Citric acid - what to consider

What is citric acid?

Citric acid is an organic compound, also called a carboxylic acid, which belongs to both the tricarboxylic and fruit acids. It dissolves well in water and alcohol. 

Where is citric acid found?

Due to its acidic taste, citric acid is contained in many food products such as fruit juice drinks, jams and confectionery. It is also an ingredient in baked goods and canned fruits and vegetables.

The "effervescent" effect in sherbet is caused by citric acid and sodium hydrogen carbonate, with the release of carbon dioxide, which is why it is also an important ingredient in these.

Other products containing citric acid are cleaners and preservatives.

What does citric acid do?

Among other things, citric acid has the property of preserving blood and can therefore prevent it from clotting. Furthermore, citric acid is used to determine the pH value of products in the cosmetics industry.

How is citric acid produced?

In the past, citric acid was obtained naturally from citrus fruits. Nowadays, however, it is mostly biotechnological processes in which sugar-containing raw materials such as corn, glucose or molasses are fermented together with microorganisms, mostly mold fungi, to produce citric acid.