Potassium citrate
 | |
| Names | |
|---|---|
| IUPAC name
tripotassium citrate | |
| Identifiers | |
866-84-2  | |
| 3D model (Jmol) | Interactive image |
| ChEMBL | ChEMBL1200458  |
| ChemSpider | 12775 |
| ECHA InfoCard | 100.127.864 |
| E number | E332 (antioxidants, ...) |
| PubChem | 13344 |
| |
| |
| Properties | |
| C6H5K3O7 | |
| Molar mass | 306.395 g/mol |
| Appearance | white powder hygroscopic |
| Odor | odorless |
| Density | 1.98 g/cm3 |
| Melting point | 180 °C (356 °F; 453 K)[1] |
| Boiling point | 230 °C (446 °F; 503 K)[1] |
| soluble | |
| Solubility | soluble in glycerin insoluble in ethanol (95%) |
| Acidity (pKa) | 8.5 |
| Pharmacology | |
| A12BA02 (WHO) | |
| Hazards | |
| Lethal dose or concentration (LD, LC): | |
| LD50 (median dose) |
170 mg/kg (IV, dog) |
| Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa). | |
| verify (what is ?) | |
| Infobox references | |
Potassium citrate (also known as tripotassium citrate) is a potassium salt of citric acid with the molecular formula C6H5K3O7. It is a white, hygroscopic crystalline powder. It is odorless with a saline taste. It contains 38.3% potassium by mass. In the monohydrate form it is highly hygroscopic and deliquescent.
As a food additive, potassium citrate is used to regulate acidity and is known as E number E332. Medicinally, it may be used to control kidney stones derived from either uric acid or cystine.
Production
Potassium citrate is produced by adding potassium bicarbonate or potassium carbonate to a solution of citric acid until effervescence ceases, filtering the solution and evaporating to granulation.
Uses
Potassium citrate is rapidly absorbed when given by mouth and is excreted in the urine.[2] Since it is an alkaline salt it is effective in reducing the pain and frequency of urination when these are caused by highly acidic urine.[3] It is used for this purpose in dogs and cats, but is chiefly employed as a non-irritating diuretic.
Potassium citrate is an effective way to treat/manage gout[4] and arrhythmia, if the patient is hypokalemic.
It is widely used to treat urinary calculi (kidney stones) and is often used by patients with cystinuria. A study of 500 patients with recurrent stones found that it reduced the frequency of stones from 2 per year to a half per year.
It is also used as an alkanizing agent in the treatment of mild urinary tract infections such as cystitis.[5]
A brand, Cytra-K Oral Solution, diluted with a glassful of water, taken four times a day will usually maintain a urinary pH of 7.0-7.6 throughout most of the 24 hours without unpleasant side effects.
It is also used in many soft drinks as a buffering agent.
Administration
Potassium citrate is usually administered by mouth in dilute aqueous solution. This is because of its somewhat caustic effect on the stomach lining, and the potential for other mild health hazards.
In the United-States, in states where non-prescription potassium citrate is legal, the maximum allowable over-the-counter (OTC) dose for elemental potassium is regulated by the FDA to be no more than 100 mg (approximately 3% of the daily allowance). Pure potassium citrate contains 38.28% potassium.