Why has commercial production of potassium by electrolysis been difficult?

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A periodic table element box for potassium shows atomic number 19, symbol K, atomic weight 39.0983, electron configuration [Ar]4s1, and name potassium. Icons indicate it is an alkali metal, solid at room temperature, body-centered cubic crystal structure, and has strongly basic higher-valence oxides. A key explains the symbols for alkali metals, solid state, body-centered cubic structure, and strong basicity. — potassium Properties of potassium.

Commercial production of potassium metal via electrolysis has proven difficult because there are few salt additives capable of reducing the melting point of potassium chloride to a temperature range where the electrolytic process remains efficient.1

Because of these challenges, potassium metal is instead typically produced through the sodium reduction of molten potassium chloride at 870 °C (1,600 °F). In this process, molten potassium chloride is fed into a distillation column while sodium vapour is passed through it; the reaction is forced forward by the continuous condensation of the more volatile potassium.1