Sodium Citrate is the most important citrate salt. It is mainly produced by fermenting starchy substances to form citric acid, which is then neutralized with alkaline substances. Since the raw materials for preparing sodium citrate are mainly derived from grains, it is absolutely safe and reliable . After being diluted by a large amount of water in nature, part of it turns into citric acid, and the two coexist in the same system.

Citric acid is prone to biodegradation in water under the action of oxygen, heat, light, bacteria and microorganisms. Its decomposition pathway is generally through aconitric acid, itaconic acid and citric anhydride, which are converted into carbon dioxide and water . Sodium citrate has a good complexing ability for metal ions such as Ca2+ and Mg2+, and also has a good complexing ability for other metal ions, such as Fe2+ ions . it has excellent solubility, and its solubility increases with the rise of water temperature.

Sodium citrate has excellent pH regulation and buffering performance. Sodium citrate is a salt of a weak acid and a strong base. It can form a strong pH buffer with citric acid, and thus is of great use in some situations where a wide range of pH changes are not suitable. In addition, sodium citrate also has excellent retarding and stabilizing properties .