The dietary requirement for iodine was established many years ago as an essential element for maintainance of cell growth in human beings and animals. The largest concentration of iodine occurs in the thyroid gland where hormon thyroxine (C₁₅H₁₁O₄I₄N) is present.The waters and soils of some areas do not contain the minimal trace quantities of iodine required by normal diet.The daily requirement of iodine is 40 micrograms for children upto six months of age and 150 micrograms for a grown up adult. For pregnant and lactating mothers the daily requirement ranges from 175 to 200 micrograms. Insufficient intake of iodine generally results in goiter, retarded mental and physical growth, deaf mutism cretaniom, increase in still births and infant mortality, all these diseases are clubed together in a group and called Iodine deficiency disorders (IDD). IDD can be prevented by addition of iodine to common salts used for food. Salt has been considered the most effective economical and self controlling carrier for iodine. The Govt. Of India has taken a policy decision to iodise the total edible salt consumption and potassium iodate has been recommended by Govt of india as an iodating agent.This has generated an increased demand of potassium iodate among the salt manufacturers.

PROCESS

The electrochemical production of potassium iodate can be carried out from an aqueous solution of iodine in potassium hydroxide. Titanium substrate Insoluble Anode (TSIA) are used as anodes and stainless steel covered with asbestos fibre as cathode.The process broadly consists of :-

• a. Dissolving iodine in caustic potash solution.
• b. Oxidation of the Potassium iodide to iodate
• c. Cooling the cell product so as to crystallise potassium iodate
• d. Filtering of the KI0₃ and recycling the mother liquor to cell feed.