Trisodium Citrate Anhydrous

Introduction

Trisodium citrate is a tribasic salt of citric acid. It is produced by complete neutralisation of citric acid with high purity sodium hydroxide or carbonate and subsequent crystallisation and dehydration. The common hydrate form, trisodium citrate dihydrate, is widely used in foods, beverages and various industrial applications mainly as buffering, sequestering or emulsifying agent.

Jungbunzlauer trisodium citrate anhydrous is manufactured from trisodium citrate dihydrate. Water molecules of the dihydrate crystals are removed by a patented process without destroying the original crystal matrix. The resulting crystals have a porous matrix that can be used as a carrier for inorganic and/or organic substances like perfumes and surfactants. Due to its low water content trisodium citrate anhydrous does not add water to the formulation. It has even the excellent ability to take up surplus water from moisture sensitive formulations thus providing better shelf life to the end product. Therefore, trisodium citrate anhydrous finds its particular uses in water sensitive formulations like instant drinks as well as tablets and powders in pharmaceuticals and detergents.

Trisodium citrate anhydrous occurs as white, granular crystals or as white, crystalline powder. It is freely soluble in water and practically insoluble in ethanol (96%). It is a non-toxic, neutral salt with low reactivity. It is chemically stable if stored at ambient temperatures. Trisodium citrate anhydrous is fully biodegradable and can be disposed of with regular waste or sewage.

Functions

This ingredient offers you the following excellent functions.

• Buffering agent
• Bulking agent
• Chelating agent
• Chelation​
• Desiccant
• Direct compression​
• Exfoliation​
• Flavour modulation​
• pH-Regulation​
• Stabiliser

Specifications

Jungbunzlauer trisodium citrate anhydrous is supplied in accordance with the current requirements of the United States Pharmacopeia (USP), the Food Chemicals Codex (FCC), and the Commission Regulation (EU) No. 231/2012.

Legal aspects

In Europe, trisodium citrate is listed as generally permitted food additive (E331) and may be added to all foodstuffs, following the ‘quantum satis’ principle, as long as no special regulations restrict the use.

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has affirmed citric acid as Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) and permitted the use in food according to current GMP (CFR § 184.1033), without setting an upper limit.

Jungbunzlauer trisodium citrate has been registered according to REACH Regulation at the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) in 2010. The REACH registration number of Jungbunzlauer trisodium citrate is 01-2119457027-40-0000.