DESCRIPTION

Citric and Fatty Acid Esters of Glycerol occurs as a white to off-white liquid of variable viscosity or as a solid. It consists of mixed esters of citric acid and edible fatty acids with glycerol. It may contain minor amounts of free fatty acids, free glycerol, free citric acid, and mono- and diglycerides, and may be fully or partially neutralized with substances suitable for the purpose (as declared on the label). It is obtained by esterification of glycerol with citric acid and edible fatty acids or by reaction of a mixture of mono- and diglycerides of edible fatty acid with citric acid. Citroglycerides can be differentiated from stearyl citrate by the distinctive amount of stearyl alcohol in the latter. Because the mono- or diglycerides in citroglycerides may include either one or two fatty acids, and because there is a variety of edible fatty acids with chain lengths ranging most commonly from 12 to 18, there is no single molecular or structural formula. It forms a dispersion in hot water; is soluble in oils and fats; insoluble in cold water and in cold ethanol.