1. Trisodium citrate dihydrate
CAS 6132-04-3, E number E331iii, molecular formula Na3C6H5O7-2H2O, molecular weight 294.10 g/mol.
2. Trisodium citrate anhydrous
CAS 68-04-2, molecular formula Na3C6H5O7, molecular weight 258.10 g/mol.
Trisodium citrate has a wide range of applications because of its many excellent properties mentioned above. Sodium citrate is non-toxic, has pH-regulating properties, and has good stability, so it can be used in the food industry. Sodium citrate is used as a food additive with the highest demand, mainly as a flavoring agent, buffering agent, emulsifier, swelling agent, and stabilizer.
In addition, it can also be applied in medicine, electroplating, photography, and so on.
3. Physical properties of trisodium citrate
Trisodium citrate is a white cubic crystal or granular powder, odorless, cool, salty taste of salt and slightly spicy. It can dissolve 1g in 1.5mL water (25℃), is insoluble in ethanol, and is stable in air. It can be used as an acidity regulator, buffering agent, emulsifier, and stabilizer.
4. Advantages of trisodium citrate
Sodium citrate is the most important citrate salt, mainly produced by fermentation of starchy substances to produce citric acid, and then neutralized with alkali substances to produce, has a variety of unique excellent properties.
4.1 Safe and non-toxic
Since the raw material for the preparation of sodium citrate is basically grain, it is absolutely safe and reliable and does not pose any harm to human health. The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization and the World Health Organization do not set any limit on its daily intake, so it can be considered drug-free.
4.2 Biodegradability
After being diluted by a large amount of water in nature, sodium citrate is partially transformed into citric acid, and the two coexist in the same system. The citric acid in water by the action of oxygen, heat, light, bacteria, and microorganisms, is easy to biodegradation. The decomposition pathway is generally through aconitic acid, itaconic acid, and citric anhydride, which are transformed into carbon dioxide and water.
4.3 Complexing ability
Sodium citrate has a good complexing ability for metal ions such as Ca2+ and Mg2+, and for other metal ions such as Fe2+ plasma.
5. Manufacturers of trisodium Citrate
The main manufacturers of trisodium citrate dihydrate and anhydrous are Shandong Ensign Industry Co., Ltd, TTCA Co., Ltd, RZBC Group Co., Ltd, Seven Star Lemon Technology Co., Ltd, Jiangsu Guoxin Union Energy Co., Ltd, Natural Biological Group Co., Ltd, Jiangsu Mupro IFT Corp, Jiangsu Kolod Food Ingredients Co., Ltd, Jungbunzlauer Suisse AG, and Citribel.
5.1 Shandong Ensign Industry Co., Ltd
Shandong Ensign Industrial Co., Ltd. is a large enterprise specializing in the production of citric acid series products and alcohol series products. The company’s citric acid series products include citric acid monohydrate, citric acid anhydrous, sodium citrate, and other citrate products, which are exported to more than 120 countries and regions.
5.2 TTCA Co., Ltd
TTCA Co., Ltd, which was founded in 1986, products include Citric Acid Monohydrate, Citric Acid Anhydrous, Trisodium Citrate, Potassium Citrate, etc. The company’s total production capacity is more than 300,000 tons a year.
5.3 RZBC Group Co., Ltd
RZBC Group Co., Ltd. is located in Rizhao City, Shandong Province, the company was founded in 1992, always focus on the research and development, production, and sales of citric acid and its salts, after 30 years of development, the company now has an annual production capacity of 400,000 tons.
5.4 Seven Star Lemon Technology Co., Ltd
Seven Star Lemon Technology Co., Ltd is located in Linyi City, Shandong Province. Founded in January 2018, the company focuses on the research and development, production, and sales of citric acid series products, and exports its products to many countries and regions. The company now has an annual production scale of 100,000 tons of citric acid series products, including citric acid monohydrate, citric acid anhydrous, trisodium citrate, potassium citrate, calcium citrate, as well as high protein feed and granular sludge.
5.5 Jiangsu Guoxin Union Energy Co., Ltd
Jiangsu Guoxin Union Energy Co., Ltd includes Jiangsu Guoxin Union Energy Co., Ltd and Jiangsu Guoxin Union Fuel Gas and Thermoelectricity Co., Ltd. After nearly 30 years of development, the company has basically formed three major business segments: coal-fired and gas-fired power generation, centralized heating, and food additive manufacturing; the company is committed to “being an explorer in the efficient utilization of traditional energy, a pioneer in the low-carbon development of clean energy, and a leader in the R&D and application of new biotechnology”. The main products include citric acid monohydrate, citric acid anhydrous, and trisodium citrate.
5.6 Natural Biological Group Co., Ltd
Natural Biological Group Co., Ltd is a national high-tech enterprise specializing in the production of citric acid and citrate series products. Citric acid series products include citric acid monohydrate, citric acid anhydrous, sodium citrate, and other citrate products, with an annual output of 200,000 tons and exported to over 100 countries and regions; crystalline glucose series products have an annual output of 200,000 tons.
5.7 Jiangsu Mupro IFT Corp
Jiangsu Mupro IFT Corp. was established in November 2004, the company aims to develop and provide healthy food ingredients for customers who have the ability to care for health, mainly to develop and produce safe, healthy, and natural food ingredients, the main products are calcium propionate, potassium sorbate, potassium citrate, etc.
5.8 Jiangsu Kolod Food Ingredients Co., Ltd
Jiangsu Kolod Food Ingredients Co., Ltd. is a professional manufacturer of phosphates, citrates, sulfates, formates, acetates, and oxalates with three plants. The annual output is about 200,000 tons.
5.9 Jungbunzlauer Suisse AG
Jungbunzlauer is one of the world’s leading producers of biodegradable ingredients of natural origin. Their products include citric acid monohydrate and anhydrous, trisodium citrate dihydrate, and anhydrous.
5.10 Citribel
Citribel produces citric acid either in its dry form, without water (“anhydrous”), or in a form containing one water molecule (“monohydrate”) and trisodium citrate dihydrate (“TSC”) and monosodium citrate anhydrous.
6. Summary
The main producers of trisodium citrate dihydrate and anhydrous are Shandong Ensign Industry Co., Ltd, TTCA Co., Ltd, RZBC Group Co., Ltd, Seven Star Lemon Technology Co., Ltd, Jiangsu Guoxin Union Energy Co., Ltd, Natural Biological Group Co., Ltd, Jiangsu Mupro IFT Corp, Jiangsu Kolod Food Ingredients Co., Ltd, Jungbunzlauer Suisse AG, and Citribel.
Trisodium citrate is produced and used in large quantities. There are numerous plants in China, mainly in Shandong province.
