Key Features:
- Acidic Properties: Citric Monohydrate is an organic acid with a sour taste. It is commonly used to add tartness or acidity to food and beverages.
- Powdered Form: It is typically available in a powdered form, making it easy to incorporate into various products.
- Natural Preservative: Due to its acidic nature, Citric Monohydrate can act as a preservative by lowering the pH of a product, which inhibits the growth of microorganisms and extends shelf life.
- Flavor Enhancer: It is often used to enhance the flavor of food and beverages, providing a tart or tangy taste.
- Chelating Agent: Citric Monohydrate can bind to metal ions, making it useful as a chelating agent in various applications, such as in the formulation of cleaning products.
Common Uses:
- Food and Beverage Industry: Citric Monohydrate is widely used as an acidulant in food and beverage products. It can be found in soft drinks, fruit juices, candies, jams, and many other food items.
- Pharmaceuticals: It is used in the pharmaceutical industry as an ingredient in effervescent tablets and liquid medications to improve taste and aid in drug dissolution.
- Cosmetics: Citric Monohydrate is utilized in cosmetic formulations, particularly in skincare products, to adjust the pH level and enhance the stability of the product.
- Cleaning Products: It is used in household cleaning products to remove mineral deposits and as a chelating agent to improve product effectiveness.
Benefits:
- Acidity: It imparts a tart or sour taste to food and beverages, enhancing their flavor.
- Preservation: Citric Monohydrate can extend the shelf life of products by lowering the pH and preventing the growth of spoilage microorganisms.
- Chelation: Its chelating properties help remove mineral deposits and improve the effectiveness of cleaning products.
- pH Adjustment: It can be used to adjust the pH of various products to ensure stability and compatibility.
Citric Monohydrate is generally recognized as safe (GRAS) when used in food and beverages. It is considered safe for topical use in cosmetics and has various applications in the pharmaceutical and cleaning product industries. However, as with any ingredient, it’s essential to follow recommended usage guidelines and consider any specific sensitivities or allergies when using products containing Citric Monohydrate.