Contents
- Sodium citrates (Sodium citrates, sodium citrate, monosodium citrate, disodium citrate, trisodium citrate, sodium citrate, single-substituted sodium citrate, double-substituted sodium citrate, tri-substituted sodium citrate, E331).
- General Characteristics of E331 Sodium Citrates
- Benefits and harms of E331
- Application of E331
- Use of E331
Sodium citrates (Sodium citrates, sodium citrate, monosodium citrate, disodium citrate, trisodium citrate, sodium citrate, single-substituted sodium citrate, double-substituted sodium citrate, tri-substituted sodium citrate, E331).
Sodium citrate is the sodium salt of citric acid. The peculiarity of sodium citrate is its sour-salty taste, for which substances of this group are often called “acid salts”. It is used as an antioxidant, preservative and as a seasoning to improve the taste of food. Chemical formula Na3C6H5O7.
General Characteristics of E331 Sodium Citrates
The food additive E331 is known as a white crystalline powder, well soluble in water, but slightly-in alcohol (calorizator). The substance is non-toxic, non-explosive, non-flammable. There are several varieties of sodium citrates:
- (i) monosodium citrate, monosodium citrate);
- (ii) disodium citrate (disodium citrate));
- (iii) Sodium tri-substituted citrate (trisodium citrate).
Currently, sodium citrates are produced by chemical means, neutralizing citric acid with caustic soda and crystallizing the resulting substance.
Initially, at the beginning of the XX century, Sodium Citrate was used in blood transfusions as an anticoagulant (substances that interfere with the process of blood clotting), then they discovered the property of Sodium Citrate to affect the acidity of dishes and began to use it as a preservative.
Benefits and harms of E331
Sodium citrate is recognized as conditionally safe for health, but when inhaled, it has the property of irritating the upper respiratory tract, but there are no cases of the substance exerting an irritating effect on the skin. E331 is used in medicines that help with heartburn, hangover syndrome, cystitis and kidney inflammation. Side effects of taking medications based on sodium citrate are considered nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite and abdominal pain.
Application of E331
The main application of the food additive E331 is the production of non-alcoholic carbonated beverages (including energy drinks), especially with lemon and lime flavors. E331 is also used as an acidity regulator in the production of products such as pastilles, processed cheeses, marmalades, souffles, baby food, and yoghurts.
Other applications of Sodium Citrate are medicine (as part of medicines and as an anticoagulant when donating blood and its components); analytical chemistry; animal husbandry (artificial insemination). Use E331 to regulate the level of acidity in coffee machines.
Use of E331
On the territory of Our Country, the use of E331 Sodium Citrates as a food additive-antioxidant is allowed.