Buffered compositions for dialysis

Abstract

Acid concentrates, and dialysate compositions prepared therefrom, contain citric acid and an effective amount of a buffering agent selected from acetate and/or lactate. The buffering agent allows a physiologically acceptable amount of citrate to maintain the desired pH of the dialysate.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 .- 56 . (canceled) 
     
     
         57 . A dry dialysate precursor composition consisting essentially of a source of chloride; a source of citrate wherein the source is selected from citric acid, sodium dihydrogen citrate, disodium hydrogen citrate, trisodium citrate, trisodium citrate dihydrate, potassium dihydrogen citrate, dipotassium hydrogen citrate, calcium citrate, and magnesium citrate, and combinations thereof; a source of a buffering anion selected from an acetate salt, a lactate salt or both; and a source of a physiologically-acceptable cation selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, and combinations thereof, wherein upon mixing the dry dialysate precursor composition with water the chloride is present in a concentration ranging from about 1,000 to about 7,000 mEq/L, the citrate is present in a concentration ranging form about 20 to about 900 mEq/L, and the buffering anion is present in a concentration ranging from about 0.01 to about 150 mEq/L. 
     
     
         58 . (canceled) 
     
     
         59 . The dry dialysate precursor composition of  claim 57  wherein, upon mixing the dry dialysate precursor composition with water, the citrate is present in a concentration ranging from about 70 to about 150 mEq/L. 
     
     
         60 . The dry dialysate precursor composition of  claim 57  wherein, upon mixing the dry dialysate precursor composition with water, the buffering anion is present in a concentration ranging from about 0.3 to about 125 mEq/L. 
     
     
         61 . (canceled) 
     
     
         62 . The dry dialysate precursor composition of  claim 57  further consisting essentially of a sugar selected from glucose, a poly(glucose), and fructose, wherein, upon mixing the dialysate precursor composition with water, the sugar is present in a concentration of less than about 2,700 g/L. 
     
     
         63 .- 70 . (canceled)