Sodium Citrate (E331)

Description

1. Product Overview

Sodium Citrate (E331) is a high-purity, industrial-grade sodium salt of citric acid supplied for formulation, process control, and pH management across multiple manufacturing sectors. Primarily used as a buffering agent, chelating compound, and sequestrant, it delivers reliable pH stabilization and metal-ion control in aqueous processes. Its key value proposition is consistent chemical performance combined with scalable bulk supply — reducing process variability and procurement risk for large-scale operations. Strategically, Sodium Citrate (E331) enables tighter quality control, lower downstream maintenance, and simplified formulation across food-processing, pharmaceuticals, water treatment, and specialty chemical manufacturing.

2. Key Specifications & Technical Characteristics

• Chemical name: Trisodium citrate (Sodium citrate), commonly referenced as Sodium Citrate (E331).

• Chemical formula: C6H5Na3O7.

• Grade / Purity: Industrial/food-compatible grade; typical assay ≥ 99.0% (adjustable to customer specification).

• Impurities: Heavy metals (Pb, As, Cd, Hg) within industry standard limits; specific limits available on request.

• Physical form: White crystalline powder or granular form.

• Color: White to off-white.

• Particle size: Standard bulk powder (D50 ~ 150–350 µm); custom milling available for specific particle-size distribution.

• Bulk density: Typical 0.6–0.8 g/cm³ (tapped bulk density varies by packaging and granulation).

• Solubility: Highly soluble in water; insoluble in non-polar solvents.

• pH (1% aqueous solution): Typically 7.5–9.0 depending on hydration state.

• Hydration states: Anhydrous and dihydrate forms available; water content per specification.

• Packaging options: 25 kg multi-wall paper bags with PE liner, 500 kg and 1,000 kg FIBCs (bulk bags), and 20 MT bulk/loose loading for BULK shipments.

• Shelf life / Storage: 24 months when stored in dry, cool, ventilated environment in original sealed packaging; hygroscopic — keep moisture-protected.

• Certifications & documentation: Certificate of Analysis (CoA), Safety Data Sheet (SDS), and optional food-grade/ISO documentation upon request.

3. Core Industrial Applications

• Food & Beverage: Acts as an acidity regulator, chelating agent, and emulsifier (e.g., dairy processing, beverages, canned foods). Ensures stable taste profile and extended product shelf life compared to unbuffered formulations.

• Pharmaceuticals & Nutraceuticals: Used as a buffering and taste-masking agent in oral formulations and effervescent tablets; supports consistent pH for API stability, reducing batch rejections.

• Water Treatment & Boiler Feed: Functions as a sequestrant and scale-control adjunct, chelating multivalent cations to reduce fouling and protect heat-exchange surfaces; offers lower corrosion risk than harsher alkalis.

• Detergents & Cleaning Formulations: Improves cleaning efficiency via metal-ion sequestration and pH control, enabling reduced surfactant loads and cost savings.

• Metal Finishing & Electroplating: Stabilizes plating baths by complexing metal ions and controlling pH, improving deposition uniformity and reducing reject rates.

• Chemical Manufacturing & Formulations: Acts as an intermediate or process additive for polymerization control, catalyst stabilization, and reagent standardization.
  Why it performs better: Sodium Citrate delivers controlled, reproducible buffering and chelation with lower corrosivity and better compatibility across sensitive formulations versus strong inorganic bases or unregulated chelants. Its solubility and predictable behavior reduce dosing variance and operational downtime.

4. Competitive Advantages

• Quality consistency: Tight batch-to-batch specifications with full CoA traceability support regulated manufacturing and quality systems.

• Supply reliability: Optimized procurement and logistics network to support continuous bulk supply and scheduled replenishment for large production sites.

• Logistics capability: Flexible packaging (bags, FIBCs, BULK 20 MT loose loading) and loading capacity to maximize container utilization and minimize landed-cost per MT.

• Price competitiveness: Economies of scale for BULK purchases and contract pricing available for long-term agreements.

• Sustainability: Manufactured with controlled emissions and waste management practices; available sourcing options with reduced carbon transport footprint on request.

• Technical support: Application guidance, CoA, SDS, and regulatory documentation provided; lab samples and custom specification runs available for qualification testing.

5. Commercial & Supply Information

• Minimum order quantity (MOQ): BULK 20 MT.

• Loading capacity (MT per container): Standard 20 MT per 20-foot container (loose BULK loading); up to 24–25 MT possible with optimized packing and FIBCs depending on local transport regulations and container weight limits.

• Lead times: Dependent on order size and destination; typical bulk lead time 2–6 weeks from order confirmation (confirmable on inquiry).

• Payment & terms: Commercial terms available on request; contract pricing and volume discounts offered for multi-shipment agreements.