Citraton – A Versatile and Safe Alternative
Citraton, also known as Triethyl Citrate (INCI: Triethyl Citrate, CAS: 77-93-0), is a colorless liquid widely recognized for its use as a non-toxic plasticizer and stabilizer. With a molar mass of 276.29 g/mol and a density of 1.135 g/cm³ at 25 °C, this ester offers a safe alternative to conventional phthalic acid-based plasticizers. Its poor solubility in water (65 g/L at 25 °C) but good miscibility with ethanol and diethyl ether makes it highly versatile in industrial applications.
INCI Triethyl Citrate
CAS 77-93-0 (1,2,3-triethyl 2- hydroxypropane- 1,2,3- tricarboxylate)
Thermal and Physical Properties
Triethyl Citrate remains in a liquid state due to its low melting point of -55 °C, while its boiling point is 294 °C under normal pressure. The vapour pressure at 25 °C is extremely low (0.0025 Pa), increasing to 1.3 hPa at 107 °C. The Antoine equation parameters for its vapour pressure function are A = 3.88263, B = 1743.204, and C = -122.435, valid for a temperature range from 380 K to 567 K. The compound’s refractive index of 1.4455 (at 20 °C) further supports its role in various applications.
INCI Triethyl Citrate
CAS 77-93-0 (1,2,3-triethyl 2- hydroxypropane- 1,2,3- tricarboxylate)