E 401 SODIUM ALGINATE

Commission Directive 98/86/EC

Definition

Chemical name Sodium salt of alginic acid

Chemical formula (C6H7NaO6)n

Molecular weight 10 000-600 000 (typical average)

Assay Yields, on the anhydrous basis, not less than 18 % and not more than 21

% of carbon dioxide corresponding to not less than 90,8 % and not more than 106,0 % of sodium alginate (calculated on equivalent weight basis of 222)

Description Nearly odourless, white to yellowish fibrous or granular powder

Identification

A. Positive test for sodium and alginic acid

Purity

Loss on drying Not more than 15 % (105°C, 4 hours)

Water-insoluble matter Not more than 2 % on the anhydrous basis

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

Heavy metals (as Pb) Not more than 20 mg/kg

Total plate count Not more than 5 000 colonies per gram

Yeast and moulds Not more than 500 colonies per gram

E. coli Negative in 5 g

Salmonella spp. Negative in 10 g