ISOLATION
OF CITRIC
ACID FROM
LEMON
JUICE
BY J.A. JASSIR
INTRODUCTION
There are many natural products that are present all around us. Some are even in
Our very own homes. Some of the most common chemicals that are around us
are acetic acid from vinegar, oxalic acid from tomatoes and citric acid from
citrus fruits like lemon, orange and grapefruit.
Even though citric acid is present all around us, it is still quite hard to produce
or extract the citrus acid from the fruit.
This project shows the isolation of citric acid from Lemons.
Citric acid is produced by making the lemon alkaline, i.e, dropping the pH
level of lemon juice. Then the citric acid is precipitated out in the form of a
calcium salt, which is treated with conc. H2SO4 and heat to obtain citric acid.
Various tests like litmus test, sulphuric acid test is used to confirm the
presence of citrus acid.
CONTENTS
1. CITRIC ACID
1.1 Chemical structure
1.2 Uses and Sources
2. ISOLATION OF CITRUS ACID
2.1 Materials Required
2.2 Procedure
3. PRECAUTION
4. CONCLUSION
5. TESTS FOR CONFIRMING CITRIC ACID
6. REFERENCES
CITRIC ACID
1.1 Chemical Structure:
b) Bond-Line Structure of Citric acid
a) Chain Structure of citric acid
c) Citric acid crystal
Formula: C₆H₈O₇
Boiling Point: 175°C
Density: 1.66 g/cm3
Molecular Mass: 192.124 g/mol
IUPAC name: 3-carboxy-3hydroxypent-1,5-dioic acid
Solubility: Highly soluble in water
Melting point: 153°C
1.2 Uses and Sources:
Uses:
- Used as preservatives in many foods
- Used as a pH level balancer
- Used in cosmetics as skin brightener
- Used in hairspray, deodorant, etc...
- Used in cleaning supplies for better removal of bacteria
Sources:
- Natural:
- Cirtus fruits such as Lemons and Lime
- Artificial:
- Aspergillus Niger (Manufactured Citric Acid / MCA)
ASPERGILLUS NIGER
ISOLATION OF CITRIC ACID FROM LEMON
OBJECTIVE:
To isolate citric acid from lemons.
MATERIALS REQUIRED:
Conc. H2SO4, CaCl2, NaOH, Lemons, Beakers, Paper Filter, Glass rod,
Juicer, Glass Bowl.
PROCEDURE:
- Use Juicer to extract lemon juice from lemon and fill beaker.
- Use pH paper to measure pH. pH value should be within 2-3 pKb.
- Add NaOH solution until pH until pH rises to 9. During this, neutralization
of citric acid present in the lemon juice occurs. The chemical equation is:
Due to the presence of 3 -COOH groups, 3 moles of NaOH are needed.
The reaction is finished once the colour of the solution becomes orange.
Other parts of the solution (pulp) will precipitate down to the beaker.
- Filter the contents of the beaker onto another beaker. Repeat the process 3-4
times as the filter gets blocked by precipitate.
- Repeat the above step again to get rid of impurities.
- Weigh out Calcium Chloride in a separate beaker and mix it with water.
- Mix both solutions together and boil them. The trisodium citrate will react
with calcium chloride to form tricalcium dicitrate. The Chemical equation
is:
- The tricalcium dicitrate will precipitate out as it is not soluble in water.
- Filter the solution until the tricalcium dicitrate precipitate is separated from
the solution.
- Dry the precipitate in paper towel until it dries to a powdery substance.
- Mix Conc. H2SO4 into the beaker with the tricalcium dicitrate. Citric acid
should separate from the tricalcium dicitrate and gives calcium sulfate as
side product. The Chemical Equation is:
Note that slightly less amount of Conc. H2SO4 should be used.
- Filter out the calcium sulfate and citric acid solution. Since calcium sulfate
is insoluble, it separates out easily.
- Heat citric acid solution after filtration. The temperature should be between
70-80°C. The solution should be slightly opaque.
- Repeat the above step until solution becomes completely opaque. After that,
filter the solution to get rid of impurities.
- Transfer the filtered citric acid solution to a bowl to cool off.
- Let the citric acid dry until it crystalizes.
- Separate the liquid impurities and the crystals. Citric Acid crystals should be
formed.
PRECAUTION
- Use gloves when handling acids since they result in blisters if it comes in
contact.
- Be careful of hot beakers since they can scorch the hands.
CONCLUSION
From the above experiment, Citric acid crystals are formed.
Thus, citric acid is separated from lemon juice.
This process is also compatible for other citrus fruits such as orange or lime.
This is due to citric acid being the main compound in citrus fruits. The amount
of citric acid depends on the variety of the fruit.
TESTS FOR CITRIC ACID:
➔ Litmus Test:
- A drop of citric acid is dropped into blue litmus solution.
- Solution turns red when citric acid is dropped which indicates
that the solution is acidic in nature.
➔ Sulphuric Acid Test:
- To 5mL of sulphuric acid, 1mL of citric acid was added.
- CO2 is produced.
- Acidity is confirmed as presence of acidic CO2 is confirmed by
blue litmus solution turning blue
Thus, Citrus Acid is confirmed.
REFERENCES:
- [Link]
- [Link]
- Reference for isolation of citric acid-
[Link]
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