Citric Acid Overview
Citric Acid is a weak organic acid that is produced as a white crystalline powder. It is a natural food preservative that is also used to add an acidic, or sour taste to foods and soft drinks. In biochemistry, it is important as an intermediate in the Krebs (Citric Acid) cycle and therefore occurs in the metabolism of virtually all living things. Citric Acid can also be used as an environmentally benign cleaning agent.
World wide annual production in 2007 stood at approximately 1,700,000 metric tons. More than 50% of this volume was produced in China. More than 50% was used as an acidulent in beverages and approximately 20% was used in other food applications. Another 20% was used for detergent applications, and 10% was used in the production of non-food related products such as cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and in the chemical industry.
TCC can deliver Citric Acid in 50 lb. and 25 kg bags, 2,000lb and 1,000kg bulk bags and by bulk tanker with one week lead time.
About Citric Acid
Citric Acid exists in greater than trace amounts in a variety of fruits and vegetables, most notably citrus fruits. Lemons and limes have particularly high concentrations. Citric Acid can constitute as much as 8% of the dry weight of these fruits.
At room temperature, Citric Acid is a white crystalline powder. It can exist either in an anhydrous (water-free) form or as a monohydrate. The anhydrous form crystallizes from hot water. The monohydrate will form when Citric Acid is crystallized from cold water. The monohydrate can be converted to the anhydrous form by heating above 78°C. Citric Acid also dissolves in absolute ethanol at 15° C.
In chemical structure, Citric Acid shares the properties of other carboxylic acids. When heated above 175°C, it decomposes through the loss of carbon dioxide and water. Citric Acid leaves a white crystalline precipitate.
Citric Acid is a slightly stronger acid than typical carboxylic acids. This is because the anion can be stabilized by intermolecular hydrogen-bonding from other protic groups on Citric Acid.
The discovery of Citric Acid has been credited to the 8th century Islamic alchemist Jabir Ibn Hayyan. Medieval scholars in Europe were aware of the acidic nature of lemon and lime juices since the 13th century. The chemical was first isolated in 1784 by the Swedish chemist Carl Wilhelm Scheele, who crystallized it from lemon juice. Industrial-scale Citric Acid production began in 1890 based on the Italian citrus fruit industry.
In 1893, C. Wehmer discovered that penicillium mold could produce Citric Acid from sugar. However, microbial production of Citric Acid did not become industrially important until WWI disrupted Italian citrus exports.
Applications using Citric Acid
TCC's Citric Acid is a useful ingredient in beverages, jams, jellies, candies and frozen foods. It is also added in gelatin and fruit-based desserts as well as in canned vegetables and meat products. Citric Acid preserves food and enhances flavor. It is one of the most useful ingredients in the food and beverage industries.
Citrate salts of various metals are used to deliver those minerals in a biologically available form in many dietary supplements. The buffering properties of citrates are used to control pH in household cleaners and pharmaceuticals.
Citric Acid's ability to chelate metals makes it useful in soaps and laundry detergents. By chelating the metals in hard water, it lets these cleaners produce foam and work more efficiently without the need for water softening.
Similarly, Citric Acid is used to regenerate the ion exchange materials used in water softeners by stripping off the accumulated metal ions as citrate complexes.
It is used in the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industry to passivate high purity process piping in substitution for using nitric acid. Nitric acid is a hazardous disposal issue once it is used for this purpose, while Citric Acid is not.
Citric Acid is recognized as being safe for use in food by all major national and international food regulatory agencies. It is naturally present in almost all forms of life, and excess Citric Acid is readily metabolized and eliminated from the body.
Product Specification - Citric Acid
Description
Citric Acid Anhydrous consists of colorless crystals or a white, granular to fine powder, practically odorless, with a strong acid taste.
Product identification
Chemical name: 2-hydroxy-1,2,3-propanetricarboxylic acid
Synonyms: Citric Acid
CAS No.: 77-92-9
EINECS No.: 201-069-1
INCI name: Citric Acid
Empirical formula: C6H8O7
Molecular mass: 192.12 g/mol
Specifications
| Appearance | colourless crystals or white, granular to fine powder |
| Identity | corresponds |
| Water (K. Fischer) | max. 0.2% |
| Extraneous matter | passes test |
| Heavy metals | max. 1 ppm |
| Arsenic | max. 1 ppm |
| Lead | max. 0.5 ppm |
| Mercury | max. 1 ppm |
| Copper | max. 1 ppm |
| Zinc | max. 1 ppm |
| Iron | mmax. 1 ppm |
| Barium | max. 1 ppm |
| Calcium | max. 10 ppm |
| Magnesium | max. 1 ppm |
| Aluminium | max. 0.2 ppm |
| Chlorides | max. 5 ppm |
| Sulphates | max. 30 ppm |
| Oxalates | max. 10 ppm |
| Readily carbonizable substances | passes test |
| Related substances | passes test |
| Sulphated ash | meets USP requirements |
| Organic volatile impurities | meets USP requirements |
| Tridodecylamine | meets FCC requirements |
| Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons | meets JP requirements |
| Colour (500 g/L, T at 405 nm, 1 cm) | min. 98% |
| Assay | 99.8–100.2% (on anhydrous substance) |
Fineness (US standard sieves):
| Medium Granular 1200 | |||
| On | No. 16 (1190 μm) | max. 5% | |
| Through | No. 35 (500 μm) | max. 10% | |
| Fine Granular 700 | |||
| On | No. 25 (707 μm) | max. 5% | |
| Through | No. 50 (297 μm) | max. 5% | |
| Fine Granular 51N | |||
| On | No. 30 (595 μm) | max. 5% | |
| Through | No. 100 (149 μm) | max. 5% | |
| Fine Granular 16/40 | |||
| On | No. 40 (420 μm) | max. 5% | |
| Through | No. 100 (149 μm) | max. 5% | |
| Powder | |||
| On | No. 60 (250 μm) | max. 5% | |
| Through | No. 200 (74 μm) | min. 65% | |
Uses
As an acidulant, flavour enhancer and sequestering agent in processed food and beverages, and as a synergist in antioxidant mixtures.
For pharmaceutical preparations, especially effervescent tablets. For personal care products.
Material Safety Data Sheet
1. Identification of the substance and company.
Product name: Citric Acid anhydrous
| Use |
|
Company Information:
The Chemical Company
19 Narragansett Avenue
Jamestown, RI 02835
Phone 401.423.3100
Fax +401.423.3100
www.thechemco.com
2. Hazards identification
Most important hazards - Irritating to eyes.
3. Composition/Information on ingredients
| Chemical name | 2-Hydroxy-1,2,3-propanetricarboxylic acid |
| Synonyms |
|
| CAS number | 77-92-9 |
| EINECS number | 201 069 1 |
| Ro number | Ro 01-7548/001 |
| Empirical formula | C6H8O7 |
| Molecular mass | 192.12 g/mol |
4. First-aid measures
| Eye contact |
- rinse immediately with tap water for 10 minutes - open eyelids forcibly - consult physician |
| Skin contact | - remove contaminated clothes, wash affected skin with water and soap - do not use any solvents |
| Inhalation |
- remove the casualty to fresh air and keep him/her calm - in the event of symptoms get medical treatment |
| Note to physician | - treat symptomatically |
5. Fire-fighting measures
| Suitable extinguishing media | - water spray jet, dry powder, foam, carbon dioxide |
| Specific hazards | - severe dust explosion hazard |
| Protection of fire-fighters | - precipitate gases/vapors/mists with water spray |
6. Accidental release measures
| Methods for cleaning up |
- collect solids (avoid dust formation) and hand over to waste removal - rinse with plenty of water |
7. Handling and storage
Handling
| Technical measures |
- transfer and handle only in enclosed systems - local exhaust ventilation necessary - take precautionary measures against electrostatic charging - avoid dust formation; high dust explosion hazard |
| Suitable materials | - stainless steel, enamel, glass, polyethylene, polypropylene |
| Unsuitable materials | - aluminum, copper, zinc, steel |
Storage
| Storage conditions |
- in closed containers - 10 - 30 °C - protected from humidity |
| Packaging materials | - tightly closing; material: glass, stainless steel, polyethylene, polypropylene, PVC. |
8. Exposure controls/Personal protection
| Engineering Measures | see 7. |
| Monitoring | |
| Analytics | sampling on glass fiber filter and gravimetric or chemical determination |
| Personal protective equipment | |
| Respiratory protection | in case of open handling of larger quantities or accidental release: particle mask or respirator with independent air supply |
| Hand protection | protective gloves (eg made of NR Natural Rubber, NBR Acrylnitril-Butadien-Rubber) |
| Eye protection | afety glasses |
9. Physical and chemical properties
| Color | white |
| Form | powder, different granular size |
| Odor | odorless, with a strong acidic taste |
| Density | 1.665 g/cm3 (20 °C) |
| Bulk density | ~ 725 kg/m3 |
| Solubility | ~ 750’000 mg/l, water soluble, ethanol badly soluble, diethyl ether insoluble, benzene insoluble, chloroform |
| Partition coefficient | log Pow -1.72 (octanol/water) |
| pH value (20 °C) | 2.2 (10 g/l aqueous solution) |
| Melting temperature | 152 to 154 °C |
| Ignition point (liquid) | 500 °C |
10. Stability and reactivity
| Conditions to avoid |
humidity - temperatures above 40 °C |
| Materials to avoid | potassium tartrate, alkalis, alcaline earth carbonates and bicarbonates, metal nitrates, acetates, sulfides |
| Note | slightly hygroscopic |
11. Toxicological information
| Acute toxicity | - LD50 | 5’400 | mg/kg | (oral, mouse) |
| - LD50 | > 7’000 | mg/kg | (oral, rabbit) | |
| - LD50 | > 6’730 | mg/kg | (oral, rat) | |
| Subacute toxicity | - NOEL | 4’000 | mg/kg/d | (oral, rat, 5 d) |
| Local effects |
- eye: strongly irritant (rabbit) - skin: moderately irritating (rabbit) |
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| Chronic toxicity | well tolerated 2000 mg/kg/d (oral, rat; 90 days) | |||
| Mutagenicity | not mutagenic | |||
| Carcinogenicity |
not carcinogenic (rat) - not carcinogenic (mouse) |
|||
| Reproduction toxicity | not teratogenic | |||
| Note | intermediate product of human metabolism (Citric Acid cycle) | |||
12. Ecological information
| Inherent biodegradability |
- well inherently biodegradable 98 %, 7 days (Zahn-Wellens test, OECD No. 302 B) |
| Ecotoxicity |
- moderately toxic for planktonic crustaceans (Daphnia magna) LC0 80 mg/l |
|
- barely toxic for fish (goldfish) LC0 625 mg/l |
|
|
- barely toxic for microorganisms (Pseudomonas putida) EC0 (16 h) > 10000 mg/l |
|
|
- barely toxic for protozoa (Entosiphon sulcatum) EC0 (72 h) 485 mg/l |
|
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- barely toxic for algae (Scenedesmus quadricauda) EC0 640 mg/l |
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- moderately toxic for algae (Microcystis aeruginosa) EC0 80 mg/l |
|
| Air pollution | - observe local/national regulations |
13. Disposal considerations
14. Transport information
| Waste from residues | - observe local/national regulations regarding waste disposal |
| Note | - not classified by transport regulations |
15. Regulatory information
Classification and labeling according to EU directives
R36 Irritating to eyes.
S24/25 Avoid contact with skin and eyes.
Water hazard class (Germany) 1: weakly hazardous for water (according to annex 1 or 2 of directive VwVwS of 17.05.1999)
16. Other information
| Safety-lab number | - BS-8269 |
| Note |
- the present safety data sheet covers the following products:
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Shipping & Ordering Information
TCC Citric Acid is available for shipping throughout the continental United States with 1 week's lead-time. Please call (401) 423-3100 for details. The product is shipped in 50-lb. and 25kg bags, 2000-lb. and 1000kg bulk bags, by bulk tanker.
Contact
The Chemical Company
19 Narragansett Ave.
Post Office Box 436
Jamestown, RI 02835-0436
Telephone: (401) 423-3100
FAX: (401) 423-3102
Robert N. Roach III "Robb"
President
Cell: (401) 864-3111
Email: mailto:robb@thechemco.com
©2010 The Chemical Company · The information on this site is believed to be accurate and represents the best information currently available to us. However, we make no warranty of merchantability or any other warranty, express or implied, with respect to such information, and we assume no liability resulting from its use. Users should make their own investigations to determine the suitability of the information for their particular purposes. In no event shall The Chemical Company be liable for any claims, losses, or damages of any third party or for lost profits or any special, indirect, incidental, consequential or exemplary damages, howsoever arising, even if The Chemical Company has been advised of the possibility of such damages.