Citric Acid → Calcium Carbonate

Participants

Reaction Conditions

Reaction Steps

A mixture of 22 parts citric acid having a grain size between 0.4 and 0.6 mm and 43 parts citric acid of a grain size of about 0.1 mm were mixed, heated to 40° C., and mixed with 10 parts of a 50% ethanol solution. After five minutes of oscillating mixture, evacuation to 500 mbar was carried out and 20 parts of micronized calcium carbonate were introduced. Without agitation, evacuation was carried out again and when the pressure reached 500 mbar, mixing was carried out in an oscillating fashion and the valve to the vacuum pump was turned off. The resulting reaction permitted the pressure to rise slowly, and upon attaining a vacuum of 200 mbar pressure, full vacuum was applied. The difference in the overlying space pursuant to calculation of the pressure difference yields a conversion of approximately 4% of the quantity of calcium carbonate to monocalcium citrate.

Provenance & Evidence