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Sodium Citrate Dihydrate shows up in pharmaceuticals and food processing almost every day. In the lab, people recognize its pale crystal look across benches and in supply rooms, either as flakes, powder, or solid pearls. The chemical structure tells a lot about its function: three sodium ions hook up to citric acid and two water molecules. The molecular formula Na3C6H5O7·2H2O gives a quick summary. Measuring by molecular weight, 294.1 g/mol becomes a familiar number on quality control documents, tying straight into the specifications set by BP, EP, and USP grades. These standards matter because they lock down impurity levels, moisture content, and particle size, ensuring people in pharma or food industries can count on a reliable, reproducible material every time.
Sodium Citrate Dihydrate grabs water from the air, so open air sometimes turns dry powder into sticky clumps before you know it. That’s why professionals watch storage conditions and close containers tightly. On the bench, this material dissolves easily in water, making it a regular pick for buffer solutions and injectable medications. The density comes out around 1.7 g/cm³, which is easy to handle in both solid and solution forms, and keeps measuring consistent—whether working with a gram balance or preparing a liter of solution. In my hands, the crystal material holds up during shipping, resists caking more than some other hydrates, and behaves predictably in the scale-up processes.
As a raw material, Sodium Citrate Dihydrate turns up in countless products. Hospitals and clinics rely on its buffering ability, using sterile solutions for controlling pH in blood products and intravenous fluids. Tablets, oral syrups, and even some liquid antibiotics draw on citrate’s ability to improve taste and stabilize formulations, meeting specs listed in pharma monographs. The BP, EP, and USP specs cover purity, appearance, water content, and heavy metals. Each batch has to line up exactly, because anything off spec could throw off safety tests or trigger unexpected reactions—problems nobody wants to see in health care settings.
Looking at the scientific backbone, Sodium Citrate Dihydrate forms as colorless crystals at room temperature. The water molecules in the dihydrate tie into its stability and solubility, both essential during drug formulation. In practical terms, manufacturers produce this material through neutralization of citric acid with sodium hydroxide or carbonate. The crystalline structure of the dihydrate protects the material during transport and keeps it from breaking down easily, even in environments with some humidity. Whether in flakes, fine powder, or chunky pearls, each form answers to different processing needs, from fast solution prep in the lab to measured release in industrial-scale mixing tanks.
Handling Sodium Citrate Dihydrate for regulated industries demands traceable paperwork. Each shipment lists a CAS number (68-04-2), along with HS Code 29181500 for international movement. Suppliers include a certificate of analysis covering pH, appearance, density, and microbial content. Safety data sheets rate it as relatively safe under normal handling, though dust can irritate eyes or act as a mild respiratory irritant. The fines, which collect during packaging, sometimes become airborne in powder form—people who’ve ever dumped a kilo bag understand the value of a mask.
Packing density becomes a regular reference point, particularly when switching between solid, flakes, powder, and pearl forms. Mixers, feeders, and dosing machines rely on true density (1.7 g/cm³) to deliver the right amount per batch. People working with Sodium Citrate Dihydrate often check compatibility with other chemicals, since not every excipient blends smoothly with the citrate family. On the safety front, the substance ranks lower in hazard than most chemicals found on pharma floors, but even an ordinary product calls for basic PPE—goggles, gloves, and good ventilation. Spills usually wipe up with nothing more than water, as the compound is not harmful to the environment in controlled quantities, but bulk releases still get logged for records. Most countries see it as a non-hazardous, non-flammable, non-toxic raw material.
Making solutions with Sodium Citrate Dihydrate demands attention to water quality and concentration. In a pharma context, high-purity water pairs with accurate dosing to create buffer systems—critical for stabilizing proteins, vaccines, and other sensitive ingredients. A liter of buffered solution may call for specific gram quantities, adjusted to the density and hydration state of the material. Food industries borrow similar tricks, adding the material to ready-to-eat meals and beverages for tartness and to regulate acidity. Anyone who’s ever worked with bakery or sausage processing equipment knows citrate helps manage flavor and shelf life without introducing harsh chemicals or masking tastes.
Anyone who stores Sodium Citrate Dihydrate finds moisture the main troublemaker. Humid warehouses transform even the best-packaged powder into sticky, hard-to-pour lumps over time. Solutions start with sealed, air-tight packaging and climate-controlled storage areas, keeping bulk supplies dry and free-flowing. Labels flag expiration dates, reminding staff not to push old stock into new batches. Industry guidance suggests rotating stock and tracking lot numbers, which lets companies trace any potential issue directly back to the source. As supply chains tighten, transparency around storage and stability only grows more important. Any move to sustainable, low-waste packaging must keep light, moisture, and air out, or risk compromises in quality.
Quality slips show quickly on production lines. A batch of Sodium Citrate Dihydrate with off-spec pH or higher-than-allowed water content means scrapped product, regulatory headaches, and wasted revenue. Meeting BP, EP, and USP standards doesn’t just keep regulators satisfied—it protects end-users from unexpected health risks and bad outcomes. In my own time working with excipients, small deviations could trigger lengthy investigations or even recalls. Companies prioritize trusted sources, verified by audits and full documentation. Supply chain disruptions, especially during global events, push teams to build relationships with multiple suppliers, share safety data, and keep samples on hand for back-up.
Citric acid counts as the essential feedstock for Sodium Citrate Dihydrate. Industrial facilities use large fermentation tanks to churn out citric acid, often in countries with easy access to sugar sources. The neutralization step calls for sodium carbonate or sodium hydroxide, chosen for purity and cost. Factories pump out raw crystals, then process, dry, and grind the solid into the required form—flakes, powder, or pearls. It’s a cycle that ties together farming, fermentation, chemical processing, and pharmaceutical manufacturing, across continents and regulatory regimes. Chemists, warehouse crews, and quality inspectors all interact at different stages to ensure the end product lands safely in hospitals, food factories, and pharmacies.
Stewardship of any chemical raw material—including Sodium Citrate Dihydrate—means responsible sourcing, careful handling, and solid record-keeping. While this compound doesn’t rank high on the hazard scale, safe practices build habits that transfer across much riskier materials too. Companies taking the time to train crews, standardize procedures, and audit supply chains see fewer incidents and better compliance. As more markets prioritize transparency and sustainability, knowing the full life cycle of Sodium Citrate Dihydrate—down to the fields where the sugar beets or corn grow—gives companies a head start. Transparency builds trust with regulators, customers, and, most of all, the people who rely on safe medicines and clean food supplies every day.
Chengguan District, Lanzhou, Gansu, China
