1. Food and drink- Powdered citric acid being used to prepare lemon pepper seasoning. Because it is one of the stronger edible acids, the dominant use of citric acid is as a flavouring and preservative in food and beverages, especially soft drinks and candies.
Citric acid can be added to ice cream as an emulsifying agent to keep fats from separating, to caramel to prevent sucrose crystallization or in recipes in place of fresh lemon juice. Citric acid can be used in food colouring to balance the PH level of a normally basic dye.
2. Cleaning and chelating agent- Citric acid is an excellent chelating agent, binding metals by making them soluble. It is used to remove and discourage the buildup of limescale from boilers and evaporators. It can be used to treat water, which makes it useful in improving the effectiveness of soaps and laundry detergents, Cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, dietary supplements, and foods
3. Citric acid is used as an acidulant in creams, gels, and liquids. Used in foods and dietary supplements, it may be classified as a processing aid if it was added for a technical or functional effect.
4. Citric acid is an alpha hydroxy acid and is an active ingredient in chemical skin peels.
5. Citric acid is used as one of the active ingredients in the production of facial tissues with antiviral properties.
Other uses
The buffering properties of citrates are used to control pH in household cleaners and pharmaceuticals.
Citric acid is used as an odourless alternative to white vinegar for fabric dyeing with acid dyes.
Sodium citrate is a component of Benedict’s reagent, used for both qualitative and quantitative identification of reducing sugars.
Citric acid can be used as an alternative to nitric acid in passivation of stainless steel.
Food grade citric acid is a versatile and commonly used ingredient in a wide range of food and beverage applications. It has been specifically processed for use in food and beverage applications. Food grade citric acid is often used as a preservative. It is sometimes used as a flavouring agent to add a tangy or sour taste to foods and drinks.

Citric acid is naturally concentrated in a variety of fruits and vegetables, particularly lemons and limes. As with most organic acids, citric acid is a weak acid, with a pH level between 3 and 6. Citric acid is commonly used as a food additive for natural flavouring. It is often added as an emulsifying agent and preservative.