Digging through the history of CITROCOAT EP means looking back at how chemists learned to harness the finer points of citric acid derivatives. In the late 1970s, drug formulators searched for excipients that wouldn’t just carry drugs through production but also protect them from moisture and premature breakdown. Enter CITROCOAT EP—a coating agent built from esterified citric acid and polyalcohols, catching industry attention for being straightforward to synthesize and resistant to hydrolysis. Throughout the 1980s, production scaled up as both pharmaceutical firms and food manufacturers saw its potential for tablet coating. Patent filings from Europe and the US in that era trace the shift from small-batch development to commercial delivery, spurred by new regulatory expectations for consistency and consumer safety.
In day-to-day use, CITROCOAT EP shows up mostly as a white, free-flowing powder that feels waxy to the touch. Manufacturers often market it both as a direct-coating product for solid oral dosage formulations, and as a moisture barrier in sensitive food systems. The draw for industry professionals has always come from its efficiency in forming stable, taste-masking layers on tablets and capsules. Moreover, being non-hygroscopic, it’s also been used to coat minerals in powders and premixes, reducing caking and improving flow. Producers label it under several trade names, often varying just slightly based on minor tweaks to molecular size and substitution pattern.
On close inspection, its melting point lands between 82°C and 90°C. The compound doesn’t dissolve well in water, though it finds its match with ethanol or isopropanol, letting users build up uniform coatings in solution or suspension systems. Its low glass transition temperature offers flexibility at room temperature. Chemically, it stands up well against acids and mild alkalis, making it a trusted pick for pills that have to survive tough stomach conditions. Tests show a density between 1.2 and 1.3 g/cm³, supporting consistent dosing in tightly controlled tablet presses. IR and NMR spectra routinely confirm the presence of both ester and ether linkages, so analysts know they’re working with the correct substance.
For anyone buying or selling CITROCOAT EP, the technical sheet lays out everything needed for batch control: moisture content under 2%, residual solvents below 150 ppm, and absence of heavy metals like cadmium and lead. Labeling follows international conventions, usually listing the CAS number and established synonyms. European Pharmacopeia and US Food Chemical Codex entries have slowly harmonized standards, pushing large suppliers to offer audit trails down to the source of base citric acid. Some lots are customized for different particle sizes, but most ship out with a mean diameter of 200-400 microns—a size preferred by tablet manufacturers looking to avoid costly process changes.
Labs and factories crank out CITROCOAT EP through direct esterification of citric acid with an excess of polyols like ethylene glycol or glycerol. Skilled hands keep the temperature controlled between 130°C and 145°C and remove water by distillation, shifting the chemical balance toward product formation. After reaction, the viscous mixture cools, then it’s washed repeatedly to get rid of unreacted starting materials. Sometimes, a short vacuum drying step comes next, boosting purity and minimizing discoloration. Final milling and sieving take care of particle size distribution, readying the bulk product for direct incorporation into blends or suspensions.
During manufacture, selective esterification lets producers fine-tune the solubility and flexibility of final coatings. Adding longer-chain polyols or even small amounts of fatty acids can stretch release rates, which interests those trying to control ingredient delivery in pharmaceuticals and specialized foods. Reaction byproducts—typically water and traces of unreacted glycol—demand careful handling, both for yield improvement and environmental safety. Chemists often examine post-modification routes, where finished CITROCOAT EP undergoes additional crosslinking for even stronger moisture barriers or ultraviolet stabilizers to extend the shelf life of fortified tablets.
Catalogs and regulatory filings list synonyms like “citric acid polyol ester,” “citric acid polymer coating,” and “ethyl citrocoat.” Internationally, Japan’s JECFA designates it as E473b, while American suppliers use the term “CITROCOAT EP” or “EP-coat.” Label confusion used to trip up customs, so trade groups pushed for harmonization. Now, a product sheet typically clarifies all regulatory identifiers, including the proper INS and E numbers for global shipping and compliance.
Plant managers and quality assurance teams rely on hard safety data: CITROCOAT EP shows low oral toxicity in rodent studies, fails to cause sensitization after repeat exposures, and doesn’t trigger mutagenicity in the Ames test. Pre-employment safety briefings urge workers to wear gloves and protective eyewear, since the dust may irritate skin and lungs after chronic exposure. GMP guidelines call for closed-system handling, both to minimize product loss and to protect workers. Environmental risk assessments show that effluent from manufacturing can undergo standard biological treatment, breaking down to simple acids and alcohols. Fire safety is rarely a big worry, thanks to the high melting point and low volatility of the product.
The biggest demand keeps coming from oral solid dosage forms in pharma—think tablets, gums, and chewables where moisture can ruin an active ingredient’s shelf life. Formulators also use it in nutraceuticals, covering fish oil pellets to prevent leakage and off-flavors. Over the past decade, specialty bakers have blended CITROCOAT EP into sprinkles and inclusions designed for colored frostings. In animal feeds, the coating keeps microencapsulated vitamins fresh through challenging processing environments. A few agriculture firms test-coated granules for controlled nutrient release in fertilizers, seeking longer intervals between field applications.
Universities and private labs keep searching for new uses and blends. Groups in Germany and Japan focus on eco-friendlier synthesis, exploring bio-based polyols to lower the carbon footprint. Meanwhile, American startups experiment with micronized versions for faster dispersion in both pharmaceutical and food systems. Published papers from recent years describe pairing CITROCOAT EP with active pharmaceutical ingredients that normally don’t mix easily with water. Those efforts point toward new drug delivery platforms, aiming to increase patient compliance and improve the stability of “difficult” actives in real-world storage.
Toxicologists have put CITROCOAT EP under the microscope. Studies on rats and rabbits show little absorption through the GI tract, with most of the material passing unchanged. Liver and kidney panels mostly stay in the safe range after repeat doses, and no evidence has surfaced pointing toward carcinogenic or reproductive effects. Of course, regulators watch for tiny impurities, like heavy metals or unreacted catalysts, so batch testing stays strict. Industry watchdogs often publish updates after any new animal or human toxicity results. To date, no recalls or major restriction recommendations have landed for CITROCOAT EP—making it one of the more trusted tablet-coating options on the market.
Sifting through technical journals and trade predictions, a few emerging trends jump out. One growing area lies in adapting CITROCOAT EP for use in heat-sensitive, plant-based protein bars, giving them longer shelf lives without artificial stabilizers. Researchers dig into microparticle adaptations, hoping for even more precise control over drug release in customized therapies, especially for aging populations handling multiple medications a day. There’s buzz about closing the loop on the raw material supply chain, with some startups pitching fully recycled citric acid feedstocks for future production runs. The regulatory bar also keeps rising, leading to calls for new food- and pharma-grade compositions that meet tighter purity limits. Given these shifts, expect CITROCOAT EP to feature even more in product innovation, sustainability planning, and as a trusted tool for safeguarding sensitive ingredients in tomorrow’s health, nutrition, and animal care products.
CITROCOAT EP doesn’t sound like much unless you spend time around factories and food processing. This is a coating system, basically a blend that gives tablets and granules a shell. Most folks look at coated tablets without a second thought, but every time you pop a vitamin or a painkiller, there’s a good chance something similar to CITROCOAT EP keeps the whole thing from falling apart or tasting terrible. That shine on your supplement? Probably not just for looks.
I can remember back in my teens, choking on a rough-edged tablet that tasted worse than chalk. Later I figured out that coatings handle both the flavor and the texture. Coatings like CITROCOAT EP mask nasty tastes and smells that come from vitamins and ingredients. Tablets go down easier and don’t leave you making that face after you swallow. It’s not just a comfort thing — some medicine would cause irritation in your mouth or stomach if unleashed too early. A coating manages where and how the contents get released.
Food supplements use it, too. Walk down the grocery store aisle, and you’ll see candies and nutrition bars, maybe even chewing gum, holding their polish or crisp shell because of similar coating systems. CITROCOAT EP forms a barrier against humidity and keeps moisture out. Without coatings, lots of food and supplements turn into sticky disasters, especially in hot, humid climates.
Most folks don’t pace the aisles reading steady about food additives, but coatings quietly solve several big problems. Tablets crumble in shipping, humidity ruins shelf life, flavors and medicines escape before they’re supposed to. Food manufacturers looked for ways to solve these irritating problems without filling every product with unpronounceable chemicals. CITROCOAT EP uses natural and food-safe components derived from citrus and plant oils.
The food industry faces more pressure than ever to tell the truth about additives, and coatings get scrutiny. Recent studies in the Journal of Food Science show that safer tablet coatings can dramatically cut down the amount of preservatives in products. By keeping water and oxygen out, the coatings let the actual food or medicine stay fresh longer. That means less spoilage, less waste, and fewer trips to the trash can. For producers and families on tight budgets, every bit helps.
Some people worry about allergens and synthetic chemicals in coatings. With so many pushing for clean labels, producers hunt down formulas that use less synthetic material and more from natural sources. CITROCOAT EP leans that way, but even natural coatings need testing. Allergies and sensitivities don’t care about marketing.
Real progress will hinge on more transparency, solid labeling, and input from the people actually swallowing these products. Research can push coatings further, swapping out old chemicals for proven-safe alternatives. Smart regulations help, especially in markets that don’t always enforce ingredient disclosure. As more consumers question what’s in their food and medicine, coatings must earn their keep not only by being effective but by being safe, straightforward, and trusted.
As folks look for supplements, medicines, or food that actually delivers what’s promised, these coatings will stick around. The more makers and buyers talk openly, the better the coatings — and everything inside — stand to get.
Anyone who’s worked in pharmaceutical formulations probably knows how coatings turn a basic tablet into a finished product that patients actually trust. CITROCOAT EP enters the conversation as a coating material that’s made real progress in this field. It isn’t just trendy branding; there’s something substantial about what this material brings to the table.
If you’ve ever spent hours troubleshooting film coating issues in a lab or manufacturing plant, the promise of a reliable film-former makes a difference. CITROCOAT EP stands out because it forms flexible, strong films at relatively low temperatures. You dump it in your coating pan, and what you get is a smooth, protective layer over each tablet. No chalkiness, no weird flaking, even on days when humidity tries to wreck your batch. Good film coatings save money and time, and they help keep the active ingredient exactly where it belongs—trapped inside, safe from the world until it gets into the body.
If you work in places where heat and humidity are tough to control, you know moisture creeps into everything. Tablets swell, dry out, crack—sometimes they go bad before a customer ever sees them. This isn’t a rare problem in smaller clinics or pharmacies. CITROCOAT EP offers solid moisture resistance, meaning companies can stop sweating over how to package their products in every climate from Mumbai to Manila. The science checks out: less permeability equals longer shelf lives, and fewer products thrown away. Not every coating can make that claim.
A pharmacist friend once told me about running through six different coating recipes just to stop API migration on a custom batch. CITROCOAT EP won’t solve every problem out there, but it handles a mix of active pharmaceutical ingredients without causing nasty reactions or ugly discoloration. This is huge for manufacturers processing dozens of formulas on the same lines. They don’t have to order specialty coatings for every new tablet—one coating keeps things simple and clean. One less headache.
Many coating agents clump, get sticky, or shoot up costs by requiring endless adjustments during production. With CITROCOAT EP, you get a powder that mixes quickly and doesn’t jam up the equipment. Production crews appreciate anything that keeps downtime to a minimum. Uniform application on every tablet means fewer rejected batches, less time wasted, and—most important—safer medicine reaching the shelves. In a small plant, every batch counts, and minor improvements in process reliability have a real impact.
One issue that comes up is environmental impact. The industry can’t ignore the need for coatings that don’t depend on harsh solvents or make disposal a big mess. CITROCOAT EP’s water-based nature shifts things in a greener direction. The product does its job without forcing companies to overhaul air-handling systems or buy expensive solvent-removal equipment. Fewer toxins in the workplace and less pollution find their way into the environment.
Any material with real-world uses can improve. Companies using CITROCOAT EP should keep collecting feedback from the shop floor and from pharmacists. Some users want even faster drying times, some want an even smoother finish for high-gloss presentation tablets, and others push for coatings that dissolve at specific points in the digestive tract. Open channels for real-time feedback and regular trials with tweaks to the formula would keep this product aligned with what the world actually needs.
Every time I walk past a factory and catch a whiff of that unmistakable industrial scent, I think about all the silent workhorses keeping things moving smoothly—coatings among them. CITROCOAT EP, that hardworking protective layer, proves itself most on metal equipment and concrete floors that take real beatings day in and day out. I've put my hands and boots to the test enough times to spot the difference between a well-applied coat and a slap-dash job that peels at the first bad day.
Anyone who’s tried to paint over dirt, grease, or loose rust knows exactly how that ends. Before cracking open a pail of CITROCOAT EP, remove stubborn spots, clear out dust, and take care of that oil sheen that always turns up where you don’t want it. Clean surfaces let the coating do its job—if there’s scale or flaky paint, a grinder or wire brush works better than any shortcut.
Measuring, not guessing, gets proper performance. I’ve watched folks rush the mixing, dumping the hardener in with the base, giving it five lazy spins, and hoping for the best. The problem shows up weeks later in patchy, soft spots. Pour both components together and mix with a power drill and mixing paddle until the color turns smooth and even. Skipping this step guarantees early failure.
Rollers cover large areas fast and provide nice, even layers without much mess. Brushes reach into corners and tight spots where rollers leave gaps; there’s no shame in switching tools mid-job for best coverage. Sometimes, especially with big warehouses, a spray gun finishes the work before lunch, but don’t forget about overspray—tape and tarp pay off tenfold before starting. I’ve learned the hard way to wear goggles and sleeves during this step, as nobody likes headaches from fumes or splatters on the arms.
Weather has a say in every job. Humid, cold days slow down drying to a crawl and leave the coating sticky for ages. Hot and windy turns the surface tacky before you’re halfway done. Somewhere around 20 to 30°C, with dry air, always gave me the best results. Track the forecast, or the day can turn into a frustrating mess of reapplication.
One coat isn’t enough for any heavy-use floor or equipment. Let that first layer dry, then lay down another one. Sometimes, for high-traffic spots, a third coat stretches the life of everything underneath. Too thick, though, and runs or bubbles pop up. Thin, even coats come out stronger in the end. Patience between layers pays off here—rushing it leads to regret.
Nothing eats away at morale like a messy cleanup. Solvents on rags, gloves that actually protect your hands, and designated disposal bins turn a headache into a quick task. I stash marked touch-up kits nearby, since scuffs and chips always show up before long. A quick patch saves big headaches later.
It's tempting to look for paint that goes on quick with zero prep, but in my years at the job, the best results come from good surface cleaning, slow and steady mixing, and honest labor with the right tools. Most problems down the road trace straight back to a rushed start. For anyone relying on CITROCOAT EP, taking time early on beats every shortcut by ten miles.
People might overlook storage details for products like CITROCOAT EP, but skipping over them can lead to ruined investments, wasted time, and product recall headaches. I remember walking through a warehouse some years ago, spotting drums of coatings stacked in a hot corner, labels peeling from the surface and liquid oozing around the lids. All that money, gone because no one bothered to control the basics. That lesson sticks with me every time I look at storage recommendations.
On the ground, storage lives and dies by practicality. CITROCOAT EP is a specialty coating—often used in delicate formulations—so exposing it to high heat, freezing cold, or sunlight messes with its performance. If you leave it in direct sunlight, the material’s chemistry starts to change. Temperature swings collapse shelf life. Moisture sneaks under the lid, turning it lumpy, or setting off unwanted reactions. In damp rooms, metal containers start to corrode, tainting the whole batch. These problems go beyond mere inconvenience; I’ve seen customer complaints skyrocket when product develops clumps or starts curdling due to improper storage.
The best spot for CITROCOAT EP sits in a cool, dry storeroom. I’m talking about a place with stable temperatures—nothing above 30°C, and definitely nothing close to freezing. Consistency is key, more so than chasing some technical ideal off a data sheet. Every facility I’ve worked with usually blocks out a space away from all external doors, windows, and any source of moisture. Once a container’s open, it needs to be tightly resealed before it’s put back on the shelf, because exposure means speeding up spoilage.
Humidity creates its own mess. Maybe you’ve seen boxes sag after one too many rainy seasons, or coatings turn cloudy after sitting next to a leaky pipe. Desiccant packs have saved batches for me in the past. Some storage managers just install dehumidifiers or run air conditioning. These simple moves work wonders for materials like this. Most manufacturers slap a recommended shelf life on their label, but that info counts for little if storage skips the basics. Poor conditions can cut shelf life in half.
Inspections can sound boring, but they separate successful operations from those running on luck. I keep a simple log: temperature, condition of containers, last inspection date. Once, a leaking roof nearly cost a full pallet of specialty coatings because nobody checked the storeroom after a storm. A regular walk-through would have spotted the problem before the product went bad. Little routines pay off big over the long term.
The biggest barriers to good storage come from inattention and lack of resources. It’s easy to promise a climate-controlled storeroom on paper—much harder in the daily churn of a busy facility. I’ve worked with people who just moved product wherever space popped up. That approach ends with damaged goods and warranty claims. Simple setups make a difference: shelving that keeps containers off the ground, clear aisle space, even a big enough sign warning against opening containers outside the work area.
Treat CITROCOAT EP as you would any product that actually costs you something. Choose a cool, dry location, control the humidity, inspect regularly, reseal containers right—and you’ll see fewer losses, better performance, and a smoother operation all around. Sometimes the straightforward habits matter more than any technical trick.
Deciding what to blend with a coating such as CITROCOAT EP calls for some careful thought. Over the years, I’ve watched formulators run into trouble by mixing products without digging into the fine print, especially when new ingredients promise efficiency or cost savings. It's easy to get caught up in glossy datasheets and optimistic supplier remarks. The real story often shows up during production or months after goods have hit the shelf.
I’ve seen folks add CITROCOAT EP to water-based systems because it delivers good film-forming ability. This strength keeps tablets from sticking together and guards against moisture — a problem anyone in humid regions knows too well. But as soon as someone combines it with a plasticizer or colorant that isn’t pH stable, things start looking messy. Films might crack, colors can bleed, and sometimes the product gets tacky. I've heard more than one production manager sigh after a batch wasted hours and money thanks to incompatible mixtures.
Some people see CITROCOAT EP’s adaptability as an invitation to toss in every fancied additive, hoping for better results. In practice, additives like anti-tacking agents or gloss enhancers only work as expected if their chemistry lines up with the main coating. Wax-based anti-tacking powders can disrupt the moisture barrier CITROCOAT EP is known for, which often leaves end users unhappy.
There's also been trouble with certain flavorings and sweeteners used in over-the-counter pharmaceuticals. Some of these compounds react poorly with CITROCOAT EP, leading to cloudiness or uneven coverage. Teams who rely on experience rather than just the supplier’s word tend to avoid these missteps. Instead of assuming two good ingredients make a great combo, it's smarter to check their interactions through small pilot batches.
Ignoring compatibility checks is a sure way to lose trust with customers. Electrolytes and strong acids are especially risky partners. They have caused coatings to break down, peel off, or turn sticky during storage—a headache for both manufacturers and end users. I’ve met production supervisors who insist on batch-by-batch testing before mixing in anything new. It’s a habit born out of costly recalls and customer complaints.
Good compatibility isn’t just about the chemistry. Equipment also plays a role. Older coating machines or those with worn pans often make a borderline situation even worse. Even if the blend looks fine in a beaker, problems might only appear in a scaled-up environment. In one project, silicone-based defoamers caused CITROCOAT EP films to develop bubbles and weak spots. Switching to a food-grade defoamer ended up solving the problem with no damage to the coating’s integrity.
If I’ve learned anything, it’s that due diligence matters more than chasing new trends. Testing in the actual conditions of use beats wishful thinking or trusting marketing claims. If you’re not sure about compatibility, demand real data and not just supplier assurances. Full compatibility comes with its share of fine print, and it’s better to find hiccups early than explain failures to a frustrated quality team.
Getting coatings right means paying close attention and being willing to dig deeper than the surface level. People who take the time to study each combination, run pilot trials, and throw away wishful shortcuts build better, more reliable products. CITROCOAT EP delivers a lot, but it plays best when the whole team respects its strengths and limits.
| Names | |
| Preferred IUPAC name | Poly(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl), alpha-(carboxymethyl)-omega-hydroxy-, trisodium salt |
| Other names |
CITROCOAT™ EP CITRO COAT EP |
| Pronunciation | /ˈsɪtrəˌkəʊt iːˈpiː/ |
| Identifiers | |
| CAS Number | 68609-36-9 |
| 3D model (JSmol) | `C[C@H](O)[C@H](O)COC(=O)C1=CC=CC=C1` |
| Beilstein Reference | 3918736 |
| ChEBI | CHEBI:85156 |
| ChEMBL | CHEMBL1201860 |
| ChemSpider | 23244149 |
| DrugBank | DB15193 |
| ECHA InfoCard | 03d793e6-9530-46a2-8f2d-0b85bcb9788d |
| EC Number | 6-1-0 |
| Gmelin Reference | Gmelin Reference: 77 771 |
| KEGG | C04805 |
| MeSH | Coated Materials, Biocompatible |
| PubChem CID | 137164641 |
| RTECS number | FH2100000 |
| UNII | 3ZQO4TYQ9O |
| UN number | 3269 |
| CompTox Dashboard (EPA) | CompTox Dashboard (EPA) of product 'CITROCOAT EP': "DTXSID5021107 |
| Properties | |
| Chemical formula | C6H8O7 |
| Molar mass | 249.68 g/mol |
| Appearance | Clear to yellowish viscous liquid |
| Odor | Characteristic |
| Density | 1.02 g/cm³ |
| Solubility in water | insoluble |
| log P | 0.96 |
| Vapor pressure | <0.1 hPa |
| Acidity (pKa) | 5.0 |
| Basicity (pKb) | 7.5 |
| Magnetic susceptibility (χ) | Diamagnetic |
| Refractive index (nD) | 1.490 – 1.495 |
| Viscosity | 130 - 180 KU |
| Dipole moment | 1.2 – 1.6 D |
| Thermochemistry | |
| Std molar entropy (S⦵298) | 365.0 J·mol⁻¹·K⁻¹ |
| Std enthalpy of formation (ΔfH⦵298) | -970.7 kJ/mol |
| Std enthalpy of combustion (ΔcH⦵298) | -4186 kJ/mol |
| Pharmacology | |
| ATC code | ATC code": "A02BX |
| Hazards | |
| Main hazards | Causes skin irritation. Causes serious eye irritation. May cause an allergic skin reaction. |
| GHS labelling | GHS05, GHS07 |
| Pictograms | GHS05,GHS07 |
| Signal word | Danger |
| Hazard statements | H315, H317, H319 |
| Precautionary statements | Precautionary statements: P261, P264, P271, P272, P273, P280, P302+P352, P333+P313, P362+P364, P403+P233, P501 |
| Flash point | > 220°C |
| Autoignition temperature | 400°C |
| Lethal dose or concentration | LD50 (oral, rat): > 2000 mg/kg |
| LD50 (median dose) | LD50 (median dose): > 2000 mg/kg (rat) |
| PEL (Permissible) | 50 mg/m³ |
| REL (Recommended) | 8 - 10% |
| Related compounds | |
| Related compounds |
CITROFOL AI CITROFOL BII CITROFOL BI CITROFOL AHII |
