Zinc Citrate Trihydrate
Zinc Citrate Trihydrate is the three-water hydrate of zinc citrate, with the formula Zn3(C6H5O7)2 3H2O. It carries CAS number 546-46-3 (the trihydrate is sometimes also listed under 5990-32-9) and contains approximately 29 percent elemental zinc.
The trihydrate is the most common commercial form sold for general food fortification and supplement use outside the European pharmaceutical channel. It is a free-flowing white crystalline powder with a faint metallic taste.
We source bulk Zinc Citrate Trihydrate from top China manufacturers for our partners. The manufacturer is in Shandong. A smaller requirement can ship in a combined container with other ingredients.
Please send the grade you need, the volume and your destination port, and we will come back with a solution and a price.
or call +86-21-6858 0751
- Packaging
- 25 kg kraft paper bag with PE inner liner
- ISO 9001
- HACCP
- Halal
- Kosher
Specifications
| Item | Specification |
|---|---|
| Appearance | White free-flowing crystalline powder, almost odourless |
| Identification | Conforms (zinc and citrate positive) |
| Assay (dried basis) | 97.0-102.0% |
| Zinc (Zn, as is) | 28.0-30.0% |
| Loss on Drying (150 °C) | 10.0-13.0% (three molecules of water) |
| Citrate (as citric acid, dried basis) | 63.0-68.0% |
| pH (5% aqueous suspension) | 4.0-6.0 |
| Chloride | ≤ 0.05% |
| Sulfate | ≤ 0.10% |
| Particle Size | 100% through 100 mesh; oral-care grade D50 around 4 microns |
| Heavy Metals (as Pb) | ≤ 10 mg/kg |
| Lead (Pb) | ≤ 2 mg/kg |
| Cadmium (Cd) | ≤ 1 mg/kg |
| Arsenic (As) | ≤ 3 mg/kg |
| Total Plate Count | ≤ 1,000 cfu/g |
Common Markets Grades
Zinc Citrate Trihydrate is the workhorse commercial hydrate, sold in several application-specific grades.
Supplement and food grade conforms to FCC and USP specifications. Assay is typically 97.0 to 102.0 percent on the dried basis with loss-on-drying of 10.0 to 13.0 percent corresponding to three molecules of water.
USP grade is produced for solid oral supplement manufacturing, with tight controls on cadmium, lead, arsenic, and mercury aligned with ICH Q3D Option 2A limits.
Oral-care grade is produced with controlled fine particle size (D50 around 4 microns) for smooth dispersion in toothpaste and gel formulations.
Spray-dried agglomerated grade is produced for direct-compression manufacturing of large mineral tablets, providing improved flow and compactibility.
The trihydrate is preferred over the dihydrate in markets where water content does not affect formulation stability, because the production yield (mass of finished product per mass of zinc oxide input) is higher.
Applications
- Adult and pediatric multivitamin tablets and capsules
- Standalone zinc supplement tablets and gummies
- Functional food fortification in cereals, snacks, and nutrition bars
- Functional beverages and powdered drink mixes
- Toothpaste anti-plaque and anti-malodor active
- Mouthwash and breath freshener products
- Chewable tablets for children and seniors
- Sports nutrition powders and recovery formulas
- Meal replacement and weight management products
- Animal nutrition premixes for companion animals
- Topical sebum-control cosmetics
Brands Using Zinc Citrate Trihydrate
Widely-distributed consumer products that list Zinc Citrate Trihydrate on the ingredient label.
- ColgateTotal Advanced Health Toothpaste ↗Listed (inactive ingredients): 'Glycerin, Water, Hydrated Silica, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Arginine, Flavor, Zinc Oxide, Cellulose Gum, Titanium Dioxide, Poloxamer 407, Zinc Citrate, Tetrasodium Pyrophosphate, ...' Consumer labels list 'zinc citrate' without specifying hydrate form.Label verified 2026-05-25
- CrestPro-Health Gum Recession Toothpaste ↗Crest Pro-Health toothpastes list zinc citrate as an inactive ingredient on the official P&G SmartLabel page; functions as anti-calculus agent.Label verified 2026-05-25
Brand names, product names and logos are the property of their owners. They appear here as published evidence that the ingredient is used, taken from the brand's own label or website. Their appearance is not an endorsement, and it does not mean the brand buys from us or from any manufacturer listed on this site.
China Manufacturers of Zinc Citrate Trihydrate
Top Zinc Citrate Trihydrate manufacturers in China.
Company names and logos are the property of the manufacturers themselves. They are listed here because our own directory records them as producing this ingredient. A listing is not an endorsement by them, and we do not represent them or speak on their behalf.
How We Help Source Zinc Citrate Trihydrate
Direct Factory Sourcing
We run the whole process: selecting the manufacturer from the top Chinese food ingredient producers, negotiating the price, verifying quality, and coordinating the logistics. You deal with us instead of with several factories at once.
Original Packaging and Documents from the Manufacturer
The manufacturer sends your Zinc Citrate Trihydrate out of its own factory in the original packing, through to your destination port. The COA, COO, MSDS, TDS and any certifications reach you from the manufacturer as well.
Free Samples and Lead Time
We send 100 to 500 g free for your own laboratory to test and you cover only the courier, usually within 2 to 3 working days. ETD is usually within 7 to 15 days once the order is confirmed, and we check that date against the factory's own manufacturing schedule before we give it to you.
Combined Shipment
We can load Zinc Citrate Trihydrate together with other ingredients such as Sodium Acetate, Calcium Citrate and Sodium Lactate into one 20' FCL. If your quantity is small, we can also ship LCL.
Regulatory Status
Zinc Citrate Trihydrate is approved as a nutrient source under the same regulatory frameworks as the parent salt.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recognises Zinc Citrate as GRAS for use as a nutrient. The trihydrate is the form most commonly sold to US supplement manufacturers, and the USP monograph for zinc citrate covers it.
In the European Union Annex II of Directive 2002/46/EC permits the trihydrate as a source of zinc for food supplements, and Regulation (EC) No 1925/2006 permits it for fortified foods.
JECFA has reviewed zinc citrate within its broader zinc compound evaluation and considers it acceptable as a nutrient source.
The United States Pharmacopeia (USP) monograph for zinc citrate covers both the dihydrate and trihydrate forms. Halal and Kosher certificates are routinely available. The production chain uses only mineral and fermentation-derived inputs.
Manufacturing Process
Zinc Citrate Trihydrate is produced by neutralisation of citric acid with zinc oxide, with drying conditions chosen to retain three molecules of water.
A 20 to 25 percent citric acid solution is prepared in deionized water and warmed to 50 to 70 degrees Celsius. High-purity zinc oxide is added portion-wise at the three-to-two molar ratio. The reaction is held with agitation until the slurry pH stabilises near 5.7 and residual zinc oxide is fully consumed.
The slurry is filtered, and the wet cake is washed with cold deionized water. Mild air drying at 40 to 60 degrees Celsius retains three molecules of water; thermogravimetric analysis confirms the hydration state.
The dried material is milled, sieved, and blended to the customer particle-size target. Each lot is tested for heavy metals, residual nitrate, and microbiological purity before release.
The trihydrate is the kinetic product of crystallisation at moderate temperatures and is well suited to large-scale, low-energy production.
