Potassium permanganate in crystals and solution - what is the shelf life?

How long does potassium permanganate last?

Potassium permanganate has an official name - potassium permanganate. According to the chemical composition, it is a potassium salt of manganese acid (KMnO4). The crystals are colored dark purple, almost black with a steely sheen; the solution ranges from light pink to dark crimson, depending on the concentration.

Potassium permanganate is a chemical used in medicine, therefore, in accordance with the legislation of the Russian Federation, a shelf life and expiration date are established for it.

• Shelf life is the period of time during which, subject to all manufacturer requirements, the drug retains the qualities and properties declared during production.
• Shelf life is the period of time after which the product becomes unsuitable for use. It can be indicated as a date (best before) or as a time period (best within) (Article 472 of the Civil Code of the Russian Federation).

Read more about the shelf life and storage of medications in a separate article.

If, after the established storage period, the quality indicators of the drug have not changed, then it is suitable for use until the expiration date.

The countdown of any duration of a medicinal product begins from the date of its production. This period of time includes:

• the presence of the drug in the manufacturer’s warehouse;
• transportation to the place of storage or sale;
• stay in the warehouses of retail outlets.

Is the packaging properly labeled?

Potassium permanganate is a toxic substance with explosive properties. Due to the danger of possible fire, special requirements are imposed on its packaging and labeling, according to GOST 3885-73 “Reagents and Highly Pure Substances”:

1. The opacity of ampoules, test tubes or bags is ensured by the opacity of the material from which they are made. It is allowed to replace such packaging with transparent one, but only if it is wrapped in thick paper.
2. Each package must be affixed with a label with the manufacturer’s trademark, which must indicate:
   name of the manufacturer;
3. name of the product and its chemical formula;
4. weight of powder in packaging;
5. batch number;
6. date of manufacture;
7. storage conditions;
8. warranty period of storage.
9. Labels must be made of durable material and be resistant to external influences. The label is glued to the plastic bag with glue or placed inside.

How long can manganese remain in crystals?

The maximum shelf life of potassium permanganate in crystals and powder is the same and is 5 years. During this period, the drug fully complies with the stated quality requirements, subject to the following conditions:

• Store in a dry, dark place, away from light. Opaque packaging is required.
• Maximum storage temperature + 250C.
• The tube cap must be tightly closed.

The guaranteed shelf life of potassium permanganate, as stated by the manufacturers, is 3 years, subject to all storage conditions (GOST 20490-75).

How to understand the indicated expiration date of a medicine, read here.

According to GOST

What is the shelf life of potassium permanganate? The shelf life of potassium permanganate is regulated by the Soviet GOST 20490-75 with amendments made in 2021 “Reagents. Potassium permanganate. Technical conditions".

According to it, the guaranteed shelf life of potassium permanganate is 3 years from the date of manufacture.

The shelf life of this chemical is not established in GOST and is determined by the manufacturer.

For technical potassium permanganate used in agriculture and other fields, the shelf life is established by GOST 57774-84; the shelf life of such a reagent is 1 year from the date of production.

Rules for keeping the powder dry at room temperature

Potassium permanganate crystals are chemicals that should be stored with the utmost care. At home, to maintain quality and medical properties, it is necessary to comply with the requirements indicated on the packaging.

Additionally, you should pay attention to the following prohibitions:

• do not allow the drug to come into contact with dust;
• do not expose to high temperatures;
• Do not store near oils, fats, glycerin and phosphorus, as well as magnesium and aluminum to avoid explosion.

The storage place should be inaccessible to children, as the drug causes burns to the mucous membranes and skin.

Can potassium permanganate expire?

Potassium permanganate , more often referred to simply as potassium permanganate, is one of the most popular antimicrobial agents.

Its scope of application includes rinsing the nose and throat, and in case of food poisoning, gastric lavage, as well as treating wounds, burns and ulcers, and douching.

In addition to the medical field, potassium permanganate is also used for technical purposes, in particular in home farming or photography.

Dear readers! Our articles talk about typical ways to resolve legal issues. If you want to find out how to solve your particular problem, call the free consultation numbers:

Does potassium permanganate have an expiration date, what is it?

According to Russian legislation, all forms of medications have an expiration date , which means the period of their safe use and maximum effectiveness.

This also applies to medical potassium permanganate.

Does hydrogen peroxide have an expiration date? Read here.

For the medication, the standard that has been preserved from Soviet times is valid, namely GOST 20490-75 “Reagents. Potassium permanganate. TU" as amended in 2016.

According to this standard, the drug in crystals is guaranteed to retain its characteristics for a 3-year period from the date of release.

Responsibility for determining the shelf life rests with the manufacturer.

For the technical product, GOST 5777-84 is valid, defining a storage period of 1 year .

For metallic and nitrided manganese, GOST 6008-90 applies.

How long can it be stored?

The product in pharmacies is presented in the form of a crystalline powder, which, according to information from the manufacturers, is capable of maintaining its quality for 5 years .

The sale of the prepared solution has practically ceased today.

It is easy to prepare the solution yourself at the rate of 2-3 crystals per 20 ml of warm boiled water.

at home

The diluted pale pink solution is kept in a closed container , preferably glass, in a cool place away from the sun and heat sources.

You can find out what storage period paracetamol may have from here.

Thus, the best option is to place the solution in the refrigerator. Its use is recommended within 48 hours from the moment of preparation.

The container is then washed well with running water , but the use of detergents is not advisable.

fire hazard should be taken into account .

Also read in the next article about the timing of antiseptics such as iodine and brilliant green.

In this regard, it follows :

• contain the powder only in closed glass ;
• avoid exposure to sunlight ;
• the storage place should be inaccessible to children due to the danger of the concentrate to the mucous membranes and skin;
• protect from exposure to high temperatures ;
• Avoid being in close proximity to oils and fats, as well as glycerin, sulfur and phosphorus due to the possibility of ignition and even detonation.

There is a high probability of an explosion when potassium permanganate comes into contact with active metals such as magnesium or aluminum.

How to identify a spoiled drug?

Long-term storage requires maintaining all of the above requirements.

Interaction with water or air negatively affects the preservation of the characteristics of the drug; it loses its oxidizing properties, and with them its usefulness as a medication.

Read about the expiration dates of Levomekol ointment here.

The depravity of potassium permanganate can be judged by the following signs :

1. if the solution has a crystalline precipitate due to the insolubility of some crystals in water;
2. acquisition of a 5% solution of a color other than crimson or pink ;

Most often, in this case, a red-brown tint is acquired, which does not comply with the instructions and standards.

When the crystals are completely dissolved in water and a solution with the required color is obtained, you can safely use it if necessary.

How to deal with delays?

If there are no signs of deterioration listed above, you can use potassium permanganate even after the expiration date stated by the manufacturer.

In this article you will learn about the maximum shelf life of activated carbon.

These indicators practically guarantee the safety of further use of the drug.

Today, with a huge selection of different products with antiseptic properties, many still prefer to use potassium permanganate due to its versatility and ease of preparation, as well as shelf life.

Source: https://zakonpotr.ru/srok-godnosti/margantsovki.html

How long should the diluted solution be stored?

A solution of potassium permanganate is not a drug with a long shelf life, since crystals diluted in water oxidize it and quickly lose their healing properties.

• At room temperature. At room temperature, the drug retains its properties for 1-2 hours.
• In a refrigerator. An aqueous solution of potassium permanganate, poured into a sealed container, does not lose its medicinal properties for 48 hours at a temperature of +2+60C. However, if flakes form at the bottom, the drug becomes unusable before the specified time has elapsed.

Potassium permanganate should only be diluted in glass containers. The use of metal utensils reduces the degree of oxidation of the solution and the drug becomes unusable within a few minutes.

Is it possible to use expired substances?

After three years from the date of production of the product, it is necessary to visually check its color. If the powder has retained its shade, then the medicinal properties of the drug have remained unchanged, and it can be used until the deadline.

After the expiration period, if potassium permanganate was stored in compliance with all requirements, it should be checked for suitability by preparing a solution. If the color of such a solution corresponds to the norm, and the crystals have completely dissolved, then such a preparation can be used, but only for household or economic purposes.

Is there any danger?

It is pointless to use a prepared solution of potassium permanganate, stored for more than 2 days, since the oxidation process in it is completed and the medicinal properties are lost.

It is strictly prohibited to use a solution of potassium permanganate prepared from crystals that have passed their expiration date for medical purposes! The use of such a drug causes burns, allergic reactions and poisoning.

Over time, the components of any drug enter into chemical reactions and change their properties. Do iodine, fish oil, castor oil, Suprastin, Linex, activated carbon, brilliant green, hydrogen peroxide, tetracycline ointment have an expiration date and how to store them correctly at home - read on our Internet portal.

How can you tell if your potassium permanganate has expired? Is it usable?

What can happen to potassium permanganate during long-term storage? If the content conditions are met, potassium permanganate is able to maintain its chemical quality for almost an unlimited time. In the case when this powder came into contact with water or, for example, with air, potassium permanganate may lose its chemical property as an oxidizing agent and become useless from a medical point of view. Potassium permanganate in the form of a powder or reagent solution has several signs, the presence of which makes it possible to understand that the chemical is deteriorating:

• Some crystals may simply not dissolve in water, resulting in the formation of a crystalline precipitate.
• A five percent solution may turn out red, and not crimson, as prescribed in the instructions.

If the crystals of the chemical are completely dissolved in water, and its color fully corresponds to expectations, then you can safely use this product for all necessary purposes. What to do if the dry potassium permanganate expires?

Let's find out whether the expired product can be used.