A common misconception is that citric acid is a type of black mold. However, citric acid is a chemical compound, while black mold refers to certain types of fungi. This article clarifies the distinct nature of citric acid and black mold, detailing their characteristics and explaining citric acid’s role in cleaning and other applications.
What is Citric Acid?
Citric acid is a weak organic acid naturally present in various fruits and vegetables, especially citrus fruits like lemons and limes. It is a colorless, odorless compound, known chemically as C₆H₈O₇.
Citric acid is widely manufactured for diverse uses. It serves as a flavoring agent, preservative, and chelating agent in food and beverages. It is also a common ingredient in cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and cleaning products due to its acidic and chelating properties.
What is Black Mold?
The term “black mold” refers to several species of fungi that appear dark green or black, primarily Stachybotrys chartarum. This mold thrives in warm, damp, and cellulose-rich environments. It commonly grows in water-damaged areas like basements, bathrooms, and around leaky pipes, on materials such as drywall, wood, and paper products.
Black mold produces spores and microbial volatile organic compounds (mVOCs), which can cause a musty odor. Exposure to these can lead to health concerns, including allergic reactions and respiratory irritation. Symptoms often include coughing, sneezing, congestion, and eye irritation, and it can worsen asthma in sensitive individuals.
Distinguishing Citric Acid from Mold
Citric acid is a chemical compound, unlike mold, which is a living organism classified as a fungus. The confusion often arises because much commercially produced citric acid is manufactured using a specific mold strain, Aspergillus niger. This fungus ferments sugars to produce citric acid in large-scale industrial processes.
During production, Aspergillus niger (a type of black mold, but not Stachybotrys chartarum) converts sugars into citric acid. The final citric acid product then undergoes purification to remove any mold residues. Therefore, while a mold is involved in its synthesis, the citric acid itself is a purified chemical, not a mold.
Citric Acid in Mold Cleanup
Citric acid is a recognized cleaning agent, effective against mold and mildew on surfaces. Its acidic nature helps break down stains and acts as a bactericide and fungicide. Many household cleaning products incorporate citric acid as an active ingredient, offering a milder alternative to harsher chemicals like bleach.
Citric acid solutions can be applied to surfaces affected by mold and mildew. It works well on hard surfaces like tiles, dissolving mineral deposits and soap scum that often accompany mold growth. While effective for surface mold and mildew, citric acid has limitations; it may not penetrate and eliminate deep-seated mold issues, nor is it a registered fungicide for all types of mold.