1. Used in the chemical industry and textile industry
Citric acid can be used as a reagent for chemical analysis in chemical technology, as experimental reagents, chromatographic analysis reagents and biochemical reagents; Mixture, masking agent; used to prepare buffer solutions. It can improve the performance of washing products, quickly precipitate metal ions, prevent pollutants from re-attaching to fabrics, and maintain the necessary alkalinity for washing.
2. Used in the food industry
Because citric acid has a mild and refreshing sour taste, it is widely used in various beverages, soda drinks, wine, candies, snacks, biscuits, canned juices, milk Manufacturing of products and other food products. In the market of all organic acids, citric acid has a market share of more than 70%. It is a flavoring agent and can also be used as an antioxidant in edible oils.
3. Used in environmental protection industry
Citric acid-sodium citrate buffer is used for flue gas desulfurization. China is rich in coal resources and constitutes the main part of energy. However, there has been a lack of effective flue gas desulfurization technology, resulting in serious atmospheric SO2 pollution. Citric acid-sodium citrate buffer solution is a desulfurization absorbent with great development value due to its low vapor pressure, non-toxicity, stable chemical properties, and high SO2 absorption rate.
4. Used in the feed industry
Adding citric acid to piglet feed can wean early and improve feed utilization by 5 to 10%, and add 1 to 10% to the diet of growing and fattening pigs. 2 Citric acid can increase daily weight gain, reduce feed-to-meat ratio, increase protein digestibility, reduce back fat thickness, and improve meat quality and carcass characteristics.
5. Used in the cosmetics industry
Citric acid is a kind of fruit acid. Its main function is to speed up the renewal of cuticles. It is often used in lotions, creams, shampoos, whitening products, Anti-aging products, acne products, etc. The renewal of cutin helps to exfoliate melanin in the skin, shrink pores, dissolve blackheads, etc.
6. Used in the pharmaceutical industry
Citric acid must involve calcium ions in the formation of prothrombin activator and subsequent coagulation process. Citrate ions and calcium ions can form a soluble complex that is difficult to dissociate, thus reducing the concentration of calcium ions in the blood and hindering blood coagulation. This product can be used as an extracorporeal anticoagulant during blood transfusion or laboratory blood sample anticoagulation. Extended information
Safety of citric acid
1. Citric acid is divided into industrial grade and food grade. Food-grade citric acid is a commonly used food additive, mainly used as an acidity regulator, preservative, etc. In my country, citric acid can be used as a processing aid in almost all types of food. The usage amount is added in an appropriate amount according to production needs, and there are no strict limits. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and the World Health Organization also allow citric acid to be used in food processing.
2. Acidifiers have many functional properties that improve food quality, such as changing and maintaining the acidity of food and improving its flavor; increasing antioxidant effects and preventing food from going rancid; complexing with heavy metal ions and preventing oxidation Or browning reaction, color stabilization, reducing turbidity, enhancing gelling properties, etc.
3. Acidifiers all have a certain antimicrobial effect. Although acid alone is used to inhibit bacteria, the concentration required for preservatives is too large, which affects the sensory properties of food and is difficult to apply in practice. However, when used at a sufficient concentration , using a certain acidifier in combination with other preservation methods such as refrigeration, heating, etc. can effectively extend the shelf life of food. As for the choice of different acids, it depends on the nature of the acid and its cost.
Baidu Encyclopedia - Citric Acid
Chancheng District People's Government Portal - No use of industrial citric acid to soak lotus root has been found
Baidu Encyclopedia - Acidity Regulator