COMMISSION REGULATION (EU) No 231/2012 of 9 March 2012
Synonyms
Definition
Hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose is cellulose obtained directly from strains of fibrous plant material and partially etherified with methyl groups and containing a small degree of hydroxypropyl substitution
Einecs:
Chemical name: 2-Hydroxypropyl ether of methylcellulose
Chemical formula: The polymers contain substituted anhydroglucose units with the following general formula:
C 6 H 7 O 2 (OR 1 )(OR 2 )(OR 3 ), where R 1 , R 2 , R 3 each may be one of the following:
— H
— CH 3
— CH 2 CHOHCH 3
— CH 2 CHO (CH 2 CHOHCH 3 ) CH 3
— CH 2 CHO[CH 2 CHO (CH 2 CHOHCH 3 ) CH 3 ]CH 3
Molecular weight: From about 13 000 to 200 000
Assay: Content not less than 19 % and not more than 30 % methoxyl groups (-OCH 3 ) and not less than 3 % and not more than 12 % hydroxypropoxyl groups (-OCH 2 CHOHCH 3 ), on the anhydrous basis
Description
Slightly hygroscopic white or slightly yellowish or greyish odourless and tasteless, granular or fibrous powder
Identification
Solubility: Swelling in water, producing a clear to opalescent, viscous, colloidal solution. Insoluble in ethanol
Gas chromatography: Determine the substituents by gas chromatography
pH: Not less than 5,0 and not more than 8,0 (1 % colloidal solution)
Purity
Loss on drying: Not more than 10 % (105 °C, 3 hours)
Sulphated ash: Not more than 1,5 % for products with viscosities of 50 mPa.s or above. Not more than 3 % for products with viscosities below 50 mPa.s
Propylene chlorohydrins: Not more than 0,1 mg/kg
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