E 402 POTASSIUM ALGINATE

Commission Directive 98/86/EC

Definition

Chemical name Potassium salt of alginic acid

Chemical formula (C6H7KO6)n

Molecular weight 10 000-600 000 (typical average)

Assay Yields, on the anhydrous basis, not less than 16,5 % and not more than

19,5 % of carbon dioxide corresponding to not less than 89,2 % and not more than 105,5 % of potassium alginate (calculated on an equivalent weight basis of 238)

Description Nearly odourless, white to yellowish fibrous or granular powder

Identification

A. Positive test for potassium and for 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