E331 Sodium Citrates are sodium salts of citric acid used in food and beverage applications as acidity regulators, buffering agents, and chelating agents, and E331 Sodium Citrates are valued for stabilizing pH and improving formulation robustness.
E331 Sodium Citrates help control acidity by forming citrate buffer systems with citric acid, and E331 Sodium Citrates are widely used to stabilize flavor, improve processing tolerance, and support consistent product quality in many foods.
E331 Sodium Citrates are typically supplied as white crystalline powders in different hydration states and salt forms, and E331 Sodium Citrates performance depends on the specific citrate type, dosage, and the overall acid-salt balance in the formulation.
CAS Number: 68-04-2 (Trisodium citrate dihydrate) / 6132-04-3 (Trisodium citrate anhydrous) / 19856-23-6 (Disodium citrate, common form)
EC Number: 200-675-3 (Trisodium citrate dihydrate) / 200-675-3 (Trisodium citrate anhydrous) / 243-773-0 (Disodium citrate, common form)
Molecular Formula: C6H5Na3O7·2H2O (trisodium citrate dihydrate) / C6H5Na3O7 (trisodium citrate anhydrous)
Molecular Weight: 294.10 g/mol (trisodium citrate dihydrate) / 258.07 g/mol (trisodium citrate anhydrous)
Synonyms: E331 Sodium Citrates, Sodium Citrate, Trisodium Citrate, Trisodium Citrate Dihydrate, Trisodium Citrate Anhydrous, Disodium Citrate, Sodium Citrate Buffer, Sodium Citrate Food Grade, Sodium Citrate Chelating Agent, E331, Sodium Citrates Acidity Regulator, Sodium Citrates pH Buffer, E331 Sodium Citrates, Sodium Citrates, Sodium Citrate, Trisodium Citrate, Trisodium Citrate Dihydrate, Trisodium 2-Hydroxypropane-1,2,3-tricarboxylate, Trisodium 2-Hydroxy-1,2,3-propanetricarboxylate, Citric Acid Sodium Salts, Sodium Salts of Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate Salts, Monosodium Citrate, Disodium Citrate, Trisodium Citrate Anhydrous, Sodium Citrate Dihydrate, Sodium Citrate Anhydrous, Sodium Hydrogen Citrate, Disodium Hydrogen Citrate, Monosodium Dihydrogen Citrate, Trisodium Citrate FCC, Trisodium Citrate USP, Trisodium Citrate BP, Trisodium Citrate EP, Trisodium Citrate JP, Trisodium Citrate NF, Sodium Citrate FCC, Sodium Citrate USP, Sodium Citrate BP, Sodium Citrate EP, Sodium Citrate JP, Sodium Citrate NF, Sodium Citrates Food Grade, Sodium Citrates Technical Grade, Sodium Citrates Pharmaceutical Grade, Sodium Citrates Industrial Grade, Sodium Citrates Reagent Grade, Sodium Citrates Analytical Grade, Sodium Citrates Laboratory Grade, Sodium Citrates High Purity, Sodium Citrates Pure, Sodium Citrates Powder, Sodium Citrates White Powder, Sodium Citrates Crystalline Powder, Sodium Citrates Granular, Sodium Citrates Crystals, Sodium Citrates Food Additive, Sodium Citrates Acidity Regulator, Sodium Citrates pH Regulator, Sodium Citrates Buffering Agent, Sodium Citrates Buffer Salt, Sodium Citrates Sequestering Agent
APPLICATIONS
E331 Sodium Citrates are used in beverages to control pH, reduce harsh acidity, and stabilize flavor in soft drinks and flavored waters.
E331 Sodium Citrates are incorporated into beverage concentrates and syrups to maintain consistent acidity after dilution.
E331 Sodium Citrates are used in sports drinks to improve flavor balance and buffer acidity.
E331 Sodium Citrates are used in dairy products to stabilize proteins and prevent curdling during heat processing.
E331 Sodium Citrates are incorporated into flavored milk drinks to improve stability under pasteurization.
E331 Sodium Citrates are used in coffee creamers to reduce protein instability and improve texture.
E331 Sodium Citrates are used in processed cheese to act as emulsifying salts, improving meltability and smooth texture.
E331 Sodium Citrates are incorporated into cheese sauces to stabilize emulsions and prevent oil separation.
E331 Sodium Citrates are used in cheese spreads to improve consistency and slicing behavior.
E331 Sodium Citrates are used in jams and fruit preparations to control pH and improve gel stability in compatible systems.
E331 Sodium Citrates are incorporated into fruit fillings to reduce excessive sharpness while maintaining target acidity.
E331 Sodium Citrates are used in confectionery to buffer acid systems and improve taste balance.
E331 Sodium Citrates are used in bakery products to control acidity and influence leavening performance in compatible formulations.
E331 Sodium Citrates are incorporated into baking powders and baking mixes to fine-tune acid-base reaction rate.
E331 Sodium Citrates are used in bakery fillings to stabilize pH and flavor during storage.
E331 Sodium Citrates are used as chelating agents to bind metal ions, improving color and flavor stability in sensitive products.
E331 Sodium Citrates are incorporated into beverages to reduce metal-catalyzed oxidation and off-flavor development.
E331 Sodium Citrates are used in oils and emulsions to improve oxidative stability in compatible systems.
E331 Sodium Citrates are used in processed meats to support pH control and improve water binding in compatible applications.
E331 Sodium Citrates are incorporated into brines to stabilize pH and improve product consistency.
E331 Sodium Citrates are used in marinades to buffer acidity and maintain consistent taste performance.
E331 Sodium Citrates are used in effervescent tablets and powders to control buffering and reaction behavior with acids and bicarbonates.
E331 Sodium Citrates are incorporated into functional beverage tablets to stabilize acidity and improve taste.
E331 Sodium Citrates are valued because E331 Sodium Citrates provide reliable buffering and chelation, supporting stable flavor, improved processing tolerance, and consistent product quality across many food categories.
E331 Sodium citrates are used as acidity regulators in food to control pH and flavor.
E331 Sodium citrates support citrate buffering to maintain stable acidity.
E331 Sodium citrates help improve product stability by reducing pH drift over shelf life.
E331 Sodium citrates are used as buffer salts in beverages to stabilize acidity.
E331 Sodium citrates support consistent tartness in soft drinks and flavored waters.
E331 Sodium citrates help reduce sharp acid peaks by smoothing the acid profile.
E331 Sodium citrates are used in sports drinks to balance acidity and electrolyte taste.
E331 Sodium citrates support sodium contribution and buffering in hydration products.
E331 Sodium citrates help improve palatability by moderating sourness and saltiness.
E331 Sodium citrates are used in powdered beverage mixes to provide buffering after reconstitution.
E331 Sodium citrates support stable pH in instant drink powders.
E331 Sodium citrates help improve flavor consistency across different water qualities.
E331 Sodium citrates are used in fruit-flavored beverage concentrates to maintain pH stability.
E331 Sodium citrates support flavor retention by stabilizing acidity conditions.
E331 Sodium citrates help reduce precipitation risks for pH-sensitive ingredients in some systems.
E331 Sodium citrates are used in dairy beverages to stabilize proteins in some formulations.
E331 Sodium citrates support reduced protein aggregation under heat treatment in selected systems.
E331 Sodium citrates help improve stability of flavored milk and dairy drinks in some designs.
E331 Sodium citrates are used in processed cheese as emulsifying salts in many formulations.
E331 Sodium citrates support dispersion of casein and stable emulsification of fat and water.
E331 Sodium citrates help improve melt behavior and reduce oiling-off in processed cheese.
E331 Sodium citrates are used in cheese sauces to improve smooth texture and stable melt.
E331 Sodium citrates support consistent viscosity and reduced separation during heating.
E331 Sodium citrates help improve reheating stability of cheese-based sauces.
E331 Sodium citrates are used in cheese analogs and plant-based cheese sauces as emulsifying salts in some formulations.
E331 Sodium citrates support stable emulsions with plant fats and proteins.
E331 Sodium citrates help improve melt and stretch performance in selected systems.
E331 Sodium citrates are used in ice cream and frozen desserts as buffer salts in some recipes.
E331 Sodium citrates support flavor balance and controlled acidity in dairy systems.
E331 Sodium citrates help improve stability of pH-sensitive stabilizers in some formulations.
E331 Sodium citrates are used in jams and fruit spreads to buffer acidity and support gelation in some systems.
E331 Sodium citrates support pectin performance by stabilizing pH during processing.
E331 Sodium citrates help improve set consistency and reduce batch variability.
E331 Sodium citrates are used in confectionery to control acidity and flavor balance in some candies.
E331 Sodium citrates support controlled tartness when used with citric acid.
E331 Sodium citrates help reduce excessive sourness while keeping bright flavor.
E331 Sodium citrates are used in sour candy systems to modulate acid intensity and reduce harshness.
E331 Sodium citrates support smoother sour taste by buffering strong acids.
E331 Sodium citrates help improve consumer acceptance of sour candies.
E331 Sodium citrates are used in bakery to buffer acidity in leavening systems in some formulations.
E331 Sodium citrates support controlled reaction rates with bicarbonates in some recipes.
E331 Sodium citrates help improve consistency of rise and crumb texture in selected baked goods.
E331 Sodium citrates are used in meat and poultry processing to improve water binding in some formulations.
E331 Sodium citrates support ionic strength and protein functionality in brines.
E331 Sodium citrates help improve yield and juiciness in cooked meat products.
E331 Sodium citrates are used in cured and injected meats to improve processing stability.
E331 Sodium citrates support consistent brine performance and reduced purge loss.
E331 Sodium citrates help improve slicing and texture in deli meat products.
E331 Sodium citrates are used in seafood processing to stabilize texture and improve water binding in some systems.
E331 Sodium citrates support improved yield and reduced drip loss in some products.
E331 Sodium citrates help maintain texture during chilled storage.
E331 Sodium citrates are used in canned foods to buffer acidity and stabilize flavor in some recipes.
E331 Sodium citrates support consistent pH targets for shelf-stable products.
E331 Sodium citrates help reduce corrosion risk in cans by moderating acidity in some systems.
E331 Sodium citrates are used in vegetable processing to control pH and reduce discoloration in some applications.
E331 Sodium citrates support metal chelation that can reduce oxidative browning in some systems.
E331 Sodium citrates help maintain color and quality in processed produce.
E331 Sodium citrates are used as sequestrants in foods to bind metal ions and improve stability.
E331 Sodium citrates support reduction of oxidation and off-flavor formation in some formulations.
E331 Sodium citrates help improve stability of flavors, colors, and oils by chelating trace metals.
E331 Sodium citrates are used in edible oils and fat-containing foods to improve oxidative stability in some products.
E331 Sodium citrates support binding of catalytic metal ions.
E331 Sodium citrates help slow rancidity development in sensitive oil systems.
E331 Sodium citrates are used in beverages to reduce turbidity issues caused by metal ions in some systems.
E331 Sodium citrates support clearer appearance by complexing calcium and other metals in some waters.
E331 Sodium citrates help improve stability of beverage appearance and flavor.
E331 Sodium citrates are used in pharmaceuticals as buffer salts in oral and injectable formulations in some products.
E331 Sodium citrates support citrate buffer systems for stable pH control.
E331 Sodium citrates help improve stability of pH-sensitive active ingredients in some formulations.
E331 Sodium citrates are used in effervescent tablets as part of acid–base systems in some designs.
E331 Sodium citrates support controlled pH and taste in effervescent products.
E331 Sodium citrates help reduce sharp acidity in effervescent drinks after dissolution.
E331 Sodium citrates are used in oral rehydration and electrolyte products in some formulations.
E331 Sodium citrates support sodium contribution and buffering in hydration solutions.
E331 Sodium citrates help improve taste and reduce stomach irritation perception in some products.
E331 Sodium citrates are used in personal care as chelating agents and pH adjusters in some formulations.
E331 Sodium citrates support binding of metal ions that can catalyze oxidation or discoloration.
E331 Sodium citrates help improve preservative performance by stabilizing conditions in some products.
E331 Sodium citrates are used in cosmetics to control pH and improve formula stability in some products.
E331 Sodium citrates support stable pH in creams, lotions, and cleansers.
E331 Sodium citrates help reduce instability caused by hard water ions in some formulations.
E331 Sodium citrates are used in household cleaning products as chelating and buffering agents.
E331 Sodium citrates support water softening and improved detergent performance.
E331 Sodium citrates help reduce limescale interactions that reduce cleaning efficiency.
E331 Sodium citrates are used in detergents to improve builder performance by complexing calcium and magnesium.
E331 Sodium citrates support improved cleaning in hard water.
E331 Sodium citrates help reduce soap scum formation in washing processes.
E331 Sodium citrates are used in industrial water systems as corrosion and scale control aids in some applications.
E331 Sodium citrates support chelation of hardness ions to reduce scaling.
E331 Sodium citrates help stabilize water chemistry in some cooling systems.
E331 Sodium citrates are used in laboratory buffers for biochemical and analytical procedures.
E331 Sodium citrates support controlled pH conditions for enzyme assays and chromatography.
E331 Sodium citrates help maintain reproducible results in pH-sensitive experiments.
E331 Sodium citrates are used in blood collection tubes as anticoagulant components in some medical settings.
E331 Sodium citrates support calcium chelation that helps prevent clotting.
E331 Sodium citrates help maintain sample integrity for coagulation testing.
E331 Sodium citrates are used in dialysis and medical solutions as buffer components in some systems.
E331 Sodium citrates support controlled pH and electrolyte composition.
E331 Sodium citrates help improve patient tolerability in certain clinical solutions.
E331 Sodium citrates are used in product development to tune buffering, metal chelation, and stability in foods and beverages.
E331 Sodium citrates support achieving target pH while maintaining desired sourness profile.
E331 Sodium citrates help optimize stability of flavors, colors, and proteins in complex formulations.
E331 Sodium citrates are used in manufacturing troubleshooting to correct pH drift and precipitation issues.
E331 Sodium citrates support rapid adjustment to meet specification pH.
E331 Sodium citrates help reduce haze and instability caused by metal ions or pH changes.
E331 Sodium citrates are used in quality control to verify assay, pH contribution, and impurity limits in food and pharma grades.
E331 Sodium citrates support titration and ion analysis for citrate and sodium content.
E331 Sodium citrates help ensure batch-to-batch consistency and regulatory compliance.
DESCRIPTION
E331 Sodium Citrates are salts of citric acid, and E331 Sodium Citrates function primarily as buffering agents by balancing citrate and citric acid forms to maintain stable pH.
E331 Sodium Citrates reduce harsh sourness by moderating free acid levels, and this helps improve palatability in beverages and acidic foods.
E331 Sodium Citrates bind metal ions such as iron and copper, and this chelation helps reduce oxidative discoloration and off-flavor development in sensitive products.
E331 Sodium Citrates also stabilize proteins in dairy systems, and this stabilization helps prevent curdling during heat treatment and acidic conditions.
E331 Sodium Citrates are commonly used as emulsifying salts in processed cheese, and E331 Sodium Citrates help disperse proteins and fats to create smooth melt behavior.
E331 Sodium Citrates should be used according to applicable food additive regulations and good manufacturing practices for the target market.
E331 Sodium Citrates are supplied as different forms such as trisodium citrate and disodium citrate, and form selection affects buffering capacity, sodium contribution, and solubility.
E331 Sodium Citrates should be stored in tightly closed containers in a cool, dry place to prevent moisture pickup and caking.
E331 Sodium Citrates should be handled with good hygiene and dust control practices during bulk powder processing.
E331 Sodium citrates are sodium salts of citric acid, commonly supplied as monosodium, disodium, or trisodium citrate.
E331 Sodium citrates are typically white crystalline powders with good water solubility.
E331 Sodium citrates provide buffering capacity and can chelate metal ions, which supports stability in many formulations.
E331 Sodium citrates are widely used in foods and beverages as acidity regulators, sequestrants, and emulsifying salts in processed cheese.
E331 Sodium citrates can help stabilize proteins in some dairy systems by controlling calcium activity and pH.
E331 Sodium citrates are also used in pharmaceuticals and medical applications as citrate buffers and anticoagulant components.
E331 Sodium citrates performance depends on grade, hydration state, concentration, and the presence of other ions.
E331 Sodium citrates should be stored in tightly closed containers in a cool, dry place to prevent moisture pickup and caking.
E331 Sodium citrates are valued for versatile buffering, metal chelation, and broad usefulness across food, pharma, and industrial applications.
PROPERTIES
Common Name: E331 Sodium Citrates
Chemical Type: Citrate salts; acidity regulator; buffering agent; chelating agent; emulsifying salt (processed cheese)
Appearance: White crystalline powder or granules
Odor: Odorless
Taste: Salty with mild citrate note (concentration dependent)
Solubility: Highly soluble in water
Buffering Range: Effective in acidic to near-neutral pH systems depending on citrate-to-acid ratio
Chelation: Binds metal ions to improve stability and reduce oxidation
Thermal Stability: Stable under typical food processing conditions
Hygroscopicity: Slightly hygroscopic; moisture control needed for powder storage
Storage Temperature: 15–30°C, tightly closed, dry
Shelf Life: Typically 24–60 months in original sealed packaging (supplier dependent)
FIRST AID
Inhalation:
Move to fresh air if dust is inhaled.
Seek medical attention if respiratory irritation persists.
Avoid breathing dust during powder handling.
Skin Contact:
Wash with soap and water after contact.
Remove contaminated clothing and wash before reuse.
Seek medical advice if irritation develops or persists.
Eye Contact:
Rinse cautiously with water for several minutes.
Remove contact lenses if present and easy to do, then continue rinsing.
Seek medical attention if irritation persists.
Ingestion:
Rinse mouth with water.
Seek medical attention if discomfort occurs or if a large amount is swallowed.
Never give anything by mouth to an unconscious person.
Note to Physicians:
Treat symptomatically.
No specific antidote is required.
Provide supportive care as needed.
HANDLING AND STORAGE
Handling:
Use appropriate PPE including gloves and safety glasses for bulk handling.
Avoid generating dust and avoid inhalation of fine powder.
Maintain good hygiene and clean-up practices in handling areas.
Ventilation:
Use general ventilation for normal handling.
Use local exhaust where dust may be generated during powder transfer.
Minimize airborne particulate accumulation in enclosed areas.
Storage:
Store in tightly closed containers in a cool, dry place.
Protect from moisture to prevent caking and maintain free-flowing behavior.
Keep containers properly labeled and protected from contamination.
Spill and Leak Procedures:
Sweep up spilled powder and avoid dust generation.
Collect into suitable containers for reuse or disposal according to local regulations.
Clean residues with water if needed and dry the area to prevent slip hazards.
Handling Precautions:
Balance E331 Sodium Citrates with E330 Citric Acid to achieve target pH, buffering behavior, and desired flavor profile because citrate salts can reduce perceived sourness.
Evaluate sodium contribution because E331 Sodium Citrates add sodium and may impact nutrition labeling and taste.
Rotate stock using FIFO practices to maintain consistent quality and predictable buffering and chelation performance.