Is citric acid the same as nimbu sat?

Yes. Nimbu sat, also called tatri, is citric acid in crystal or powder form. It tastes like strong lemon juice. Only packs labelled food grade should be used in cooking; this listing is a cosmetic raw ingredient.

Can I use this citric acid in food or nimbu pani?

This product is listed as a cosmetic raw ingredient and is not labelled food grade, so don't use it in food or drinks. For cooking, buy citric acid marked food grade and keep within FSSAI limits for the product you make.

How to clean a kettle with citric acid?

Fill the kettle halfway with water, add one to two tablespoons of citric acid, and boil. Switch off, leave it for 15 to 20 minutes, empty it, then boil and discard clean water once or twice. Repeat for heavy scale.

What is the citric acid to baking soda ratio for bath bombs?

The common starting ratio is one part citric acid to two parts baking soda by weight. Many makers add cornflour or Epsom salt as filler. Keep the mix nearly dry and work quickly once you add liquid, or it fizzes before setting.

How much citric acid to add to lotion or shampoo?

There is no fixed amount; you add it until the pH is where you want it. Use a 50% solution, add a few drops at a time, stir, and check with pH strips. Most leave-on skin products sit around pH 4.5 to 6.

Can citric acid damage marble or granite?

Yes. Like lemon juice and vinegar, it etches marble, limestone and many natural stones, leaving dull patches. Use it on taps, glass, ceramic tiles and steel, and keep it off stone kitchen tops and floors.

Why has my citric acid powder become hard and lumpy?

It absorbs moisture from the air, especially in monsoon months. Lumps don't change what it is; break them up or dissolve them in water. To prevent it, store the powder in an airtight jar with a tight lid in a dry place.

Citric Acid Powder: Uses, Grades and Safety

Citric acid is a weak organic acid, sold as a white crystalline powder and known in India as nimbu sat or tatri, used to adjust pH in cosmetics, fizz bath bombs, remove limescale from kettles and taps, and as a sour agent in food when food grade. It dissolves very easily in water.

Last updated 7 Nov 2026

Citric acid price today →हिंदी में पढ़ें

Specifications

Formula: C6H8O7
CAS number: 77-92-9
Grades: Cosmetic
Hindi name: नींबू सत / टाटरी

Products and pack sizes

Product	Grade	Pack	Price (incl. GST)	₹ per kg
Citric Acid Powder	Cosmetic	—	₹189	—

What is citric acid?

Citric acid is the acid that gives lemons and limes their sourness. Commercially it is made by fermentation and sold as white crystals or powder, which many Indian kitchens know as nimbu sat or tatri.

Formula: C6H8O7 (anhydrous)
CAS number: 77-92-9 (anhydrous); the monohydrate is 5949-29-1
Molar mass: about 192.12 g/mol
Melting point: about 153 °C
Solubility: very soluble in water, more than half its weight in a saturated solution at room temperature

It is a weak acid with three acidic groups, so it buffers well and is easy to dose. It also binds calcium and magnesium, which is why it dissolves limescale and helps soaps and shampoos work in hard water.

Grades and pack sizes at Azlok

Azlok lists Citric Acid Powder under cosmetic raw ingredients, so treat it as a cosmetic grade material for skin care, hair care, bath products and soap making. It is also fine for cleaning and descaling.

The product name doesn't give a pack size; check the listing for the weights on offer. It is not labelled food grade, so for food and drinks buy a pack that says food grade. See today's price per kg.

Common uses

Cosmetics and soap: lowering the pH of creams, lotions, shampoos and toners; a chelating agent in handmade soap that reduces soap scum in hard water.
Bath bombs and fizzy products: reacts with baking soda when wet to give the fizz.
Home cleaning: descaling kettles, irons, geysers and shower heads; removing hard-water marks from taps and tiles.
Food (food grade only): sourness and acidity in drinks, sweets, jams and pickles, listed as INS 330.
Industry and lab: buffer solutions, metal cleaning, and as a chelating agent in detergents.

How to use it

Job	Typical amount
Kettle descaling	1 to 2 tablespoons in about 500 mL water; boil, leave 15 to 20 minutes, rinse well
Bath bombs	about 1 part citric acid to 2 parts baking soda by weight
Cream or lotion pH	a few drops of a 50% solution at a time, checking pH after each addition

For cosmetics, make a 50% stock solution (equal weights of acid and distilled water) so you can add it drop by drop. Most leave-on skin products are adjusted to roughly pH 4.5 to 6. Use pH strips or a meter; don't guess.

In bath bombs, keep everything dry until moulding. Spritz with witch hazel or alcohol rather than water, or the mix starts fizzing early.

Don't use citric acid on marble, granite or other natural stone, or on aluminium for long periods. It etches them.

Safety and storage

The powder irritates eyes. Wear safety glasses when handling large amounts, and rinse eyes with plenty of water if dust gets in.
Gloves help for long cleaning jobs; strong solutions can sting cuts and dry the skin.
Avoid breathing the dust when pouring.
Don't mix with bleach. Acids and bleach release chlorine gas.
Keep it away from strong oxidisers and alkalis such as caustic soda.
It absorbs moisture and cakes. Store in an airtight container in a cool, dry place.
Label clearly so nobody takes it for sugar or salt, and keep away from children.
Small amounts can be diluted with plenty of water and poured down the drain.

Choosing the right grade and pack

For soaps, creams, bath bombs and descaling, the cosmetic grade listed here is the right choice. If anything you make will be eaten or drunk, buy food grade instead, and stay within FSSAI rules for your product (see the price page for what is listed).

Home users and hobby soap makers rarely need more than a small pack, and small packs stay dry and free-flowing. Bath bomb makers selling every week use citric acid in large amounts and save by buying more at a time, as long as they can keep it sealed. For 25 kg and above, use the bulk inquiry form.

Finished cosmetics sold in India have to meet BIS and CDSCO requirements, so keep batch records of what you use.

Frequently asked questions

Is citric acid the same as nimbu sat?: Yes. Nimbu sat, also called tatri, is citric acid in crystal or powder form. It tastes like strong lemon juice. Only packs labelled food grade should be used in cooking; this listing is a cosmetic raw ingredient.
Can I use this citric acid in food or nimbu pani?: This product is listed as a cosmetic raw ingredient and is not labelled food grade, so don't use it in food or drinks. For cooking, buy citric acid marked food grade and keep within FSSAI limits for the product you make.
How to clean a kettle with citric acid?: Fill the kettle halfway with water, add one to two tablespoons of citric acid, and boil. Switch off, leave it for 15 to 20 minutes, empty it, then boil and discard clean water once or twice. Repeat for heavy scale.
What is the citric acid to baking soda ratio for bath bombs?: The common starting ratio is one part citric acid to two parts baking soda by weight. Many makers add cornflour or Epsom salt as filler. Keep the mix nearly dry and work quickly once you add liquid, or it fizzes before setting.
How much citric acid to add to lotion or shampoo?: There is no fixed amount; you add it until the pH is where you want it. Use a 50% solution, add a few drops at a time, stir, and check with pH strips. Most leave-on skin products sit around pH 4.5 to 6.
Can citric acid damage marble or granite?: Yes. Like lemon juice and vinegar, it etches marble, limestone and many natural stones, leaving dull patches. Use it on taps, glass, ceramic tiles and steel, and keep it off stone kitchen tops and floors.
Why has my citric acid powder become hard and lumpy?: It absorbs moisture from the air, especially in monsoon months. Lumps don't change what it is; break them up or dissolve them in water. To prevent it, store the powder in an airtight jar with a tight lid in a dry place.