Sodium Citrate’s Commercial Applications
Sodium Citrate is the natural sodium salt of citric acid. It retains citric acid’s sour taste and is used as a sour salt flavor additive and as a food preservative. Most lemon-lime soft drinks owe their sour flavor to sodium citrate. It is also used to control acidity and acts as a stabilizer. Sodium citrate is used in food items such as chocolate spheres, cheese slices, and various liquid dairy products.
In cosmetics, sodium citrate serves as a buffering agent to control pH level and as a preservative to prevent contamination and degradation by microorganisms. Sodium citrate can be found in all types of cosmetic products including makeup, hair care, skin care, soaps and detergents.
Along with citric acid, sodium citrate is used in medicine as an alkalinizing agent to make urine less acidic. A condition known as metabolic acidosis occurs when the body produces too much acid or the kidney is unable to excrete acid quickly enough. There are several types of this condition including lactic acidosis, diabetic ketoacidosis, and renal tubular acidosis where sodium citrate may be an effective treatment. Sodium citrate can also help to prevent gout and certain types of kidney stones.
Production of sodium citrate is accomplished by neutralizing citric acid with sodium hydroxide or carbonate. While citric acid is produced naturally in citrus fruits and other plants, mass production usually occurs by fermentation. As with other consumer grade salts, sodium citrate is usually offered in the form of white, granular, water soluble crystals.
Independent Chemical is pleased to offer sodium citrate as part of its extensive product line. We cater to end users across a range of industries and deliver quality products with excellent customer service. Contact our sales team for more information.