A citrate salt is what you get when citric acid, the same mild acid found in lemons and limes, gives up one, two or all three of its acidic hydrogens to a metal or ammonium ion. That structure is why citrates are such capable buffers and chelating agents: like their parent acid, they can bind metal ions and resist pH swings over a useful range. Most citrates on this page are white, odorless, water soluble solids with a mild, slightly salty or sour taste depending on which metal is attached. Sodium citrate is probably the most familiar, used across food, pharmaceutical and clinical settings, while the ferric ammonium citrate products stand apart as analytical reagents rather than food or supplement ingredients.
COMMON APPLICATIONS
Buffer and acidity regulator in food and beverages, especially sodas, candies and dairy products. Emulsifying salt in processed cheese. Anticoagulant in blood collection and plasma storage, and a buffering agent in IV and clinical solutions prepared under proper pharmaceutical controls. Dietary mineral supplement use, with calcium, magnesium, potassium and zinc citrate chosen for better absorption than some other mineral salt forms. Analytical reagent use, including ferric ammonium citrate as a reference reagent and iron source in culture media. General laboratory buffer and titration work across all of the citrate salts stocked here.
GRADES EXPLAINED
Lab Grade is solid, everyday purity with no official monograph, suitable for general research and industrial use. USP/FCC Grade meets both pharmacopeia and food chemical standards, the one to buy for food, beverage, supplement or pharmaceutical formulation. ACS and Analytical Reagent Grade are tested to tighter impurity limits for analytical methods where trace contamination would affect results.
TYPES & GRADES AT A GLANCE
USP/FCC, ACS/Analytical Reagent, Lab Grade and a 10% solution, the most versatile citrate in this category.
USP/FCC and Lab Grade, used in food fortification and mineral supplementation.
USP/FCC and Lab Grade, a common magnesium source in supplement and pharmaceutical formulation.
USP/FCC and Lab Grade, used as a buffer and potassium source in formulations.
USP/FCC and Lab Grade, a zinc source for supplement and oral care formulation.
Lab and ACS grade ammonium citrate, plus brown and green ferric ammonium citrate for analytical reagent use.
WHY BUY FROM LAB ALLEY
256,000+ customers already order their chemicals and reagents from Lab Alley. 99.5% of orders ship within 1 to 2 business days, and 98.9% inventory accuracy means the grade you see in stock is the grade that ships. SDS and COA are available online for every citrate salt. None of the citrate products in this category carry Kosher, Halal or other religious certification at this time.
Related: See our Citric Acid and Phosphates collections, or browse all Salts.