CITRIC ACID DOPED WITH ALKALINE OR ALKALINE-EARTH IONS

摘要

The invention relates to surface-treated crystals of a solid, edible organic acid, more particularly citric acid, in which part of the original acid molecules are present in the surface of the crystals in the form of ammonium, alkaline or alkaline-earth citrates. The surface of the acid crystals contain 0.01-5 wt.%, especially 0.1-1,5 wt.%, ammonium, alkaline and/or alkaline-earth ions in relation to the organic acid. For production purposes, the crystals are superficially treated using alkaline and/or alkaline-earth salts or a solution containing alkaline and/or alkaline-earth ions or using ammonia fumes, whereby the citric acid molecules in the surface of the crystals are transformed into ammonium, alkaline or alkaline earth citrate molecules by chemical reaction. After a given reaction time, reaction is stopped and the treated acid crystals dried.