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Citric acid is one of the most important bulk produced organic acids. Citric acid is a 6-Carbon
containing tricarboxylic acid ( CH2COOH.COH.COOH.CH2COOH) which was first isolated from lemon
juice and was crystallized by Scheele in 1784. In the present study more focus was made on the
economical production of citric acid from Manilkara zapota and its peel, which was in turn compared
with the rate of citric acid produced from sucrose as a substrate. Aspergillus niger MTCC 281 is the
choice of the organism for the present study. Sapodilla (Manilkara zapota) is a seasonal fruit and its peel
will be dumped indiscriminately after using the edible portion, and this activity may lead to
environmental pollution. This environmental waste was considered for the present study as a substrate for
citric acid production. The rate of production from fruit and its peel was in turn compared with the citric
acid rate of production from sucrose. Three different alcohols were used (methanol, ethanol and Butanol)
to check the inhibitory or the stimulatory action of alcohol on citric acid production, and was compared.
Keywords : Citric acid, Manilkara zapota , stimulants, substrate, peels, Alcohols.