Citric acid anhydrous is widely used in the food, beverage and pharmaceutical industries to impart a clean, refreshing tartness. Its prime use is as an acidulant, but it is also used as a sequestrant of metal ions to give protection from the development of off-flavors and off-odors in certain foodstuffs. A major industrial use of citric acid is in the manufacture of ecologically compatible detergents. It is also used in chemical cleaning, concrete admixtures, plasticizers and a range of other applications.
Citric acid is a main player in the Krebs cycle, which is a series of chemical reactions that release stored energy.
Technical insights:
- Country of origin: China
- Starting material: Corn
- Solvent for extraction: None used