Our team at Comal Chemical has extensive experience in sourcing and supplying chemicals of all kinds for our clients. Whether you are looking for acids, bases, solvents, plasticizers, or anything else, we are confident we can get it for you. In our experience, sometimes people are surprised to learn about the specific chemicals used in industrial processes. For example, most people know citric acid is used in food production, but they are surprised to learn its other uses. In this article, we will go over a few examples of the industrial applications of citric acid to give you a better idea of all it can do.
- Cleaning – One industrial application of citric acid is cleaning. Specifically, citric acid is frequently used in cleaning solutions designed to remove limescale from metal. It can also be used to mitigate the effects of hard water, preventing mineral deposits from building up on pipes and water fixtures in the first place. Citric acid is frequently included in the formulations of soaps and detergents to address hard water and ensure the soap is as effective as possible.
- Skin Care – Citric acid is also used in many skin care and cosmetic products. Specifically, it is a common ingredient in chemical face peels, which are used to remove dead skin. It is also a popular ingredient in face wipes with sanitizing or disinfectant properties, as the acid helps kill any germs on the skin.
- Dyeing – A third industrial application of citric acid is dyeing. Many modern dyes use acid in their processes, and that acid plays an essential role in getting the pigment to bind to the fabric fibers. The most common acid used for this purpose is white vinegar, but citric acid makes an effective substitute.