Applications in various industries: Food and beverage industry: Citric acid is a widely used acidulant that imparts a refreshing sour taste to foods and beverages. It is added to carbonated drinks, fruit juices, jams, jellies, candies, and more. Additionally, it acts as a synergist for antioxidants, extending the shelf life of products and preventing discoloration and spoilage. For example, in canned fruits, citric acid inhibits the growth of microorganisms, helping to maintain the fruit's color and flavor. Pharmaceutical industry: In the pharmaceutical industry, citric acid is used to produce intermediate compounds for the manufacture of citrate-based medications. It also serves as an excipient, helping to adjust the pH of drugs and improve their solubility and stability. Citric acid is also used in hemodialysis as one of the components of anticoagulants. Chemical industry: It is an important raw material in the chemical industry, used to produce citrate esters, which are plasticizers widely used in the plastics and rubber industries. Citric acid can also be used as a metal cleaner to remove rust and scale from metal surfaces. In the electroplating industry, it acts as a chelating agent, enhancing the quality of the electroplated layer. Other industries: In detergents, citric acid acts as a chelating agent to remove metal ions such as calcium and magnesium from water, thereby improving the detergent's cleaning power. In cosmetics, it helps to adjust the pH of products and provides mild moisturizing and antioxidant effects. In agriculture, citric acid can be used as a soil conditioner to adjust the soil's pH and promote the absorption of nutrients by plants.