Citric acid Cenke

1. Physical Properties
At room temperature, it is a colorless, translucent crystal or a white granular powder. It is odorless and has a strong sour taste. It is highly soluble in water and also soluble in ethanol. It exists in two crystalline forms: anhydrous and monohydrate. It readily deliquesces in dry air and readily absorbs moisture in humid environments.
(1) Basic Appearance: At room temperature and standard atmospheric pressure, pure citric acid appears as colorless, translucent crystals or white granular/crystalline powder. It has no irritating odor but possesses a strong, refreshingly sour taste that is highly recognizable.
(2) Solubility Characteristics: It is extremely soluble in water, with a solubility of up to 209 g/100 mL at 20°C; it is soluble in anhydrous ethanol, with 76 parts of citric acid dissolving in 100 parts of ethanol at 15°C; it is slightly soluble in diethyl ether and insoluble in nonpolar organic solvents such as benzene and chloroform.
(3) Crystallization and Deliquescence Properties: It exists in two stable crystalline forms; anhydrous citric acid can be obtained by crystallization from hot water, while monohydrate citric acid can be obtained from cold water. Monohydrate citric acid loses its bound water at around 78°C and converts to the anhydrous form; it is slightly deliquescent in dry air and hygroscopic in humid environments.
2. Chemical Properties
(1) Acidic Ionization Properties: It is a ternary weak organic acid; aqueous solutions of varying concentrations exhibit corresponding gradients of acidity.
(2) Chelation Properties: The carboxyl and hydroxyl groups in the molecule act synergistically to form stable, soluble chelates with various metal cations, such as calcium, iron, and magnesium. This property is the core principle behind its use in water softening and scale removal.
(3) Thermal Decomposition Properties: It is chemically stable at room temperature but gradually decomposes when the temperature exceeds 175°C, releasing carbon dioxide and simultaneously producing various small-molecule products such as aconitic acid and itaconic acid.
(4) Reactivity: It can undergo neutralization reactions with strong bases to form citrates; it can undergo esterification reactions with alcohols to form various types of derivatives, such as monoesters, diesters, and triesters; it can also undergo oxidation reactions with strong oxidizing agents under specific conditions.
(5) Biological Metabolic Properties: It is a key intermediate in the citric acid cycle within living organisms. Once ingested, it is completely metabolized into carbon dioxide and water and excreted from the body, without causing toxic accumulation.
3. Main Applications
(1)‌ Food Industry‌: Used as an acidulant, preservative, and color retainer, it is widely applied in food processing—such as beverages, canned goods, and jams—to adjust flavor while inhibiting microbial growth.
(2)‌ Industrial Applications‌: Used as a buffer solution for flue gas desulfurization, an electroplating complexing agent, and a wrinkle-resistant finishing agent for textiles; it is also used as a chemical analysis reagent.
(3) ‌Household and Cosmetic Sector‌: It adjusts the pH of products and is used in lotions and shampoos to gently exfoliate and brighten the complexion.
(4)‌Livestock and Poultry Farming Sector‌: As a highly effective feed additive, it promotes animal growth, shortens the rearing cycle, and improves the quality of livestock.
(5)‌Pharmaceutical Sector‌: It is used as an anticoagulant for blood samples in vitro and as a pH adjuster in drug formulations to enhance drug stability.
(6) Environmental and Cleaning Sector: Thanks to its mild acidity and chelating ability, it serves as an eco-friendly descaling agent that effectively removes scale and rust from boilers, pipes, and drinking water systems. Compared to inorganic strong acids, it is less corrosive, does not damage equipment surfaces, and is fully biodegradable, causing no water pollution.

Grades and Specifications: Food grade, Industrial grade; custom specifications available.

The product strictly complies with the GB/T 2961-2014 national standard, accompanied by a complete set of MSDS, commodity inspection reports, and hazardous packaging certificates, and meets EU REACH import and export requirements. Standard packaging includes 200 kg galvanized closed-top steel drums and 1,000 L IBC containers. For large volumes, bulk transport via tank containers is available. Storing and transporting the product in a sealed, light-protected environment effectively delays oxidation and discoloration. Supply is stable and ample, supporting full-container and consolidated shipments for international trade, and meeting global chemical procurement and custom fine chemical production needs.

Contact Us:

Email:cenke@cenkechem.com

Cenke Chemical was formally established in 2016, with its corporate headquarters strategically located in Dongying City, Shandong Province, a core hub for China’s petrochemical and new material industrial cluster. We operate as a professional integrated chemical trading enterprise dedicated to the global procurement, distribution and stable supply of premium industrial chemical products for worldwide manufacturers and industrial clients.
Our comprehensive product portfolio covers full-spectrum chemical categories, including basic bulk chemical raw materials, fine chemical intermediates, advanced innovative new materials and high-performance functional specialty materials. Each product line undergoes strict quality screening to meet international industrial standards, catering to diversified production and R&D demands across dozens of core industrial sectors.
We serve long-term cooperative customers spanning petrochemical processing, plastic manufacturing, pharmaceutical synthesis, water treatment, coating & paint, rubber production, textile printing and dyeing, new energy materials, environmental protection engineering and other key industries worldwide. Leveraging robust upstream factory partnerships, complete logistics support, standardized export packaging and efficient customs clearance capabilities, we deliver cost-effective, on-time and secure one-stop material supply solutions, building mutually beneficial long-term partnerships with suppliers and buyers globally.