Commission Directive 2008/84/EC (repealed)Show full title

E 414 ACACIA GUM

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 oC, 5 hours) for granular and not more than 10 % (105 oC, 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