E 460 (ii) POWDERED CELLULOSE
Commission Directive 98/86/EC
Definition Purified, mechanically disintegrated celluslose prepared by processing alpha-cellulose obtained as a pulp from natural strains of fibrous plant materials
Chemical name Cellulose
Linear polymer of 1:4 linked glucose residues
Einecs 232-674-9
Chemical formula (C6H10O5)n
Molecular weight (162)n (n is predominantly 1 000 and greater)
Assay Content not less than 92 %
Description A white, odourless powder
Identification
A. Solubility Insoluble in water, ethanol, ether and dilute mineral acids. Slightly soluble in sodium hydroxide solution
B. Suspension test Mix 30 g of the sample with 270 ml of water in a high-speed (12 000rpm) power blender for 5 minutes. The resultant mixture will be either a free-flowing suspension or a heavy, lumpy suspension which flows poorly, if at all, settles only slightly and contains many trapped air bubbles. If a free-flowing suspension is obtained, transfer 100 ml into a 100-ml graduated cylinder and allow to stand for 1 hour. The solids settles and a supernatant liquid appears
Purity
Loss on drying Not more than 7 % (105 °C, 3 hours)
Water-soluble matter Not more than 1,0 %
Sulphated ash Not more than 0,3 % determined at 800 ± 25 °C
pH of a 10 % suspension in water The pH of the supernatant liquid is between 5,0 and 7,5
Starch Not detectable
To 20 ml of the dispersion obtained in identification, test B, add a few drops of iodine solution and mix. No purplish to blue or blue colour should be produced
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 10 mg/kg
Particle size Not less than 5 µm (not more than 10 % of particles of less than 5 µm)