Prepared at the 49th JECFA (1997), published in FNP 52 Add 5 (1997) superseding specifications prepared at the 29th JECFA (1985), published in FNP 34 (1986) and in FNP 52 (1992). A group ADI ‘not specified’ was established at the 35th JECFA (1989) | |
SYNONYM | INS No. 467 |
DEFINITION | Ethyl Hydroxyethyl Cellulose is cellulose in which both ethyl and hydroxyethyl groups are attached to the anhydroglucose units by ether linkages. Ethyl hydroxyethyl cellulose is prepared from cellulose by treatment with alkali, ethylene oxide and ethyl chloride. The article of commerce may be specified further by the viscosity of its aqueous solutions. |
Chemical names | Ethyl hydroxyethyl cellulose, 2-hydroxyethyl ether of ethyl cellulose |
C.A.S. number | 9004-58-4 |
Chemical formula | [C6H7O2(OH)x(OC2H5)y[O(CH2CH2O)mH]z]nwhere n is the degree of polymerisationx + y + z = 3y = 0.7 – 1.5 (degree of ethyl substitution, DS)m + z = 0.5 – 2.5 (molar hydroxyethyl substitution, MS) |
Structural formula | ![]() Possible structural formula for a repeating unit of an ethyl hydroxyethyl cellulose with a DS = 1.0 and a MS = 1.0 |
Formula weight | Unsubstituted structural unit: 162.14Structural unit with DS = MS = 1.0: 234Structural unit with DS = 1.0; MS = 2.0: 278Structural unit with DS = 1.5; MS = 0.5: 226Macromolecules: from about 40,000 (n about 175)up to about 350,000 (n about 1,300) |
Assay | Not less than 7% and not more than 19% of ethoxyl groups (-OC2H5), and not less than 10% and not more than 38% of oxyethylene groups (-OCH2CH2-), on the dried and salt-free basis. |
DESCRIPTION | Hygroscopic white or slightly yellowish or greyish, odourless granules or fine powder. |
FUNCTIONAL USES | Emulsifier, stabilizer, thickener |
CHARACTERISTICS | |
IDENTIFICATION | |
Solubility (Vol.4) | Swelling in water, producing a clear to opalescent, viscous, colloidal solution; insoluble in boiling water and ethanol. |
Foam formation | Vigorously shake a 0.1% solution of the sample. A layer of foam appears. This test permits the distinction of cellulose ethers from sodium carboxymethyl cellulose, alginates, and natural gums. |
Precipitate formation | To 5 ml of an 0.5% solution of the sample add 5 ml of a 5% solution of copper sulfate or of aluminium sulfate. No precipitate appears. This test permits the distinction of cellulose ethers from sodium carboxymethyl cellulose, gelatine, carob bean gum and tragacanth. |
Precipitate formation by warming | A 1% water solution of a sample is slowly heated from room temperature, while stirring. At a distinct temperature above 35o, a cloudy precipitate occurs which disappears completely during cooling. |
Substituent content | Determine the substituents by gas chromatography as given in Method of Assay |
PURITY | |
Loss on drying | Not more than 10% ( 105o , to constant weight ) |
Chlorides | Not more than 2%See description under Tests |
Ethylene oxides, 1,4-dioxane and ethylene chlorohydrin | Not more than 0.5 mg/kg, individuallySee description under TESTS |
Mono and diethylene glycol | Not more than 1%, individually or in combinationSee description under TESTS |
Lead | Not more than 5 mg/kgDetermine using an atomic absorption technique appropriate to the specified level. The selection of sample size and method of sample preparation may be based on the principles of the method described in Volume 4, “Instrumental Methods.” |
TESTS | |
PURITY TESTS | |
Chlorides | Weigh 2 g of dried dried sample, and disperse in about 100 ml of boiling, distilled water by swirling the flask. When the solution is homogeneous, or after at least one hour, add a pinch of sodium bicarbonate and exactly 1.0 ml of the potassium chromate TS indicator. Titrate with 0.1 M silver nitrate to a weakly brown colour. Titrate to the same colour a blank, containing 100 ml distilled water, bicarbonate, and 1.0 ml of potassium chromate TS indicator.Chloride content (%) = [35.5 x M x (A-B)]/10 x WSodium chloride content (%) = [58.5 x M x (A-B)]/10 x Wwhere:W = weight of the sample (g)M = molarity of silver nitrate (mol/l)A = silver nitrate consumed by sample (ml)B = silver nitrate consumed by blank (ml) |
Ethylene oxide, dioxane, ethylene chlorohydrin | Principle:Ethylene oxide (EO), ethylene chlorohydrin (EKH) and dioxane are determined by head space gas chromatography with mass selective detection (GC-MSD).Apparatus:Gas chromatograph (Hewlett Packard 5890 or equivalent) equipped with a mass selective detector (Hewlett Packard 5970 or equivalent).Chromatographic conditions:EKH and dioxane: Column, 15 m, 0.25 mm i.d. DB 5 ms, 0.15 µm (or equivalent). Temperature programmed 40o (2 min), increased to 150o at 15oC/min. Split injection, 150o; Carrier, He, 20 ml/min; interface, 275o; ms dwell time 100 msec.; monitor 43, 44, 57 and 88 amu.Chromatographic conditions:EO: Column, 50 m, 0.32 mm i.d., CP Sil 5 CB, 5 µm (or equivalent). Temperature programmed 100o (1 min) to 250o at 15o/min. Split injection, 150o; Carrier, He, 20 ml/min.; interface, 275o, ms dwell time 100 msec; monitor 29, 43, 44 and 72 amu.Regents and Solutions Standards:Accurately weigh approximately 200 mg each of dioxane and EKH and 20 mg EO into a 100 ml volumetric flask containing 50 ml distilled water. Fill to 100 ml. Dilute this standard 1:10, 1:100, and 1:1000. An internal standard is made by accurately weighing approximately 40 mg of methyl ethyl ketone (MEK) and diluting to 100 ml with distilled water. A 1:1000 dilution of this solution gives a 0.4 µg/ml standard solution.Equipment:Headspace vials, 20 ml, with teflon coated septa; gas tight syringe, 1,000 to 2,500 µl; block or oil bath heater, 80o.Procedure:Response factors: Accurately weigh 1.0 g of the sample into each of 4 vials, add 0.5 ml of internal standard to each and add 0, 0.2, 0.4, or 0.6 ml of the 1:1000 standards to one of each vial. Add sufficient buffer to bring the total volume in each vial to 1.5 ml. Cap and place vials into the heater at 80o for 20 min. Inject 1.0 ml of the headspace into the GC-MSD. Monitor ions amu 44, EO; 43, MEK; 88, dioxane; 57, EKH. Plot the amount of each compound added to the vial against the ratio of the analyte peak area to the MEK peak area. The response factor, Rf, for each analyte is given by the inverse of the x coefficient of the linear regression of the data.Analysis:Inject 1 ml headspace of unknowns containing MEK internal standard. Record peak areas of unknowns and the internal standard.Calculation:The EO, EKH, and dioxane concentrations are calculated from the peak areas in the unknown by the following:Content (mg/kg) = (AUNK / AMEK) x CMEK x RfwhereAUNK = area of unknown peakAMEK = area of MEK peakCMEK = concentration of MEK in the sampleRf = response factor of the unknown compared to MEK |
Mono- and diethylene glycols | Principle: mono- and diethylene glycol are determined by gas chromato-graphy after extraction with acetone.Apparatus:Gas chromatograph (Hewlett Packard 5980 or equivalent) equipped with an FID detector. Chromatographic conditions: Column, 25 m, 0.52 mm id. CP wax 57 B, 0.5 µm (or equivalent). Temperature programmed 90o (2 min), increased to 250o at 20o/min., final hold, 10 min. Split injection, 250o. Carrier He, 27 ml/min. Injection volume, 1 µl.Standard solution:Accurately weigh about 20 mg of each glycol into a 25 ml volumetric flask and fill to mark with acetone. This standard is diluted 1:5 and 1:20.Procedure:Weigh 0.5 g EHEC sample into a 25 ml volumetric flask, add 20 ml acetone, stopper, and stir 2 h at room temperature. Fill flask to volume. Allow the EHEC to settle and inject 1 µl into the chromatograph. Similarly inject 1 µl of the standard solution.Calculation:The amount of each ethylene glycol is calculated as follows:% Glycol = (ASAM / (ASTD x W)) x CSTD x VSAM x 100whereASAM = peak area of the sampleASTD = peak area of standardCSTD = glycol concentration in the standard (mg/ml)VSAM = volume in which the sample was dissolvedW = weight of the sample in mgThe calculated amount of glycol is divided by 0.75 to account for the 75% recovery of the glycols. |
METHOD OF ASSAY | |
Determination of the ethoxyl group | Principle:The sample is oxidized with chromium trioxide and the ethoxyl groups quantitatively transformed into acetic acid. Acetic acid is distilled and determined by titration.Reagents:-0.020N sodium hydroxide (carbon dioxide-free)-0.020N sodium thiosulphate: standardized against 0.020N iodine solution.-Sodium hydrogen carbonate (analytical grade)-Aqueous 30% solution of chromium trioxide (analytical grade)Equipment:The apparatus shown in the following picture is used.![]() |
Determination of the total ethoxyl and oxyethylene groups | Principle:ROC2H5 + HI = ROH + C2H5IROCH2CH2OH + HI = RI + ICH2CH2I + 2H2OEthylene iodide is partly converted to ethylene, partly to ethyl iodide. The former is absorbed in bromine solution, the latter in silver nitrate solution. Ethoxyl groups present in the sample will be transformed to ethyl iodide. Conversion of silver iodide to silver bromide with bromine is carried out, followed by thiosulphate titration of the iodine liberated.Reagents:-Hydriodic acid: A constant boiling mixture with water (126-127o) containing 57% HI is made in the following manner: Hypophosphorous acid (10-15 ml) is added to 250 ml of HI and the mixture boiled for 4-5 h under reflux in a carbon dioxide atmosphere. The acid is immediately put into 10-ml ampoules of brown glass, which are sealed and stored in a dark place.-Silver nitrate solution: Silver nitrate (15 g) is dissolved in 50 ml of distilled water. The solution is poured into 400 ml of absolute ethanol, and a few drops of conc. nitric acid are added.-Bromine solution: Bromine (1 ml) is added to 300 ml of glacial acetic acid which is saturated with dried potassium bromide (about 0.23 g per 100 ml of acetic acid).-Potassium acetate: 100 g is dissolved in a mixture of 900 ml of acetic acid and 100 ml of acetic anhydride.-Sodium thiosulfate solution 0.1N: Standardized against a 0.1N iodine solution which in turn has been standardized against 0.1N arsenic trioxide solution. Thiosulfate can also be standardized against potassium iodate purchased as a standard.Equipment:The apparatus shown in the figure below is used. Tube A is filled halfway with 6% sodium hydrogen carbonate solution, and tube B is filled halfway with 10% cadmium sulfate solution. The silver nitrate solution (5 ml) is pipeted into tube C, and 10 ml of the bromine solution is transferred from the first to the second leg by careful tilting of the tube D. Tube E is filled halfway with 20% potassium iodide solution.![]() |