Product Overview
Citric Acid Monohydrate – USP Food Grade is a weak organic acid supplied as white, slightly deliquescent crystals. It dissolves readily in water and functions as an acidulant, chelating agent, and pH buffer across food processing, beverage production, and pharmaceutical formulation workflows. Alliance Chemical offers this product in pack sizes from 2 lb to 55 lb, giving bench-scale operations and production-volume buyers a single source for the same USP Food Grade designation.
This page covers the governed chemical identity, physical profile, transport classification, and documentation available with every order — the information an industrial buyer needs to spec, purchase, and receive citric acid monohydrate without surprises.
Why This Grade
The USP Food Grade designation tells a procurement team that this citric acid monohydrate is sourced and labeled to the standard buyers in food, beverage, and pharmaceutical supply chains typically require. When your incoming-QC procedure calls for a USP Food Grade acidulant, this is the line item that satisfies that purchase specification.
If your process is less grade-sensitive — descaling equipment, adjusting cooling-tower pH, or general cleaning — a technical-grade citric acid may be a more cost-effective fit. The USP Food Grade product carries a price premium because of the tighter procurement and documentation chain behind it. Choose it when your SOP, your customer, or your regulatory framework specifies that grade.
Chemical Profile
Citric acid monohydrate has the molecular formula C₆H₁₀O₈ and a molecular weight of 210.14 g/mol (CAS 5949-29-1). It presents as white crystals that are slightly deliquescent — they will absorb moisture from ambient air if left unsealed. The crystalline form has a density of 1.5 g/cm³ and dissolves in water at 59.2 g per 100 mL at 20 °C, making it straightforward to prepare solutions at working concentrations in most aqueous processes.
Industrial Applications
Citric acid monohydrate is one of the most broadly used organic acids in commercial operations. Below are the principal workflows where this USP Food Grade product applies.
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Food preservation and flavor. As an acidulant, citric acid lowers pH to inhibit microbial growth and extend shelf life in canned goods, sauces, and confections. It also contributes a clean, tart flavor profile that balances sweetness in formulated foods.
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Beverage production. Soft drink and juice manufacturers use citric acid monohydrate to standardize acidity batch to batch. Its high water solubility lets operators prepare concentrated stock solutions that meter consistently into filling lines.
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pH adjustment in processing. Water-treatment operators and food-processing plants dose citric acid to bring process water or product streams into a target pH range. Because it is a triprotic acid, it buffers effectively across a useful pH window.
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Chelation. Citric acid binds metal ions — calcium, iron, magnesium — keeping them in solution rather than depositing as scale or causing off-colors in a product. Pharmaceutical formulators use this chelating action to stabilize active ingredients that are sensitive to trace metals.
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Buffering in formulation. Cosmetic and personal-care manufacturers add citric acid monohydrate to adjust and hold the pH of emulsions, lotions, and rinses within a narrow band required by the formulation.
Handling & Storage
Citric acid monohydrate carries a GHS signal word of Warning (per the product's GHS classification). The associated hazard statements are:
- H315 — causes skin irritation (per the product's GHS classification)
- H319 — causes serious eye irritation (per the product's GHS classification)
- H335 — may cause respiratory irritation (per the product's GHS classification)
Wear safety glasses or chemical splash goggles and nitrile or latex gloves when handling the dry crystals. In dusty conditions — scooping from a bag, transferring between containers — use a NIOSH-rated dust mask to control inhalation of airborne particulate.
Store in a cool, dry area with containers tightly sealed. Because the monohydrate form is slightly deliquescent, unsealed bags or drums will cake and clump over time. Keep the product away from strong oxidizing agents. HDPE pails, poly-lined fiber drums, and glass containers are all compatible; avoid bare-metal containers, which may corrode on prolonged contact with the acid.
Hazmat & Shipping
Citric acid monohydrate is not assigned a UN number, hazard class, or packing group under the DOT hazardous materials table (per 49 CFR 172.101). It is not regulated as a hazardous material for ground transport.
Carrier-specific handling policies, surcharges, and routing decisions remain at each carrier's discretion regardless of the DOT classification. Alliance Chemical ships from Taylor, TX, and our logistics team coordinates freight details at the time of order.
Documentation
A Safety Data Sheet (SDS) ships with every order of citric acid monohydrate — available in English, Spanish, French, and Japanese. A Technical Data Sheet (TDS) is also on file and available on request. For buyers whose incoming-QC process requires batch verification, a lot-specific Certificate of Analysis (COA) is available; request it at time of order so it arrives with your shipment. All docs are ready before your material leaves our facility.
Why Buy from Alliance Chemical
This product ships with SDS, TDS, and lot-specific COA documentation on request — the paperwork a QC department or regulatory file needs, ready at the point of sale. Alliance Chemical has operated as a chemical distributor since 1998, serving over 50,000 customers across industrial, institutional, and commercial channels. Shipments and handling guidance for this product are reviewed by Andre Taki, DOT Hazmat Specialist, so the transport classification and documentation you receive reflect current regulatory requirements.
