Citrates
Buy Sodium, Calcium, Magnesium, Potassium, Zinc and Ferric Ammonium Citrate in Lab, USP, FCC and ACS Grades.
Buy citrate salts online in the grade your formulation needs, with the price right on the page. Sodium citrate is the biggest group here, available in USP/FCC, ACS/Analytical Reagent, Lab Grade and a premixed 10% solution. There's also calcium, magnesium, potassium and zinc citrate, each in USP/FCC and Lab Grade, plus ammonium citrate and two forms of ferric ammonium citrate, brown and green, used as analytical reagents.
Grades run from Lab Grade for general and industrial use up to USP/FCC Grade for food, beverage and pharmaceutical formulation, and ACS or Analytical Reagent Grade for trace level analytical work. None of the products in this category currently carry Kosher or Halal certification, even on the USP/FCC grades, which is worth checking directly with our team if certification is required for your application. Every product ships with its SDS and COA posted online, and sizes run from small jars up to 25 kg and 50 lb containers on select grades.
256,000+
customers served
99.5%
of orders ship in 1–2 business days
98.9%
inventory accuracy
SDS + COA
available online, every product
About Citrates
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I buy sodium citrate or other citrate salts online?
Right here. We carry sodium, calcium, magnesium, potassium, zinc and ferric ammonium citrate in Lab, USP/FCC, ACS and Analytical Reagent grades. Pick the salt and grade, check the price, and order with no quote needed for standard sizes. Most in stock orders ship within 1 to 2 business days.
Lab grade vs USP/FCC vs ACS, what's the actual difference?
Mostly purity and where it's headed. Lab Grade is solid everyday purity with no official standard, fine for general research and industrial use. USP/FCC Grade meets pharmacopeia and food chemical standards, the one to buy for food, beverage or pharmaceutical formulation. ACS and Analytical Reagent Grade are tested to tighter impurity limits for analytical methods where trace contamination matters.
Are any of your citrate salts Kosher or Halal certified?
Not at this time. None of the sixteen citrate products in this category currently carry Kosher, Halal or other religious certification, including the USP/FCC grades. If certification is a requirement for your application, reach out to Customer Care at 512-668-9918 to confirm current status before ordering, since certifications can be added to products over time.
Is magnesium citrate the same thing as the laxative sold in stores?
Chemically, yes, but the finished products are different. Over the counter magnesium citrate laxative solutions are specially formulated, dosed and labeled pharmaceutical products. Our USP/FCC and Lab Grade magnesium citrate are raw material salts sold for formulation, research and industrial use, not finished consumer products, so they're not interchangeable with something you'd buy at a pharmacy for direct use.
Do I need a permit, and can citrate salts ship to a home address?
No purchase permit is required for any citrate salt. Like the rest of our chemical catalog, they ship to business, lab and school addresses rather than residential ones. Each product page lists its specific shipping details, and Customer Care at 512-668-9918 can confirm before you order if you're unsure your address qualifies.
Which grade should I buy?
Match it to the job. General research or industrial use: Lab Grade. Food, beverage, supplement or pharmaceutical formulation: USP/FCC Grade. Analytical methods or trace level work: ACS or Analytical Reagent Grade. Need a specific concentration without weighing and dissolving crystal yourself: the 10% sodium citrate solution.
What is sodium citrate actually used for?
A wide range of things. In food and drinks, it's a buffer and acidity regulator, common in sodas, candies and processed cheese as an emulsifying salt. In clinical and pharmaceutical settings, it's used as a blood anticoagulant and in oral solutions to manage acidosis or cystitis under medical supervision. In the lab, it's a standard buffer and reagent for a wide range of analytical and biochemical procedures.
Can I buy citrate salts in bulk?
Yes, for most of them. Several citrates on this page scale up to 25 kg and 50 lb containers right on the product page. For volumes beyond what's listed, or a recurring delivery schedule, request pricing through Bulk & Custom Chemicals. Autoship takes 10% off eligible repeat orders.
How should citrate salts be stored?
Keep them tightly sealed in their original containers, in a cool, dry area, since most citrates are at least mildly hygroscopic and can clump if they absorb moisture from the air. They're generally stable and low reactivity compared to most of our stock, but it's still worth keeping them in dedicated, labeled storage and away from strong oxidizers.
Industries That Use Citrates
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