Product Description
Trisodium Citrate Dihydrate, also known as sodium citrate dihydrate or trisodium citrate dihydrate salt, is the dihydrate form of the sodium salt of citric acid. It is an organic acid salt commonly produced through the neutralization of citric acid with sodium hydroxide or sodium carbonate, followed by purification, crystallization, and drying.
This product typically appears as a white crystalline powder or colorless crystals. It has a mildly salty taste, dissolves readily in water, and is practically insoluble in ethanol. Due to its buffering capacity, metal-ion chelating properties, and emulsifying functions, it serves as a versatile ingredient in food processing, beverage manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, detergents, and various industrial formulations.
Technical Specifications of Trisodium Citrate Dihydrate
| Item | Unit | Quality Standards | Analysis Results |
|---|---|---|---|
| Characters | --- | White or almost white,crystalline powder or granular crystals. Slightly deliquescent in moist air. Freely soluble in water,practically insoluble in ethanol | Pass |
| Identification | --- | Pass Test | Pass |
| Appearance of solution | --- | Pass Test | Pass |
| Assay | % | 99.0~ 100.5 | 99.92 |
| Water | % | 11.0~13.0 | 12.23 |
| Readily Carbonisable Substances | --- | Pass Test | Pass |
| Acitidy or Alkalinity | --- | Pass Test | Pass |
| PH (5%w/v) | --- | 7.5~9.0 | 8.52 |
| Sulfate | mg/kg | ≤150 | <150 |
| Oxalate | mg/kg | ≤100 | <100 |
| Chloride | mg/kg | ≤50 | <50 |
| Lead | mg/kg | ≤1 | <1 |
| Arsenic | mg/kg | ≤1 | <1 |
| Mercury | mg/kg | ≤1 | <1 |
| Heavy Metals(as Pb) | mg/kg | ≤10 | <10 |
| Tartrate | --- | Pass Test | Pass |
| Pyrogen | --- | Pass Test | Pass |
| Conclusion：The product is in conformity with BP/USP/FCC/E331 | |||
Applications of Sodium Citrate Dihydrate
Food Industry. In the food industry, trisodium citrate dihydrate serves as an acidity regulator, buffering agent, sequestrant, and emulsifying salt. In dairy products and processed cheese, it helps disperse proteins and fats, improving texture, consistency, and melting properties. It also regulates acidity in jams, jellies, confectionery, and bakery products. In canned and other processed foods, its metal-ion chelating ability helps minimize unwanted effects on color, flavor, and overall product quality.
Beverage Industry. Sodium citrate dihydrate is commonly used in carbonated soft drinks, fruit juices, sports drinks, functional beverages, and powdered drink mixes. When combined with citric acid, it helps control acidity and balance sweet-and-sour flavors. Moreover, its buffering capacity supports pH stability during processing and storage, while its ability to bind certain metal ions helps reduce their potential impact on beverage color and quality. Manufacturers can also adjust its dosage to achieve the desired acidity and flavor profile.
Pharmaceutical Industry. In pharmaceutical manufacturing, trisodium citrate dihydrate functions as a buffering agent and excipient in selected formulations. It helps regulate pH in oral and liquid preparations, supporting formulation stability. In addition, its ability to bind calcium ions makes it useful in specific anticoagulant applications, including blood collection, blood preservation, and extracorporeal blood-processing systems. It can also be incorporated into medical preparations when it meets the relevant pharmacopeial standards. The required purity and quality specifications depend on the intended pharmaceutical application.
Detergent and Household Cleaning Industry. In detergent and household cleaning formulations, this chemical acts as a chelating agent and water softener. It complexes calcium and magnesium ions, helping reduce water hardness and minimize interference from metal ions during cleaning. Furthermore, it can work alongside surfactants and other detergent ingredients to improve formulation performance and maintain product stability. These properties make it suitable for selected laundry detergents, household cleaners, and industrial cleaning products.
Industrial and Water Treatment Applications. The product also serves as a complexing agent and pH buffer in selected industrial formulations. It is used in industrial cleaning solutions, equipment maintenance, chemical processing, and certain water treatment systems. Its metal-ion binding ability supports the control of calcium, magnesium, and other metal ions in specific applications. Additionally, it can be used to prepare laboratory buffer solutions and chemical reagents. Its performance varies according to water composition, metal-ion concentration, pH, and the presence of other formulation components.
Effective pH Buffering. It provides buffering capacity that helps maintain a relatively stable pH in food and beverage formulations. When combined with citric acid, it allows manufacturers to adjust acidity and develop a balanced flavor profile.
Metal Ion Chelation. The citrate structure can form complexes with metal ions such as calcium, magnesium, and iron. This property helps control unwanted interactions between metal ions and other formulation ingredients, supporting product quality and processing stability.
Excellent Water Solubility. The product dissolves readily in water, making it convenient for preparing liquid formulations and incorporating into aqueous processing systems. Its solubility also supports uniform distribution during mixing.
Acidity Regulation. As an acidity regulator, sodium citrate dihydratew orks alongside citric acid to adjust the pH and control sourness. This combination provides greater flexibility when developing beverages, processed foods, and other formulated products.
Emulsifying and Stabilizing Functions. In processed cheese production, sodium citrate acts as an emulsifying salt. It helps disperse casein proteins and promotes the uniform distribution of fat and water, resulting in a smoother texture and more consistent product structure.
Versatile Formulation Compatibility. Its buffering and chelating functions make this ingredient suitable for a wide range of formulations. Manufacturers can adjust the dosage according to the required pH, processing conditions, and performance specifications.