Tricalcium Citrate

What is Tricalcium Citrate?

Molecular Formula (Tricalcium Citrate): C₁₂H₁₀Ca₃O₁₄ or (C₆H₅O₇)₂Ca₃.4H₂O

Molecular Weight: 498.4 g/mol

Chemical Name: Calcium Citrate

CAS Number: 813-94-5

This chemical is a calcium salt. This Citrate is the most commonly used calcium salt of citric acid. In some countries, it is simply called calcium citrate.

Due to being a high source of calcium, it is the most widely used chemical among organic calcium salts.

It exists in different forms in terms of particle size. These range between 10 microns and 300 microns. As the particle size decreases, the solubility increases.

It has the best adsorption rates compared to other Calcium compounds. Because of this property, it is more preferred than other calcium sources.

The element calcium is the most abundant element in the human body. For the human body to function correctly, the calcium balance must be at an optimum level. Drugs and food supplements containing tricalcium citrate are given to humans and animals experiencing calcium imbalance.

The biggest calcium deficiency problem in humans is the lack of calcium in the blood, known as hypocalcemia. This is caused by malnutrition and Vitamin D deficiency resulting from people not being able to absorb sunlight sufficiently.

The bioavailability value is approximately 2.5 times higher than calcium carbonate.

Other Names Are As Follows;

• TCC
• Citrate
• Calcium salt
• Tricalcium salt
• Calcium Citrate
• Tricalcium dicitrate
• Tricalcium Citrate tetrahydrate
• 813-94-5
• Tribasic calcium citrate
• Tribasic calcium salt
• 1,2,3-Propanetricarboxylic acid, 2-hydroxy-, calcium salt (2:3)
• Calcium Citrate Powder
• Citrate of Lime
• Calcium Citrate Malate
• Calcium Citrate Anhydrous

How is Tricalcium Citrate Produced?

Its production is carried out by the complete neutralization of citric acid with a high-purity calcium source such as calcium hydroxide or calcium carbonate.

To give a simple reaction for TCC production: citric acid in the broth solution is neutralized with Calcium hydroxide to precipitate the undissolved calcium citrate. It is then filtered from the rest of the broth. The chemical taken from the solution is washed to yield a pure form. And it is filtered again and dried. The resulting product can be sold directly or converted back to citric acid through the use of dilute sulfuric acid.

To produce this raw material, a reaction can be created by adding calcium to citrus juice.

What are the Physical and Chemical Properties?

As for physical appearance, it is in the form of white powder, fine crystals, or very fine salt. It has a sour taste.

In terms of odor, it is an odorless chemical.

Upon heating, TCC loses all its water at 100 °C or 120 °C.

TCC melts at 120 °C.

Its density is 1.63 g/cm³.

The melting point is 120 °C.

Boiling Point: No information available.

In terms of stability, it is stable under normal conditions. However, it is incompatible with strong oxidizing agents. For example, it is incompatible with chemicals such as potassium permanganate, sodium hypochlorite, and hydrogen peroxide, which are oxidizing agents generally found on the market.

It is sparingly soluble in water. If this chemical is used with cold orange juice or lemon juice, its solubility will increase. While calcium carbonate dissolves well in strong acidic environments, Tricalcium Citrate dissolves better in neutral and alkaline environments.

What are the Usage Areas of Tricalcium Citrate?

• Its usage areas include toothpaste. Within toothpaste, it has an abrasive effect due to being very sparingly soluble in water (less than approximately 1g/L). While creating an abrasive effect here, it does not damage the gums or other areas due to its chemical properties.
• It is actively used in toothpaste manufacturing because it provides opacifying properties. Normally, TiO2 is the best whitening pigment as an opacifier in toothpastes. However, due to being more micronized and its material properties, tricalcium citrate provides the best features in this application.
• Calcium Citrate is used in the medical field as a calcium supplement. In cases of bone loss (osteoporosis) in human health, drugs in which this chemical is an active ingredient are given to people with weak bone disease (osteomalacia).
• It is used in the treatment of diseases caused by the reduction of the parathyroid gland.
• It is used as a chemopreventive in the treatment of certain cancer diseases.
• Among the reasons for its use in the pharmaceutical industry is its bioavailability property. Unlike Calcium Carbonate, it does not have the effect of neutralizing stomach acid. Ease of digestion and absorption is one of the reasons for preference. It also does not cause gas and constipation. Besides, it has less effect on the formation of kidney stones.
• It is used as a food additive to provide a sour taste in foods. Due to its preservative effect, it is used as a food preservative. In addition, it is used as a good water softener.
• It is used in the manufacture of some drugs used to treat hypocalcemia.
• As a main component in the manufacture of drugs produced to eliminate muscular and skeletal disorders.
• Calcium citrate is found in baby formulas as a calcium supplement.
• It is used in the manufacture of animal feeds.
• Tricalcium Citrate is used in fermentation release tablets as a firming agent and to allow the binder to bond better.
• TCC is used in the manufacture of some meat products to give a sour taste and sauce.
• It is used as an acidity regulator in jams, soft drinks, candies, and flour.
• By using chemical substances like TCC instead of Calcium Carbonate, health problems causing constipation and bloating can be eliminated.
• It is used in the water softening process in water treatment plants. Tricalcium citrate reacts with excess calcium and magnesium ions in the water to increase solubility.
• It can be used in agriculture to balance soil pH and prevent the soil from being acidic.

What are the Factors Affecting Its Prices?

As a price, it is directly dependent on the prices of the raw materials used in TCC manufacturing. As Citric Acid prices increase, the tricalcium citrate price will increase. As Calcium Carbonate prices increase, the prices will increase.

Tricalcium Citrate prices are directly dependent on the stocks of the companies selling this chemical. As company stocks increase, calcium citrate prices will decrease.

In case the stocks of companies distributing this chemical decrease, TCC will show an increase in price.

Calcium Citrate prices vary depending on the number of companies producing this chemical. In case a factory producing TCC is established, market prices will decrease.

Prices are directly dependent on usage areas. As tricalcium citrate usage areas increase, tricalcium citrate will increase in price. Because the amount of Tricalcium citrate produced does not meet the amount of tricalcium citrate demanded.