CAS#: 77-92-9
CAS (Chemical Abstracts Service) numbers are unique identifiers assigned to every chemical substance, ensuring accurate identification across the industry.
What is it?
Citric Acid is a naturally occurring organic acid found abundantly in citrus fruits like lemons, limes, oranges, and grapefruits. This weak acid has been used for centuries in food preservation and is one of the most common and versatile ingredients in both food and cleaning products. In laundry detergents, citric acid serves as a pH stabilizer and mild chelating agent.
What does it do?
Citric Acid performs multiple important functions in our Activewear detergent formulation. As a pH stabilizer, it works by lowering and maintaining the optimal pH of the detergent solution, creating conditions that maximize cleaning effectiveness while remaining gentle on performance fabrics. By maintaining proper pH levels (slightly acidic to neutral), citric acid creates an environment that is unfavorable for the growth and survival of many microorganisms, providing mild antimicrobial protection during the wash cycle.
Additionally, citric acid acts as a natural water softener by chelating (binding to) hard water minerals like calcium and magnesium, preventing them from interfering with surfactant performance and leaving deposits on fabrics. This chelating action helps maintain the brightness and softness of athletic wear while preventing mineral buildup that can reduce fabric breathability.
How is it made?
While citric acid can be extracted directly from citrus fruits, commercial citric acid for industrial use is primarily produced through microbial fermentation — a sustainable biotechnology process. Specific strains of the fungus Aspergillus niger are cultivated in large fermentation vessels containing sugar-based feedstocks (often derived from corn or molasses). As part of their natural metabolic processes, these microorganisms produce citric acid, which is then harvested, purified, and crystallized. This fermentation method is highly efficient and environmentally friendly, producing food-grade citric acid that is chemically identical to the citric acid found naturally in lemons and limes.
Ingredient Safety Profile
Citric Acid is recognized as a safe ingredient by leading environmental and health organizations:
- EPA Safer Choice Approved Ingredient: Citric acid meets EPA's criteria for safer chemical ingredients
- Recognized by EWG: Citric acid is acknowledged by the Environmental Working Group's safer ingredient standards
- FDA GRAS Certified: Recognized as "Generally Recognized As Safe" for food use
- Naturally Derived: Produced through fermentation of plant-based sugars
- Biodegradable: Breaks down rapidly and completely in the environment
- Multi-Functional: Provides pH control, water softening, and antimicrobial properties
- Non-Toxic: Safe for use around children, pets, and sensitive individuals
- Rinses Completely: Leaves no harmful residues on fabrics
Important Note: While Citric Acid itself is recognized as a safe ingredient by EPA Safer Choice and EWG standards, Heritage Park Activewear Laundry Detergent is not yet EPA Safer Choice Certified or EWG VERIFIED as a complete product formulation.
What product is this ingredient in?
* Not yet EPA Safer Choice Certified or EWG VERIFIED