Natural Source:
* Citrus fruits: Citric acid, the precursor to sodium citrate, is naturally found in citrus fruits like lemons, oranges, and grapefruits. This citric acid can be extracted and then converted into sodium citrate.
Synthetic Source:
* Fermentation: Citric acid is commercially produced through the fermentation of sugars by certain fungi, primarily *Aspergillus niger*. The citric acid produced this way is then neutralized with sodium hydroxide to create sodium citrate.
Therefore, while sodium citrate can be derived from natural sources like citrus fruits, the majority of commercially produced sodium citrate is synthesized through fermentation processes.
