Commission Directive 2008/84/EC (repealed)Show full title

E 462 ETHYL CELLULOSE

Synonyms	Cellulose ethyl ether
Definition	Ethyl cellulose is cellulose obtained directly from fibrous plant material and partially etherified with ethyl groups
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: H CH2CH3
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
A. 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
B. 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
Purity
Loss on drying	Not more than 3 % (105 oC, 2 hours)
Sulphated ash	Not more than 0,4 %
pH of a 1 % colloidal solution	Neutral to litmus
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