Persulfates are oxidizing agents in the preparation of aldehydes, ketones, carboxylic acids, quinones, and a variety of other compounds. The pharmaceutical industry uses sodium persulfate as a reagent in the preparation of antibiotics.
Sodium persulfate acts as a polymerization initiator in polymer chemistry, as an etchant and cleaner in the manufacturing of printed circuit boards, as a booster in hair bleaching formulations in cosmetics.
Potassium persulfate is used as an initiator for emulsion polymerization reactions, in the preparation of acrylic, vinyl, styrene, neoprene, styrene-butadiene and other resins. It is also used in depolymerization in modification of starch, as a booster in hair bleaching formulations in cosmetics and as a gel breaker in the oil and gas industry.
Ammonium persulfate acts as a polymerization initiator in polymer chemistry, as an etchant and cleaner in the manufacture of printed circuit boards, as a booster in hair bleaching formulations in cosmetics and as a gel breaker in the oil and gas industry.