Sodium citrate is a white cubic crystal or granular powder, odorless, cool, salty and slightly spicy.
Sodium citrate has the following characteristics and properties:
Safe and non-toxic:
Due to preparation The raw materials of sodium citrate are basically derived from grain, so it is absolutely safe and reliable and will not harm human health. The Food and Agriculture of the United Nations and the World Health Organization do not set any limit on its daily intake, and it can be considered drug-free.
Biodegradability:
After sodium citrate is diluted with a large amount of water in nature, part of it turns into citric acid, and the two coexist in the same system. Citric acid is easily biodegraded in water through the action of oxygen, heat, light, bacteria and microorganisms. Its decomposition pathway is generally through aconitic acid, itaconic acid, and citraconic anhydride, and then converted into carbon dioxide and water. [5]
Complexing ability:
Sodium citrate has good complexing ability for metal ions such as Ca2+ and Mg2+. For other metal ions, For example, Fe2+ plasma also has good complexing ability.
Other properties:
Sodium citrate has excellent solubility, and the solubility increases with the increase of water temperature; sodium citrate has good pH adjustment and buffering properties. Sodium citrate is a weak acid and strong alkali salt. When combined with citric acid, it can form a strong pH buffer. Therefore, it is of great use in some situations where the pH is not suitable for large-scale changes. In addition, sodium citrate also has excellent retarding and stabilizing properties.