Comparing E331 - Sodium citrates vs E331III - Trisodium citrate

Synonyms
E331
Sodium citrates
E331iii
Trisodium citrate
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Found in 14,247 products

Found in 365 products

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#388170 / mo🇺🇸U.S.
#2591.6K / mo🇺🇸U.S.
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Popular questions
  1. What is e331 in food?

    E331 is sodium citrates—the mono-, di-, and trisodium salts of citric acid—used mainly as acidity regulators/buffers, sequestrants, and emulsifying salts in foods like soft drinks and processed cheese.

  2. How are sodium citrates used in molecular gastronomy?

    They’re used to adjust and buffer pH, chelate calcium, and act as an emulsifying salt—commonly to make ultra-smooth, meltable cheese sauces and to tune acidity/calcium levels for techniques like spherification and stabilizing foams.

  3. What are sodium citrates degradation byproducts?

    Under normal food use they’re stable; with strong heating/combustion they decompose to carbon oxides (CO2/CO) and sodium oxides (and related inorganic residues).

  4. Why does sodium citrates burn?

    It isn’t flammable; any “burning” sensation typically comes from irritation of skin, eyes, or mouth at high concentrations due to its mildly alkaline, saline nature, and on heating it decomposes rather than sustaining a flame.

  1. Is trisodium citrate bad for you?

    No—trisodium citrate (E331iii) is widely used as a food acidity regulator and is considered safe at typical food levels (JECFA ADI: “not specified”); those on sodium-restricted diets or consuming very large amounts should be mindful of the added sodium and possible mild stomach upset.

  2. What is trisodium citrate dihydrate?

    It’s the hydrated crystalline form of trisodium citrate (Na3C6H5O7·2H2O); it functions the same in foods as a buffer/chelating agent, with the water of crystallization only affecting dosing by weight.

  3. What is trisodium citrate used for?

    In foods it serves as an acidity regulator/buffer and emulsifying salt (especially in processed cheese), and as a chelator that controls tartness and helps prevent oxidation; it’s also used to stabilize flavors in beverages.

  4. During sample preparation, why must the solutions be buffered with trisodium citrate?

    Citrate buffer maintains a controlled pH and chelates multivalent metals, helping prevent precipitation or oxidation and stabilizing analytes during preparation.

  5. Fe during sample preparation, why must the solutions be buffered with trisodium citrate?

    For iron analyses, citrate complexes Fe2+/Fe3+ and holds the pH where ferric hydroxide won’t precipitate, reducing losses and interferences from other metals.