Main Uses:

1. For the food industry

        Because citric acid has a mild and sour acidity, it is commonly used in the manufacture of various beverages, sodas, wines, candies, snacks, biscuits, canned juices, dairy products and the like. In the market of all organic acids, the citric acid market share is more than 70%, and there is currently no acidifier that can replace citric acid. One molecule of crystalline water citric acid is mainly used as an acidic flavoring agent for refreshing beverages, fruit juices, jams, fruit sugars and canned foods, and also as an antioxidant for edible oils. At the same time improve the sensory traits of food, enhance appetite and promote the digestion and absorption of calcium and phosphorus substances in the body. Anhydrous citric acid is used in large quantities in solid beverages Salts of citric acid such as calcium citrate and ferric citrate are fortifiers that require the addition of calcium and iron ions in certain foods. Esters of citric acid, such as triethyl citrate, can be used as a non-toxic plasticizer to make plastic film for food packaging. It is a sour agent and preservative in the beverage and food industry.

2. For the chemical and textile industry

        Citric acid can be used as a chemical analysis reagent for chemical analysis, as an experimental reagent, a chromatographic reagent and a biochemical reagent; as a complexing agent and a masking agent; for preparing a buffer solution. The use of citric acid or citrate as a builder can improve the performance of the washing product, can quickly precipitate metal ions, prevent the re-attachment of contaminants on the fabric, maintain the necessary alkalinity for washing, and disperse and suspend the dirt and ash; It is an excellent chelating agent for improving the performance of surfactants; it can be used as an acid-resistant reagent for testing architectural ceramic tiles.

Formaldehyde pollution of clothing has become a very sensitive problem. Citric acid and modified citric acid can be made into a formaldehyde-free anti-wrinkle finishing agent for anti-wrinkle finishing of cotton fabrics. Not only is the anti-wrinkle effect good, but the cost is low.

3. For environmental protection

        Citric acid-sodium citrate buffer is used for flue gas desulfurization. China is rich in coal resources and is a major component of energy. However, there has been a lack of effective flue gas desulfurization processes, resulting in serious atmospheric SO2 pollution. At present, China's annual SO2 emissions have reached nearly 40 million tons. It is imperative to study effective desulfurization processes. The citric acid-sodium citrate buffer solution is a developmental desulfurization absorbent because of its low vapor pressure, non-toxicity, stable chemical properties, and high SO2 absorption rate.

4. For livestock production

        Adding citric acid to piglet feed can early weaning, increase feed utilization by 5% to 10%, and increase sow litter size. Adding 1% to 2% citric acid to the growing and finishing pig diet can increase daily gain, reduce feed to meat ratio, increase protein digestibility, reduce back fat thickness, and improve meat quality and carcass characteristics. Rare earth citrate is a new type of high-efficiency feed additive suitable for pigs, chickens, fish, shrimps, cattle, sheep, rabbits, silkworms and other animals. It promotes animal growth, improves product quality, improves disease resistance and survival rate, and improves Feed conversion rate, shortening the feeding cycle and so on.

5. For cosmetics

        Citric acid is a kind of fruit acid. Its main function is to accelerate the renewal of keratin. It is commonly used in lotions, creams, shampoos, whitening products, anti-aging products, acne products and so on. The renewal of keratin helps the exfoliation of melanin in the skin, the shrinkage of pores, the dissolution of blackheads, and the like. 

6. For sterilization

        The combination of citric acid and temperature at 80 ° C has a good effect of killing bacterial spores and can effectively kill contaminated bacterial spores in the hemodialysis machine pipeline. It is good for food hygiene, coupled with the scent of lemon, people have always liked to use it to make cold dishes, not only delicious and refreshing, but also increase appetite.

7. For medicine

        In the formation of the original activator and subsequent coagulation, calcium must be involved. The citrate ion and the calcium ion can form a soluble complex which is difficult to dissociate, thereby lowering the calcium ion concentration in the blood and blocking the blood coagulation. This product is used as an in vitro anticoagulant when blood transfusion or laboratory blood sample anticoagulation.

        Another major use of citric acid is deep processing, which is a rich industrial chain.

8. Medicinal value

        (1) Citric acid has an effect of preventing and eliminating skin pigmentation. Chinese traditional Chinese medicine believes that lemon is warm, bitter, non-toxic, has the functions of diuretic, stagnation, stagnation, stomach, pain and other functional diuretic, regulating blood vessel permeability, suitable for edema and puffiness. Smokers should eat more lemons because they need twice as much vitamin C as non-smokers. Lemon is low in calories and has a strong contractility, so it is beneficial to reduce fat and is a good medicine for weight loss. Lemon prevents cardiovascular arteriosclerosis and reduces blood viscosity. Hot lemon juice plus honey is very effective in treating bronchitis and nasopharyngitis. Gandhi moistens the lungs, sours and thirst, appetizes hangover, whitens, moisturizes and lowers cholesterol. Brewing the rest, can be applied to the face to treat facial spots, whitefly.

        (2) dispel phlegm: Less well-known, lemon can also dispel phlegm, and dispel phlegmeffect is stronger than orange and mandarin. Add lemon juice to the warm water and salt. Drinking it can smooth out the thickening of the throat and it is very effective. When you have a cold, you can use lemon and honey to drink water, which can relieve sore throat and reduce dryness and discomfort.

9. Higher in vivo transformation

        Citric acid is an important compound in the process of converting fat, protein and sugar into carbon dioxide in physiology. These chemical reactions are the core reactions of almost all metabolism and provide energy for higher organisms. This series of reactions is referred to as "citric acid cycle", "tricarboxylic acid cycle" or "Krebs cycle". 

10. Care for the body

        Drinking a glass of lemonade every morning before entering any food can strengthen gastrointestinal motility, treat constipation, remove toxins from the body, achieve cosmetic effects, remove bad breath and eliminate bad breath. A cup of hot lemon water every morning can also make your eyes more radiant and the skin more rosy. If you add some lemon juice in the water, it will also play a role in removing garbage from the body.

Precautions

Edible danger

        Citric acid is an edible acid that enhances normal metabolism in the body, and the proper dose is harmless to the human body. The addition of citric acid to certain foods has a good mouthfeel and promotes appetite, allowing citric acid to be used in jams, beverages, cans and candies in China. Although citric acid is not directly harmful to the human body, it can promote calcium excretion and deposition in the body. For example, long-term consumption of citric acid-containing foods may lead to hypocalcemia and increase the risk of duodenal cancer. Children with nervous system instability, excitability, autonomic disorders; adults are convulsions of the hands and feet, muscle spasms, paresthesia, itching and gastrointestinal symptoms.

        Based on the effect of citric acid on the metabolism of calcium, people who regularly consume canned food, beverages, jams, and sour candy, especially children, should pay attention to calcium supplementation, drink raw milk, fish head, fish bone soup, eat small shrimp skin, etc. In order to avoid blood calcium deficiency and affect health, gastric ulcer, hyperacidity, dental caries and diabetes patients should not eat citric acid regularly. Citric acid cannot be added to pure milk, otherwise it will cause pure milk to solidify. In the dairy industry, a solution containing about 10% citric acid is usually added to a low-concentration milk solution, and it should be quickly stirred when added.

Industrial danger

        Health hazard: concentrated citric acid solution has a stimulating effect on the mucosa. In industrial use, contacts may cause eczema;

Explosion hazard: Citric acid is flammable. Powder and air can form an explosive mixture. In case of fire, high heat or contact with oxidant, there is a danger of fire and explosion.

Storage conditions

        The citric acid monohydrate loses crystal water in dry air or when heated to about 40 degrees, and is slightly deliquescent in moist air, and the dilute aqueous solution of citric acid can be fermented while standing. Therefore, the solid monohydrate or anhydrate should be stored in an airtight container and stored in a cool dry place.