E414 ACACIA GUM - EU Specification

Commission Directive 98/86/EC

Synonyms Gum arabic

Definition Acacia gum is a dried exudation obtained from the stems and branches of natural 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

Molecular weight Approximately 350 000

Einecs 232-519-5

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

A. 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 FeCl3.6H2O 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 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

Hydrolysis products Mannose, xylose and galacturonic acid are absent (determined by

chromatography)

Salmonella spp. Negative in 10 g

E. coli Negative in 5 g