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CarCareTruthProducts · Ranked

Sodium Citrate

  • Chelators
  • CAS 68-04-2
  • IUPAC: trisodium 2-hydroxypropane-1,2,3-tricarboxylate

Sodium Citrate (CAS 68-04-2) appears in 1 of the 1,812 car-care products CarCareTruth tracks (as of June 2026). It is on the EPA Safer Choice list.

Sodium citrate is the sodium salt of citric acid. No GHS hazard classification at consumer use concentrations. Not a skin or eye irritant at typical cleaning product concentrations. Not on California's Prop 65 list. Widely used in food and pharmaceutical applications. Essentially benign at normal use dilutions.

Sodium citrate (trisodium citrate) is a mild chelating agent and pH buffer derived from citric acid. In cleaning products it sequesters calcium and magnesium ions that would otherwise reduce surfactant effectiveness in hard water. It is biodegradable and considered one of the most environmentally benign chelants available, making it a preferred alternative to phosphates and EDTA. Commonly found in EPA Safer Choice certified formulas.

Regulatory status

  • Not CA Prop 65 listed
  • EU CLP: no hazard classification at typical use concentrations
  • Generally Recognized As Safe (GRAS) for food use (FDA)

Health & environment profile

VOC
no
Prop 65 listed
no
Asthmagen
no
EPA Safer Choice
yes
Aquatic toxicity
no
Biodegradable
yes
Bioaccumulative
no
Persistent
no
Ozone depleting
no
Microplastic
no
PFAS
no
Env. score
2/5
Purpose: pH buffer and chelating agent; sequesters mineral ions that would otherwise precipitate surfactants; mild preservative enhancer

Common questions about Sodium Citrate

What is Sodium Citrate used for in car care?
pH buffer and chelating agent; sequesters mineral ions that would otherwise precipitate surfactants; mild preservative enhancer
Is Sodium Citrate a VOC?
No. Sodium Citrate is not classified as a volatile organic compound (VOC).
Is Sodium Citrate on California's Proposition 65 list?
No. Sodium Citrate is not on California's Proposition 65 list.
Is Sodium Citrate EPA Safer Choice certified?
Yes. Sodium Citrate is on the EPA Safer Choice list.

1 product contain this

Related

Health and environment notes translate the manufacturer Safety Data Sheet, the GHS classification, and authoritative regulatory listings (California Prop 65, EPA). Not medical advice. They describe the ingredient itself; whether a hazard applies to a finished product depends on its concentration and how it's used.