Understanding How Citric Acid Enhances Cleaning Products

When a consumer opens a bottle of cleaning solution and the unmistakable odor of citrus emanates from the container, the satisfied smile is twofold: the cleaner is meant to handle stubborn, baked on or caked on debris, and it smells great. Citric acid supplier Bell Chem wishes to share more information pertaining to the benefits of citric acid as an additive to cleaning products.

Clean with Green

Citric acid is a plant-based, biodegradable, non-toxic cleaner that packs a punch. Citric acid acts as a chelating agent as it attracts metals in hard water. As the metals and minerals bind to citric acid, they are no longer able to form a film on surfaces (scale) that look unsightly and impede the flow inside pipes. Citric acid then allows chemicals within the cleaner to work unimpeded by these metals; the cleaners are then able to form a heady foam and clean without the use of a water softener or another chemical that may prove harmful to consumers and the environment. 

Uses for Citric Acid

Consumers can use citric acid for a variety of chores, such as removing hard water stains and mineral deposits, and descaling. Citric acid is great as an antibacterial, antiseptic cleaner. Citric acid works wonders on dehumidifiers, small kitchen appliances, toilets and tanks, and overall kitchen and bathroom cleaners. 

pH Adjustment

As a mild organic acid, citric acid is able to control the pH of a product by bringing a basic pH to a normal range, or adding more acidity to a cleaner to enhance its cleaning abilities. Altering a cleaner’s pH is what gives citric acid its ability to act as an antibacterial. A lower pH weakens the cell walls and membranes of bacteria, mildew, and mold. Without a functional outer membrane, these microbes are no longer functional.

Bell Chem is a citric acid supplier based in Longwood, FL (just north of Orlando) with hundreds of products stocked in their 50,000+ square-foot warehouse, including citric acid. You can expect the highest quality products, expedited shipping options for maximum efficiency, and unrivaled personalized customer service. Let our knowledgeable and friendly customer service representatives and accounting staff personalize all your needs by either calling 407-339-BELL (2355) or by sending us an online message. 

Citric Acid: An Ingredient for all Industries

Most people relate citric acid with fruit, and rightly so. This versatile acid occurs naturally and in large amounts in citrus fruits and berries. With its distinctly sour flavor, it is widely used as a flavoring and preservative for candy and food, but the Jacksonville chemical supplier, Bell Chem, has an abundance of other uses for citric acid in foods, beverages, personal care, and nutritional products.

• Food and Beverages: The weakly acidic citric acid is a commonly used preservative since it has the ability to alter the pH when added as an ingredient to food or beverages. Since microbes generally have a limited pH range for growth and reproduction, citric acid controls or eliminates microbial growth. Because microbes shorten food shelf life, citric acid extends the amount of time a food remains fresh. Citric acid also prevents oxidation to fruits and vegetables, which keeps fresh foods from turning brown.

• Industrial Uses: In cheesemaking, citric acid is a proven stabilizer of emulsions. Because it prevents fats from separating, cheese flavors remain constant with every bite. Beer and wine manufacturers use citric acid as a pH adjuster. In the frozen food industry, antioxidants extend shelf life; citric acid stimulates antioxidants to keep foods from spoiling. In detergents, stains dissolve more rapidly with the use of citric acid.

• Personal Care: Pharmaceuticals and cosmetics utilize citric acid as a pH adjuster. Added to cosmetics, citric acid can be used in facial and skin products to stimulate epidermal cell regeneration. Many cosmetics focusing on lightening or depigmenting the skin — such as acne creams, wrinkle removers, or anti-aging creams — use citric acid as an ingredient. It is also an ideal mineral supplement to regulate pH and stimulate antioxidants.

• Nutritional Products: Citric acid plays a leading role in the Krebs cycle, the process through which animals and plants metabolize energy. It also binds to any excess calcium in the blood to remove it from the body; since calcium is a main component in kidney stones, citric acid can reduce or prevent kidney stones.

Bell Chem’s citric acid is biodegradable and environmentally friendly. Order this chemical and many more from Bell Chem, your Jacksonville chemical supplier. Bell Chem’s headquarters is in Longwood, FL — just north of Orlando — with hundreds of products stocked in our 50,000+ square-foot warehouse. You can expect the highest quality products, expedited shipping options for maximum efficiency, and unrivaled, personalized customer service. Let our knowledgeable and friendly customer service representatives and accounting staff handle all your needs by calling 407-339-BELL (2355) or send us an online message.

Product Spotlight: Citric Acid FCC

Citric acid is a white or colorless crystal with no odor that occurs naturally in many fruits and vegetables, most notably citrus fruits, including oranges, grapefruits, lemons, limes, and tangerines. The “FCC” is Food Chemicals Codex and is a guide on the standards of food purity, and citric acid FCC is guaranteed to be pure and fit for consumption. Many industries use citric acid for its versatility. The Orlando food ingredient supplier, Bell Chem stocks this product and hundreds of others for its customers. To learn the value of citric acid FCC, read below.

• Citric acid is widely used in beverages as a flavor enhancer to give sodas a crisp, tangy taste. This flavor is also highly prized in candy, gum, and other products that appreciate a zing of lemon, lime, or orange flavor.
• Although it is considered a weak acid, citric acid is one of the strongest acids that can be consumed, which makes it perfect for foods and beverages.
• As an acidifier, citric acid is used in both industrial and home canning since it raises the pH of fruits, vegetables, or other canned products without affecting the taste.
• Citric acid is a chelating agent, meaning it adheres to metals and removes them from their surroundings. Citric acid is able to safely remove metals from products associated with foods, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and beverages.
• In products with high pH levels, citric acid acts as a buffer to bring the pH down to levels more precise for consumption. Pharmaceuticals, foods, and beverages use citric acid for this role.
• In ice cream and other products, citric acid acts as an emulsifier to keep fats from separating and clumping.
• Caramel would undergo crystallization of its sucrose component without citric acid.
• Dyes are normally basic, so citric acid is added to balance the pH and cause the dyes to react more promptly to their intended materials. Surprisingly, shampoo rinses containing citric acid remove hair dye!
• Citric acid is a food preservative, extending the shelf life of many products.

With its wide range of applications, it is no wonder so many manufacturers turn to citric acid as a multi-use product. Call the Orlando food ingredient supplier at Bell Chem today by calling 407-339-2355 (BELL) to learn about their vast array of products. Read the blogs for facts concerning food ingredients, supplements, chemicals, personal care products, and sanitation chemicals.

The Uses of Citric Acid in the Food Industry

As a citric acid supplier, we know that most people associate citric acid with citrus fruits – oranges, lemons, and grapefruit, for instance. Citric acid also occurs in peppers, tomatoes, artichokes, and most berries. For humans, citric acid is a vital component of the Krebs cycle in metabolizing and oxidizing fats, carbohydrates, and proteins. The food industry utilizes citric acid in a much different fashion, with its marvelous acid fermenting, catalyzing, preserving, and flavoring foods and beverages.

• Cheese Manufacturing: – The cheese industry uses citric acid, particularly with mozzarella. It utilizes citric acid as a catalyst to quickly ferment milk. Faster fermentation means large-scale operations can create cheese more rapidly.

• Shelf Life: Bacteria needs a stable pH to survive. Because citric acid reduces the pH to levels too low for most bacteria, the shelf life of processed foods increases dramatically for jams and jellies, canned foods, meat products, and other foods.

• Taste: Along with preserving carbonated beverages, teas, and juices, citric acid adds the sour or acidic flavor consumers enjoy.

• Emulsifier: Citric acid acts as a vegetable fat emulsifier. Because fats are unable to coagulate, ice cream and sherbet retain a consistent texture and flavor throughout.

• Effervescence: When coupled with sodium bicarbonate, citric acid effervesces. Fizzy candies, carbonated beverages, and powdered drinks, as well as antacid tablets and powders, owe their effervescence to this chemical reaction. In fact, approximately 50% of citric acid production is utilized in beverages.

• Beer & Wine: Because citric acid is a weak acid, it is often utilized to create an acidic environment in beer and wine production.

• Absorption: Many common vitamins and minerals work more expediently within an acidic pH environment. Citric acid is used in dietary supplements to accelerate absorption. Also, without citric acid, a vitamin C tablet would taste quite bitter.

To learn more about citric acid or any of our other products, contact the citric acid supplier, Bell Chem, at 407-339-BELL (2355).

The Advantages and Uses of Citric Acid

Citric acid is a natural component that can be found in the human body, as well as in many fruits and vegetables. When present in the body, this chemical goes through the process of being metabolized, degraded, and eliminated. Although it is an acid, it also works as an acidity regulator, and has the ability to actually decrease the level of acidity in body fluids. Additionally, citric acid is one of the main ingredients found in the food and beverage industry because it is healthy, cheap, adds flavor, and can easily be obtained in large quantities. What Citric Acid is Used For:

Preservative: It has been used most frequently, and for hundreds of years, as a preservative for meat. It increases the acidity of the bacterial environment that may develop, making it difficult for the bacteria to survive. Marination: Citric acid breaks down proteins found in meats and makes meat tender and soft. Health: It's good for skin care, skin color, mineral absorption, throat infections, and kidneys. Insecticides: Because citric acid destroys bacteria, fungus, mold, and viruses, it is used in insecticides, fungicides, and disinfectants. Flavoring: Citric acid adds flavor to many foods, drinks and medicines. Alcohol: When citric acid is used in wines, it eliminates low acidity and improves taste. When used in beers, it reduces sugar loss and helps the process of turning sugar into beer.

What Citric Acid Prevents:

Kidney Stones: It prevents the formation of kidney stones and allows the kidneys to function properly. Anti-oxidant: It neutralizes the negative effects of unstable compounds that can build up in the body and lead to cancerous cells. Skin Care: Citric acid helps the regeneration of skin tissue, helps the skin appear more youthful, and keeps skin clear of breakouts. Skin Color: Citric acid prevents the discoloration of skin. Sore Throat: Gargling a combination of citric acid and water will clear infections from the throat and kill bacteria.

At Bell Chem, we serve a wide range of industries by providing them with key ingredients and chemicals essential to their business. Some of the industries we serve include: food and beverage, nutritional, pharmaceutical, water treatments, citrus, and more. Bell Chem and our business partner, Safe Chem, Inc., offers a full line of C-san Sanitation products to the Citrus Processing Industries. Give us a call at 407-339-BELL (2355) to learn more about our chemical products including citric acid.

Citric Acid

The conjugate base of citric acid occurs in the metabolism of virtually every living thing. At room temperature, citric acid is a white crystalline powder. It is used in a wide variety of industries including cleaning, dyeing, cosmetics, biology, pharmaceuticals, foods, beverages, personal care, industrial, construction, and even photography. Citric acid exists in a variety of fruits and vegetables, and especially in citrus fruits. Lemons, limes, and oranges possess extremely high concentrations of citric acid. As a food additive, citric acid is used for the flavoring and preservation of food and beverages, especially soft drinks. Citric acid can be used in food coloring to balance the pH level.

Citric acid can also be used as an environmentally-friendly cleaning agent. However, it is imperative to use caution when dealing with citric acid because it can cause severe irritation to the skin including minor skin burns.

As a chemical supplier in Orlando, Bell Chem offers prompt delivery of hundreds of stock products on our own fleet of trucks. We can also ship large volumes of bulk chemicals from our own location in Orlando, FL. Citric acid is just one of the many products we offer. Give us a call at 407-339-BELL (2355) to learn more about our products.