COMMISSION REGULATION (EU) No 231/2012 of 9 March 2012
Synonyms
Gum arabic
Definition
Acacia gum is a dried exudation obtained from the stems and branches of strains of Acacia senegal (L) Willdenow or closely related species of Acacia (family Leguminosae). It consists mainly of high molecular weight polysaccharides and their calcium, magnesium and potassium salts, which on hydrolysis yield arabinose, galactose, rhamnose and glucuronic acid
Einecs: 232-519-5
Chemical name:
Chemical formula:
Molecular weight: Approximately 350 000
Assay:
Description
Unground acacia gum occurs as white or yellowish-white spheroidal tears of varying sizes or as angular fragments and is sometimes mixed with darker fragments. It is also available in the form of white to yellowish-white flakes, granules, powder or spray-dried material.
Identification
Solubility 1 g dissolves in 2 ml of cold water forming a solution which flows readily and is acid to litmus, insoluble in ethanol
Purity
Loss on drying Not more than 17 % (105 °C, 5 hours) for granular and not more than 10 % (105 °C, 4 hours) for spray-dried material
Total ash: Not more than 4 %
Acid insoluble ash: Not more than 0,5 %
Acid insoluble matter: Not more than 1 %
Starch or dextrin: Boil a 1 in 50 solution of the gum and cool. To 5 ml add 1 drop of iodine solution. No bluish or reddish colours are produced
Tannin: To 10 ml of a 1 in 50 solution add about 0,1 ml of ferric chloride solution (9 g FeCl 3 .6H 2 O made up to 100 ml with water). No blackish colouration or blackish precipitate is formed
Arsenic: Not more than 3 mg/kg
Lead: Not more than 2 mg/kg
Mercury: Not more than 1 mg/kg
Cadmium: Not more than 1 mg/kg
Hydrolysis products: Mannose, xylose and galacturonic acid are absent (determined by chromatography)
Microbiological criteria:
Salmonella spp.: Absent in 10 g
Escherichia coli: Absent in 5 g