COMMISSION REGULATION (EU) No 231/2012 of 9 March 2012
Synonyms
Hydroxypropyl alginate; 1,2-Propanediol ester of alginic acid; Propylene glycol alginate
Definition
Einecs:
Chemical name: 1,2-Propanediol ester of alginic acid; varies in composition according to its degree of esterification and the percentage of free and neutralised carboxyl groups in the molecule
Chemical formula: (C 9 H 14 O 7 ) n (esterified)
Molecular weight: 10 000-600 000 (typical average)
Assay: Yields, on the anhydrous basis, not less than 16 % and not more than 20 % of carbon dioxide (CO 2)
Description
Nearly odourless, white to yellowish brown fibrous or granular powder
Identification
Test for 1,2-propanediol: Passes test (after hydrolysis)
Test for alginic acid: Passes test (after hydrolysis)
Purity
Loss on drying: Not more than 20 % (105 °C, 4 hours)
Total propane-1,2-diol content: Not less than 15 % and not more than 45 %
Free propane-1,2-diol content: Not more than 15 %
Water insoluble matter: Not more than 2 % on the anhydrous basis
Formaldehyde: Not more than 50 mg/kg
Arsenic: Not more than 3 mg/kg
Lead: Not more than 5 mg/kg
Mercury: Not more than 1 mg/kg
Cadmium: Not more than 1 mg/kg
Microbiological criteria
Total plate count: Not more than 5 000 colonies per gram
Yeast and moulds: Not more than 500 colonies per gram
Escherichia coli: Absent in 5 g
Salmonella spp.: Absent in 10 g