Expanding Citrus Innovation Through a Renovated Lab

Citromax Group has completed a comprehensive renovation and expansion of its laboratory in Carlstadt, New Jersey, strengthening the company’s capabilities in citrus oil research, development, and value-added product innovation.

The upgraded laboratory represents a significant investment in analytical technologies, process development equipment, and formulation capabilities.

Among the key enhancements are expanded analytical and formulation capabilities for citrus oil research and development, including the installation of an advanced GC-MS. This upgrade improves volatile compound identification, through increased analytical sensitivity, enabling deeper insight into the composition of citrus-derived ingredients.

The laboratory has also incorporated High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) capabilities, allowing for the analysis and quantification of non-volatile compounds present in citrus oils and related materials. This addition further broadens the team’s ability to evaluate product quality, composition, and functionality.

To support process development and product innovation, the facility now includes a laboratory-scale fractional distillation set-up for fractionation studies and the evaluation of citrus oil component separations. Expanded molecular distillation capabilities have also been added, enabling the gentle separation of heat-sensitive citrus compounds under high-vacuum conditions while preserving their unique sensory characteristics.

Enhancing Our Value-Added Citrus Development Platform

The expanded laboratory capabilities directly support Citromax’s Value-Added Citrus Development platform. From Carlstadt, the team processes the company’s core lemon oils produced in Tucumán, Argentina, transforming them into natural ingredients with distinctive organoleptic characteristics.

Through its Value-Added Products (VAP) team, Citromax develops specialized citrus ingredients using fractionation, distillation, and extraction technologies applied to lemon, orange, lime, and grapefruit oils. These technologies enable the creation of customized citrus solutions tailored to specific sensory, functional, and formulation requirements across a wide range of applications.

By combining vertically integrated citrus sourcing with advanced development capabilities in the United States, Citromax continues to expand its ability to deliver differentiated citrus ingredients that help customers create products with unique flavor and fragrance profiles.

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By Kurt Nordman and Joseph Lee
June 17, 2026

Kurt Nordman, Director, Citrus Ingredients and Specialties
Joseph Lee, R&D Scientist II
Citromax Group | Value Added Products Team