E 462 ETHYL CELLULOSEU.K.
| Synonyms | Cellulose ethyl ether |
| Definition | Ethyl cellulose is cellulose obtained directly from fibrous plant material and partially etherified with ethyl groups |
| Einecs | |
| Chemical name | Ethyl ether of cellulose |
| Chemical formula | The polymers contain substituted anhydroglucose units with the following general formula: C6H7O2(OR1)(OR2) where R1 and R2 may be any of the following:
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| Molecular weight | |
| Assay | Content not less than 44 % and not more than 50 % of ethoxyl groups (-OC2H5) on the dried basis (equivalent to not more than 2,6 ethoxyl groups per anhydroglucose unit) |
| Description | Slightly hygroscopic white to off-white, odourless and tasteless powder |
| Identification | |
|---|---|
| Solubility | Practically insoluble in water, in glycerol and in propane-1,2-diol but soluble in varying proportions in certain organic solvents depending upon the ethoxyl content. Ethyl cellulose containing less than 46 to 48 % of ethoxyl groups is freely soluble in tetrahydrofuran, in methyl acetate, in chloroform and in aromatic hydrocarbon ethanol mixtures. Ethyl cellulose containing 46 to 48 % or more of ethoxyl groups is freely soluble in ethanol, in methanol, in toluene, in chloroform and in ethyl acetate |
| Film forming test | Dissolve 5 g of the sample in 95 g of an 80:20 (w/w) mixture of toluene ethanol. A clear, stable, slightly yellow solution is formed. Pour a few ml of the solution onto a glass plate and allow the solvent to evaporate. A thick, tough, continuous, clear film remains. The film is flammable |
| pH | Neutral to litmus (1 % colloidal solution) |
| Purity | |
| Loss on drying | Not more than 3 % (105 °C, 2 hours) |
| Sulphated ash | Not more than 0,4 % |
| Arsenic | Not more than 3 mg/kg |
| Lead | Not more than 2 mg/kg |
| Mercury | Not more than 1 mg/kg |
| Cadmium | Not more than 1 mg/kg |