Citric Acid Anhydrous Powder Product Overview
Citric acid anhydrous powder is a water-free organic acid in fine powder form, selected for applications where fast dissolution, homogeneous distribution and moisture control are critical.
It is used as an acidulant, flavour enhancer and sequestering agent in food and beverage formulations, and as a functional formulation ingredient in pharmaceutical preparations and personal care products.
Citribel supplies citric acid anhydrous powder manufactured in Europe, with a defined powder particle size distribution designed to support predictable processing performance.
Why choose Citric Acid Anhydrous Powder?
Water-free form for moisture-sensitive formulations
As an anhydrous (water-free) grade, citric acid anhydrous powder is commonly selected where total moisture content must be tightly controlled, such as in effervescent systems, hygroscopic blends and dry premixes. The absence of water of crystallization supports formulation stability and shelf-life management.
Powder morphology for fast dissolution and uniform acidification
The fine powder form provides a high specific surface area, enabling rapid and reproducible dissolution in aqueous systems. This supports efficient processing, uniform acid distribution and consistent pH adjustment in both liquid preparations and reconstituted products.
Improved homogeneity in dry blends and premixes
Compared to coarser granular grades, the powder form facilitates more even dispersion when blended with other fine ingredients. This helps reduce segregation risks and supports homogeneous mixing in dry beverage powders, nutritional premixes and pharmaceutical blends.
Defined particle size for consistent processing performance
Citribel’s citric acid anhydrous powder is supplied with a controlled sieve profile, supporting repeatable dosing, mixing and dissolution behavior across batches. This physical consistency is particularly relevant for manufacturers operating under validated or tightly controlled production conditions.
Broad application flexibility across industries
Thanks to its anhydrous chemistry and powder physical form, citric acid anhydrous powder can be integrated into both dry and liquid processing routes. It is widely used in food and beverage applications, pharmaceutical preparations (including effervescent dosage forms), and personal care formulations.
Alignment with compendial and quality requirements
Citric acid anhydrous powder meets the requirements of major international compendia and EU food additive regulation when tested according to the latest versions. This supports use in regulated environments where both chemical purity and physical consistency are required for formulation and quality assurance.
Product identification
- Chemical name: 2-hydroxy-1,2,3-propanetricarboxylic acid
- Synonyms: citric acid
- CAS: 77-92-9
- EINECS: 201-069-1
- E-number: E 330
- INCI: Citric Acid
- Empirical formula: C₆H₈O₇
- Molecular mass: 192.12 g/mol
- Appearance: fine powder; practically odourless; strong acid taste.
Typical applications
Cosmetics and personal care
- Used as an ingredient in cosmetics and personal care formulations
- Applied where pH adjustment and formulation stability are required
Food and beverage
- Used as an acidulant and flavour enhancer
- Functions as a sequestering agent
- Applied as a synergist in antioxidant mixtures across food and beverage systems
Pharmaceutical preparations
- Used in pharmaceutical formulations
- Particularly suitable for effervescent tablets
Beverage
Cosmetics
Food
Nutraceuticals
Personal Care
Pharmaceuticals
Technical specifications (typical specification highlights)
See product data sheet download for full specifications.
- Assay (calculated by water content): 99.8 – 100.2 %
- Water (Karl Fischer): 0.00 – 0.20 %
- Heavy metals (sum): < 1 ppm
- Oxalates / oxalic acid: < 10 ppm
- Sulphated ash / residue on ignition: meets FCC requirements
- Solubility: very soluble in water; freely soluble in ethanol; sparingly soluble in ether
Powder grade: particle size control (ISO sieves / mesh)
If your application requires a powder form, Citribel supplies citric acid anhydrous with the following defined sieve profile:
Citric Acid Anhydrous – Powder
- On No. 60 (250 µm): max. 5%
- Through No. 200 (75 µm): min. 65%
This particle size distribution supports repeatability in:
- Dry blending
- Premix preparation
- Controlled dissolution and acidification performance
Packaging and supply options
For citric acid anhydrous powder, Citribel offers 25 kg packaging, supporting industrial procurement and plant handling.
(Other granular variants and larger packaging formats are available across the citric acid range.)
Commercial name | Reference | Available packaging | Compendia Compliance |
|---|---|---|---|
Citric Acid Anhydrous Medium Granular 1200 | 0482951 | 15 kg | 25 kg | 500 kg | 1000 kg | USP, FCC, Ph, Eur, JP, JECFA, OU, H |
Citric Acid Anhydrous Fine Granular 51N | 0432938 | 15 kg | 25 kg | 500 kg | 1000 kg | USP, FCC, Ph. Eur, JP, JECFA, OU, H |
Citric Acid Anhydrous Fine Granular 700 | 0483087 | 25 kg | 1000 kg | USP, FCC, Ph. Eur, JP, JECFA, OU, H |
Citric Acid Anhydrous Fine Granular 16/40 | 0432962 | 25 kg | 1000 kg | USP, FCC, Ph. Eur, JP, JECFA, OU, H |
Citric Acid Anhydrous Powder | 0432717 | 25 kg | USP, FCC, Ph. Eur, JP, JECFA, OU, H |
Certifications
To guarantee the quality of our products, Citribel has taken steps to certify its products. Citribel is proudly certified:
Ecovadis, for its sustainable approach
Halal, by the Halal Food Authority
Kosher, through the Kosher Certification Service
ISO 9001 / ISO 14001 / ISO 22000 / FSSC 22000





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Frequently Asked Questions
What is citric acid anhydrous powder used for?
Citric acid anhydrous powder is used in applications where fast dissolution, homogeneous distribution and low moisture content are required. The powder form is commonly selected for dry blends, premixes, effervescent systems and liquid preparations where rapid acid release and consistent pH adjustment are important.
Typical uses include food and beverage formulations, pharmaceutical preparations (such as effervescent tablets), and personal care products.
Why choose the powder form instead of granular citric acid anhydrous?
The powder form offers a higher specific surface area compared to granular grades, resulting in faster and more predictable dissolution.
In dry formulations, the finer particle size supports better blend uniformity and reduces the risk of segregation when mixed with other fine ingredients. This makes citric acid anhydrous powder particularly suitable for premixes and fast-dissolving applications.
How does citric acid anhydrous powder support moisture-sensitive formulations?
Citric acid anhydrous powder is a water-free form of citric acid and does not contain water of crystallization. This makes it well suited for moisture-sensitive systems, such as effervescent formulations or hygroscopic blends, where controlling total water content is critical for product stability and shelf life.
What is the particle size profile of Citribel citric acid anhydrous powder?
The powder grade is supplied with a defined sieve profile to support consistent processing performance.
For citric acid anhydrous powder:
- Maximum 5% remains on No. 60 (250 µm)
- Minimum 65% passes through No. 200 (75 µm)
This controlled particle size distribution contributes to repeatable mixing, dosing and dissolution behavior.
How does the powder form affect dissolution and processing performance?
Due to its fine particle size, citric acid anhydrous powder dissolves rapidly in aqueous systems, supporting efficient processing and uniform acidification.
This can help reduce mixing time, support homogeneous flavour distribution, and improve batch-to-batch reproducibility in both liquid and reconstituted products.
What are the key specifications relevant for the powder grade?
Key specification highlights for citric acid anhydrous powder include a high assay (99.8–100.2%, calculated by water content) and very low moisture content (0.00–0.20% by Karl Fischer).
Additional purity parameters and limits are defined in the official Product Data Sheet and align with international compendial requirements.
Is citric acid anhydrous powder suitable for regulated applications?
Citric acid anhydrous powder from Citribel meets the requirements of USP, FCC, Ph. Eur., JP, JECFA and Commission Regulation (EC) No 231/2012 when tested according to the latest versions of these compendia.
This makes the powder form suitable for use in regulated food, pharmaceutical and personal care environments, subject to application-specific validation.
Is citric acid anhydrous powder intended for sterile drug manufacturing?
No. Citric acid anhydrous powder is not intended for use in the manufacture of sterile drug products.
Any additional processing, testing, labelling or regulatory registration required for such use remains the responsibility of the purchaser.
What packaging options are available for citric acid anhydrous powder?
Citric acid anhydrous powder is supplied in 25 kg packaging, supporting industrial handling and dosing.
Other citric acid forms and particle size variants are available within the broader Citribel citric acid portfolio.
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