Anhydrous vs monohydrate citric acid — which to choose?

Anhydrous has ≤0.5% water (Karl Fischer), higher active content per kg. Monohydrate contains ~8.56% water. Converting formulas: multiply monohydrate qty by 0.913 to get anhydrous equivalent.

Is a CoA included with every shipment?

Yes — production-batch-specific CoA covering assay, water, heavy metals, sulfated ash, oxalic acid and microbiological parameters. Batch number traceable to production record.

What is the minimum order quantity?

25 kg per line. No annual volume commitment, no framework contract. Order via FDCM.eu.

Food Acidulant · E330 · EU Stock

Citric Acid Anhydrous —
EU Bulk Supplier
from 25 kg

E330 food-grade citric acid anhydrous from audited EU supply chain. No framework contracts, no minimum annual volumes. Certificate of Analysis with every batch. 27 EU member states, DSV road freight.

Order on FDCM.eu → View Specifications

25 kg

Min. order

€8.67

Per kg from

E330

EU additive

3–7 d

Dispatch

Quick Spec

CAS Number77-92-9

E NumberE330

Assay≥99.5% anhydrous basis

AppearanceWhite crystalline powder

Water content≤0.5% (Karl Fischer)

Heavy metals≤10 ppm

Sulfated ash≤0.05%

pH (1% aq.)2.0–2.2

Packaging25 kg paper bag (PE liner)

Shelf life36 months

€8.67/kg

25 kg min · excl. VAT

IN STOCK

Product Overview

Citric Acid Anhydrous (E330) — EU Bulk Supply, No Minimum Commitment

Citric acid anhydrous (E330, CAS 77-92-9) is a triprotic weak acid produced predominantly by fermentation of carbohydrate substrates using Aspergillus niger. With annual global production exceeding 2 million tonnes, it is the most widely used acidulant in the food and beverage industry. FDCM stocks food-grade citric acid anhydrous from EU-audited producers and supplies B2B buyers across Europe from a single 25 kg bag upwards.

The anhydrous form contains no water of crystallisation, giving a higher active content per kilogram than the monohydrate grade. It is preferred in applications where moisture uptake during storage is a concern, in dry blends and powdered formulations, and where precise acid dosing by mass is required. The product complies with Regulation (EU) No 231/2012 purity specifications and is authorised without quantitative restriction (quantum satis) in the majority of EU food categories under Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008.

FDCM supplies to manufacturers, formulators and trading companies across all 27 EU member states. Orders from 25 kg dispatch within standard lead times via DSV road freight. No annual purchase commitments, no onboarding fees, no minimum basket requirements beyond the per-line minimum of 25 kg.

Search Terms

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Technical Data

Citric Acid Anhydrous — Technical Specification

Full analytical specification for food-grade citric acid anhydrous (E330), compliant with EU 231/2012 and suitable for food, beverage, pharmaceutical and industrial applications.

Analytical Parameters

CAS / EINECS	77-92-9 / 201-069-1
E Number	E330
Assay (anhydrous basis)	≥99.5%
Water content (Karl Fischer)	≤0.5%
Sulfated ash	≤0.05%
Oxalic acid	≤100 ppm
Sulfate	≤150 ppm
Heavy metals (as Pb)	≤10 ppm
Lead	≤1 ppm
Arsenic	≤1 ppm
pH (1% aqueous solution)	2.0–2.2
Appearance	White crystalline powder, odourless

Physical Data & Packaging

Molecular formula	C₆H₈O₇
Molecular weight	192.12 g/mol
Melting point	153–159°C (decomposes)
Solubility in water	59.2 g/100 ml at 20°C
Bulk density	800–900 g/L
Packaging	25 kg paper bag with PE inner liner
Pallet qty	500 kg (20 bags)
Storage	Cool, dry, <25°C — away from strong oxidisers
Shelf life	36 months from production date
Microbiological	Per EU 231/2012 — TPC, Enterobacteriaceae, Salmonella

Industry Applications

Citric Acid in Food, Beverage & Industrial Production

E330 is the go-to acidulant across beverages, confectionery, dairy, pharma and home care. Here is where it actually works.

🥤

Beverages — acidulant & buffer

Citric acid sets the pH profile of carbonated soft drinks, energy drinks, fruit-flavoured waters and sports beverages. It sharpens perceived freshness, stabilises natural colours (anthocyanins, betacyanins) and extends shelf life by suppressing enzymatic activity. Typical use rate: 1–3 g/L in RTD beverages.

🍋

Sour confectionery & gummies

Acid-panning with citric acid and sugar produces the characteristic sour shell on hard candies and gummies. In pectin-based jellies, citric acid lowers pH to the gelation range (pH 3.0–3.5) and activates the pectin network. Also used to adjust pH in gelatine-based products for improved set.

🧀

Dairy & cheese processing

Citric acid is used in fresh cheese and mozzarella production as a rapid acidulant to lower pH and induce curd formation, as an alternative to bacterial starter cultures for faster processing. Also used in processed cheese formulations and as a flavour brightener in dairy-based sauces and dressings.

💊

Effervescent & liquid pharma

In effervescent tablets and granules, citric acid reacts with sodium or potassium bicarbonate to produce CO₂ on dissolution — the standard effervescent couple. Acts as a pH-lowering agent in liquid oral dosage forms and parenteral solutions. Ph. Eur. grade available on request.

🧴

Household & industrial cleaning

Citric acid sequesters divalent metal ions (Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, Fe²⁺) at chelation ratios of approximately 1:1 molar (citric acid to calcium). This property drives its use in descaling formulations, automatic dishwasher detergents (replacing phosphates), laundry products and industrial CIP cleaning agents. Biodegradable and safe versus strong mineral acids.

🌿

Fermentation & biotechnology

Used as a buffer component in microbial fermentation media (citrate buffer, pH 3.0–6.2 range). Also applied in downstream processing as a chelating agent for metal removal, and in food-contact equipment sanitisation formulations where its GRAS status and biodegradability are advantageous.

Regulatory & Quality

EU Compliance & Documentation

Regulatory status — EU food law

Citric acid (E330) is authorised as a food additive in the EU under Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008. In most food categories, it is permitted at quantum satis — the operator determines the quantity needed to achieve the intended technological effect, with no prescribed upper limit. Purity criteria are set by Commission Regulation (EU) No 231/2012, covering assay, water content, sulfated ash, heavy metals and microbiological parameters.

Citric acid is not subject to carry-over restrictions under Annex III of 1333/2008. It is not classified as an allergen under Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011 and requires no allergen declaration in finished product labelling.

Batch documentation

Standard shipment documentation includes a Certificate of Analysis (CoA) per production batch, covering all parameters required by EU 231/2012. On request at no additional cost: Technical Data Sheet (TDS), Safety Data Sheet (SDS, GHS format), allergen declaration, non-GMO statement, country of origin certificate.

For pharmaceutical applications: Ph. Eur.-compliant citric acid with GMP batch release documentation is available on request. Halal and Kosher certificates available for eligible batches — please specify at time of order.

Why FDCM

EU bulk supply — straightforward

FDCM supplies food ingredient manufacturers, beverage producers and trading companies across the EU. No framework contracts, no minimum annual commitments. Order what you need, when you need it.

25 kg minimum

Single-bag orders accepted. No annual volume commitments, no framework contract requirements. Scale up to pallet or container quantities at any point.

EU-wide delivery

DSV road freight network. All 27 EU member states, tracked shipments, standard transit 3–7 business days. Temperature-sensitive routing available on request.

Complete documentation

CoA per batch as standard. TDS, SDS, allergen declaration, non-GMO statement, Halal/Kosher on request — all at no extra charge.

Traceable supply chain

EU-registered producers, lot-traceable batches. Compliance with Regulation (EC) 1333/2008 and (EU) 231/2012 confirmed by third-party CoA.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

The anhydrous form (CAS 77-92-9) contains no water of crystallisation and has a water content ≤0.5% by Karl Fischer titration. Per kilogram purchased, you get more citric acid active content than with the monohydrate grade. This matters when dosing by weight in dry mixes, powdered drink bases and effervescent tablet manufacturing. The monohydrate (CAS 5949-29-1) contains approximately 8.56% water, so if you are converting a formula between grades, multiply the monohydrate quantity by 0.913 to get the equivalent anhydrous quantity. Anhydrous material also tends to be less prone to caking in dry storage conditions above 36.6°C, where monohydrate loses its crystal water and becomes sticky.

FDCM supplies manufacturers across food and beverage (soft drinks, confectionery, dairy, sauces), pharmaceutical and nutraceutical (effervescent tablets, liquid dosage forms, dietary supplements), home care and industrial cleaning (descaling formulations, dishwasher detergents, CIP agents), and cosmetics and personal care (pH adjustment, chelation). The food-grade material is suitable for all these end uses; technical grade at a lower price point is available for purely industrial applications on request.

Citric acid anhydrous is priced per kilogram. The minimum order is 25 kg (one bag). Pallet quantities are 500 kg (20 bags). Full container loads (FCL, typically 20–24 tonnes) are available with volume pricing. For current pricing across all quantity tiers, please check FDCM.eu or contact us directly.

Yes. Every shipment of citric acid anhydrous includes a production-batch-specific CoA covering assay (≥99.5%), water content (Karl Fischer), sulfated ash, heavy metals (Pb, As, Hg, Cd), oxalic acid, sulfates and microbiological parameters (TPC, Enterobacteriaceae, Salmonella). The CoA references the batch number traceable to the production record.

Food-grade citric acid anhydrous complies with EU 231/2012 but is not released against Ph. Eur. monograph specifications by default. For GMP-regulated pharmaceutical manufacturing, FDCM can supply Ph. Eur.-grade citric acid anhydrous with full pharmacopoeial batch release documentation. Please indicate the intended pharmaceutical application and regulatory context when requesting a quote.

Samples are available for qualified business customers. Request a sample via FDCM.eu or by direct contact with our team. Sample quantities and applicable shipping costs are confirmed on request. We recommend requesting the CoA alongside the sample to evaluate both material quality and documentation format before placing a first bulk order.

Citric Acid Anhydrous —EU Bulk Supplierfrom 25 kg