Citric Acid Production Cost Reports

The report provides a detailed analysis essential for establishing a Citric Acid manufacturing plant. It encompasses all critical aspects necessary for Citric Acid production, including the cost of Citric Acid production, Citric Acid plant cost, Citric Acid production costs, and the overall Citric Acid manufacturing plant cost. Additionally, the study covers specific expenditures associated with setting up and operating a Citric Acid production plant. These encompass manufacturing processes, raw material requirements, utility requirements, infrastructure needs, machinery and technology requirements, manpower requirements, packaging requirements, transportation requirements, and more.

Citric Acid is a chemical that has various applications across several industries. In pharmaceutical preparations, the acid is used as an excipient owing to its antioxidant properties. As it maintains the stability of active ingredients, it is utilized as a natural preservative and as a food additive that adds an acidic (sour) taste to foods and soft drinks.

It is also used to control pH as an acidulant and works like an anticoagulant by chelating calcium in the blood. As it is used to chelate metals, it is useful in soaps and laundry detergents. Also, it is included in some household cleaning solutions as an active ingredient for bathrooms and kitchens, as it can remove hard water stains from the glass without scrubbing. Other uses of the chemical include as an antioxidant, an emulsifying agent in ice creams, in shampoo, in sucrose crystallization in caramel, and food coloring.

The market for Citric Acid is majorly driven by its applications in multiple sectors, such as food, beverage, pharmaceutical, personal care, and cosmetics. Its utilization as a flavor enhancer, preservative, and pH regulator in food products, coupled with the global rise in the consumption of processed and convenience foods and the popularity of carbonated beverages, elevates its demand in the food and beverage industries. Its function as an excipient, acidifying agent, and pH adjuster in various formulations, along with the growth of the healthcare sector and increasing demand for dietary supplements, promotes its demand in the pharmaceutical industry.

Its usage as a pH adjuster and preservative fuels its market growth in the skincare and cosmetics industries. Overall, the application of the chemical in various downstream industries, along with other factors, such as the shift towards sustainable sourcing and biodegradable products, which supports the use of bio-based citric acid and new applications for citric acid, such as in bioplastics, further impact industrial Citric Acid procurement.

Raw Material for Citric Acid Production

According to the Citric Acid manufacturing plant project report, the key raw material used in the production of Citric Acid includes the culture of microorganisms.

Manufacturing Process of Citric Acid

The extensive Citric Acid production cost report consists of the following major industrial manufacturing processes:

1. Production via surface fermentation: The manufacturing process of Citric Acid occurs via surface fermentation, which is a stationary batch process completed within 8 to 12 days. It is conducted in fermentation chambers containing stainless steel trays where fungal mycelium develops on the surface of the sterilized medium, inoculated with spore suspension, and incubated at 28–30°C.
2. Production via submerged fermentation: The production process of Citric Acid occurs via submerged fermentation. The process occurs in liquid nutrient broth within bioreactors over 5–12 days. After 1–2 days of inoculation, microorganisms form 0.5 cm pellets, freely suspended in the medium to maximize nutrient and oxygen uptake. High-speed airflow and agitation are used to enhance oxygen levels by breaking air bubbles. The aerobic decomposition of carbon sources leads to the production of Citric Acid.
3. Production via solid-state fermentation: The manufacturing process of Citric Acid occurs via solid-state fermentation. In this process, microorganisms grow on solid, low-moisture substrates that provide both physical support and nutrients. The substrate is moistened to about 70% moisture, with optimal pH at 4.5–6.0 and temperature at 28–30°C. The process is completed in 4–5 days to produce Citric Acid.

Citric Acid with the chemical formula C6H8O7 is a weak acid that occurs in two forms – monohydrate or water-free (anhydrous). It is commonly found in fruits such as lemons, oranges, etc. It is also referred to as a tribasic acid. It's a tricarboxylic acid that is propane-1,2,3-tricarboxylic acid bearing a hydroxy substituent at position 2. The acid with a monoclinic crystal structure appears as a white crystalline solid and has no odor. It appears to be colorless and has an acidic taste. It is denser than water. Its molecular weight is 192.124 g/mol, and its density is 1.66 g/cm³ (anhydrous). It has a melting point of 153 °C.