Introduction to Citric Acid Monohydrate and Its Applications

Citric acid monohydrate is also known as citric acid, citric acid, scientific name 3-hydrocarbonyl -3 - shuttle glutaric acid, citric acid monohydrate exists in nature in lemon, citrus, plum, plum, pear, peach, fig and other fruits, with unripe contains more acid. Citric acid monohydrate is colorless translucent crystals or white crystalline powder, odorless, with a strong pleasant sour taste, which is gradually weathered in warm air and has deliquescence in moist air. According to different crystallization conditions, there are anhydrous citric acid and citric acid with crystalline water in crystalline form. Commercial citric acid is mainly anhydrous citric acid and citric acid monohydrate. Citric acid monohydrate is crystallized from aqueous solution at low temperature (lower than 36.6℃), and after separation and drying, the product has a molecular weight of 210.14, a melting point of 70-75℃, and a density of 1.542. When placed in dry air, the water of crystallization of citric acid monohydrate will be escaped and weathered. Citric acid anhydrous is crystallized in aqueous solution above 36.6°C, molecular weight 192.12, density 1.665. The critical temperature for the transformation of citric acid monohydrate into citric acid anhydrous is 36.6°C. Citric acid monohydrate is widely used in food industry.

Citric acid monohydrate is widely used in food industry, as feed Additive, non-toxic detergent, mordant and so on. At the same time, citric acid monohydrate can also be used in pharmaceuticals, chemical industry, light industry, atomic energy, environmental protection and other industrial fields, in addition to cosmetics, metal cleaners, resins, paper, tobacco, electroplating and other indispensable Organic Raw Materials. The discovery of citric acid monohydrate has a history of more than 200 years, as early as 1784, the first time someone isolated citric acid crystals from lemon juice. 1917, the use of Aspergillus niger fermentation method for the production of citric acid monohydrate, citric acid monohydrate from the beginning of the industrialized production.

Due to its mild and refreshing acidity, citric acid is widely used in the production of beverages, soft drinks, wines, candies, snacks, cookies, canned fruit juices, dairy products and other food products. Citric acid has a market share of more than 70% of all organic acids, and there are no acidulants that can replace citric acid.

Esters of citric acid, such as triethyl citrate, are used as non-toxic plasticizers in plastic films for food packaging. They are acids and preservatives in the beverage and food industries.