Citric Acid – Applications, Production, and Industry-Specific Specifications
Citric acid is a naturally occurring weak organic acid with the chemical formula C₆H₈O₇. It is most commonly found in citrus fruits like lemons and limes, where it contributes to their tart flavor. Commercially, citric acid is produced through microbial fermentation, typically using Aspergillus niger, a type of mold that converts sugars into citric acid through a controlled biochemical process. This method ensures high purity and consistent quality, making it suitable for a wide range of industrial applications.
In the food and beverage industry, citric acid (often food-grade, E330) is used as a flavor enhancer, preservative, and acidulant. It balances pH levels in soft drinks, jams, candies, and packaged foods. The typical specification here includes ≥99.5% purity, low moisture content, and compliance with FCC/USP standards.
In pharmaceuticals, citric acid serves as an excipient for effervescent tablets, stabilizer in syrups, and pH control agent. The pharma-grade citric acid demands extremely low heavy metals, microbial purity, and strict compliance with pharmacopeia specifications (IP/BP/USP).
In the cosmetic and personal care industry, it is used in skincare formulations to adjust pH, act as a preservative, and provide mild exfoliating properties. Cosmetic-grade citric acid must be non-GMO, allergen-free, and comply with REACH or INCI guidelines.
For industrial and cleaning applications, citric acid is valued for its chelating properties, especially in descaling agents, detergents, and water treatment. Here, industrial-grade citric acid is supplied in bulk with slightly relaxed purity parameters but high effectiveness for cleaning and descaling.
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