium gluconate and potassium chloride for supplement use?
Both supply elemental potassium, but potassium gluconate (~16.7% K) is an organic form with a mild, slightly sweet taste, while potassium chloride (~52% K) is inorganic with a pronounced salty-bitter taste that limits palatability above 200–300 mg K per dose. Potassium gluconate is the standard choice for flavored beverages, gummies, and liquid formulations; KCl is used primarily in plain capsules and tablets where taste is masked by coating or encapsulation.
How much elemental potassium is in WIS Biotech’s potassium gluconate?
Our specification guarantees 16.5%–17.5% elemental potassium (K) on an as-is basis, assay 97.0%–103.0% dried basis per E577/JECFA methods. For a 99 mg elemental potassium dose (US FDA supplement labeling threshold per serving), approximately 580–600 mg of potassium gluconate is required. Our technical team can provide full formulation support and dosing calculations on request.
Is potassium gluconate soluble enough for functional beverage applications?
Yes. Potassium gluconate has excellent water solubility (approximately 60 g/100 mL at 25°C) and remains fully dissolved in typical functional drink pH ranges (3.0–6.0). It is compatible with citric acid, ascorbic acid, and most common beverage stabilizers and does not precipitate or cloud in solution. WIS Biotech can supply solubility data and formulation guidance for R&D qualification projects.
What is the MOQ and lead time for potassium gluconate?
MOQ is 500 kg. Standard FCL orders ship at 12–18 MT per 20-foot container. Sample quantities (1–5 kg) are available for lab qualification via international courier, dispatched within 3–5 business days. Established accounts with regular volumes can arrange blanket orders with monthly call-off schedules to streamline procurement.
Is potassium gluconate permitted as an EU food additive?
Yes. Potassium gluconate is approved as E577 under EU Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008. It is also GRAS-affirmed in the USA and approved under China GB 2760. WIS Biotech’s food-grade product meets EU purity criteria for E577 and ships with CoA, SDS, and origin documents for EU customs clearance.
Are Halal and Kosher certificates available for potassium gluconate?
Yes. Both IFANCA Halal and OU Kosher certificates explicitly cover potassium gluconate production at our Shandong facility. Certificates are available on our Downloads page and are updated annually. Country-specific Halal certificates (MUI, JAKIM) can be arranged on request for specific export destinations.
Related Resources
- Potassium Gluconate in Food and Supplements: An Application Guide
- Sourcing Gluconate from China: A Buyer’s Checklist
For construction and concrete admixture applications of gluconates, visit our group company Definly Chemicals.
Related Products
Customers sourcing potassium gluconate from WIS Biotech also frequently order Magnesium Gluconate and Sodium Gluconate for complete electrolyte blend formulations.
About WIS Biotech
WIS Biotech is a dedicated gluconate ingredient manufacturer founded in 2015, headquartered in Shandong Province, China. Our 10,000 m² production facility delivers a combined annual output of 60,000 MT across eight mineral gluconate and specialty ingredient products. With a 90% export ratio and active customer relationships in over 80 countries, WIS Biotech is one of China’s leading direct-manufacturer gluconate suppliers. We are part of a group that includes Definly Chemicals, our export trading and construction chemicals affiliate. Learn more about our group structure.