Trisodium citrate dihydrate

Chemical properties

white powder or colourless crystals

Chemical properties

Sodium citrate dihydrate consists of odorless, colorless, monoclinic crystals, or a white crystalline powder with a cooling, saline taste. It is slightly deliquescent in moist air, and in warm dry air it is efflorescent. Although most pharmacopeias specify that sodium citrate is the dihydrate, the USP 32 states that sodium citrate may be either the dihydrate or anhydrous material.

The Uses of Trisodium citrate dihydrate

Trisodium citrate dihydrate, is widely applied in food, beverages and fillers as a buffering, sequestering or an emulsifying agent. It used as an anticoagulant in blood transfusions, osmotic laxative, functional fluids, solvents cleaning, furnishing care products, laundry dishwashing products and cleaning automobile radiators.

The Uses of Trisodium citrate dihydrate

An anticoagulant also used as a biological buffer

The Uses of Trisodium citrate dihydrate

Sodium citrate is chiefly used as a food additive, usually for flavor or as a preservative.

The Uses of Trisodium citrate dihydrate

Anticoagulant for collection of blood. In photography; as sequestering agent to remove trace metals; as emulsifier, acidulant and sequestrant in foods.

What are the applications of Application

Sodium Citrate, Dihydrate is an anticoagulant also used as a biological buffer

What are the applications of Application

Sodium Citrate Tribasic Dihydrate (Molecular Biology Grade) is for the preparation of total ribosomal RNA from E. coli

Definition

ChEBI: The dihydrate of trisodium citrate.

Production Methods

Sodium citrate is prepared by adding sodium carbonate to a solution of citric acid until effervescence ceases. The resulting solution is filtered and evaporated to dryness.

General Description

Sodium citrate tribasic dihydrate is the tribasic dihydrate sodium salt of citric acid.

Pharmaceutical Applications

Sodium citrate, as either the dihydrate or anhydrous material, is widely used in pharmaceutical formulations.
It is used in food products, primarily to adjust the pH of solutions. It is also used as a sequestering agent. The anhydrous material is used in effervescent tablet formulations. Sodium citrate is additionally used as a blood anticoagulant either alone or in combination with other citrates such as disodium hydrogen citrate.
Therapeutically, sodium citrate is used to relieve the painful irritation caused by cystitis, and also to treat dehydration and acidosis due to diarrhea.

Biological Activity

Commonly used laboratory reagent

Biochem/physiol Actions

Sodium citrate can act as a buffering agent, resisting changes in pH. Used in blood collection tubes, the citrate chelates calcium ions in blood and thereby disrupts blood clotting. Citrate is a intermediate in the TCA cycle and fatty acid synthesis. Citrate is an allosteric modulator of acetyl-CoA carboxylase, the enzyme that regulates the conversion of acetyl-CoA to malonyl-CoA.

Safety

After ingestion, sodium citrate is absorbed and metabolized to bicarbonate. Although it is generally regarded as a nontoxic and nonirritant excipient, excessive consumption may cause gastrointestinal discomfort or diarrhea. Therapeutically, in adults, up to 15 g daily of sodium citrate dihydrate may be administered orally, in divided doses, as an aqueous solution to relieve the painful irritation caused by cystitis.
Citrates and citric acid enhance intestinal aluminum absorption in renal patients, which may lead to increased, harmful serum aluminum levels. It has therefore been suggested that patients with renal failure taking aluminum compounds to control phosphate absorption should not be prescribed citrate- or citric acid-containing products.

storage

Sodium citrate dihydrate is a stable material. Aqueous solutions may be sterilized by autoclaving. On storage, aqueous solutions may cause the separation of small, solid particles from glass containers.
The bulk material should be stored in an airtight container in a cool, dry place.

Purification Methods

Crystallise the salt from warm water by cooling to 0o. [Beilstein 3 III 1100, 3 IV 1274.]

Incompatibilities

Aqueous solutions are slightly alkaline and will react with acidic substances. Alkaloidal salts may be precipitated from their aqueous or hydro-alcohol solutions. Calcium and strontium salts will cause precipitation of the corresponding citrates. Other incompatibilities include bases, reducing agents, and oxidizing agents.

Regulatory Status

GRAS listed. Accepted for use as a food additive in Europe. Included in the FDA Inactive Ingredients Database (inhalations; injections; ophthalmic products; oral solutions, suspensions, syrups and tablets; nasal, otic, rectal, topical, transdermal, and vaginal preparations). Included in nonparenteral and parenteral medicines licensed in the UK. Included in the Canadian List of Acceptable Non-medicinal Ingredients.