Citric Acid Monohydrate

Citric acid is an organic compound with the chemicalformula C6H8O7 .H2O. It isa colourless or white crystalline particles or powder. Odourless andextremely sour. A weak organic acid. It occurs naturallyin citrus fruits. In biochemistry, it is an intermediate inthe citric acid cycle, which occurs in the metabolism ofall aerobic organisms.

Citric Acid Monohydrate is a tricarboxylic acid found in citrus fruits. Citric acid is used as an excipient inpharmaceutical preparations due to its antioxidant properties. It maintainsstability of active ingredients and is used as a preservative.

• It isuses as the stronger edible acids, the dominant use is as a flavouring andpreservative in food and beverages, especially soft drinks and candies.
• It isan excellent chelating agent, binding metals by making them soluble. It is used to removeand discourage the buildup of limescale from boilers and evaporators.
• Ipassivate stainless steels.
• It canbe used to treat water, which makes it useful in improving the effectiveness ofsoaps and laundry detergents.
• It is used as an acidulant in creams, gels, and liquids.
• Its buffering properties of citrates are used tocontrol pH inhousehold cleaners and pharmaceuticals.

More than twomillion tons of citric acid are manufactured every year. It is usedwidely as an acidifier, as a flavouring, and a chelating agent.