Alginic acid

Prepared at the 49th JECFA (1997)
superseding specifications prepared at the 44th JECFA (1995),
published in FNP 52 Addendum 3 (1995)

SYNONYMS

INS No. 400

DEFINITION

Alginic acid is a naturally occurring hydrophilic colloidal polysaccharide obtained from the various species of brown seaweed (Phaeophyceae). It is a linear copolymer consisting mainly of residues of b -1,4-linked D-mannuronic acid and a -1,4-linked L-glucuronic acid. These monomers are often arranged in homopolymeric blocks separated by regions approximating an alternating sequence of the two acid monomers.

C.A.S. number

9005-32-7

Chemical formula

(C₆H₈O₆)_n

Structural formula

Structural formula from Phillips, Wedlock and Williams: Gums and Stabilizers for the Food Industry 5 (1990) by permission of Oxford University Press.

The number and sequence of the Mannuronate and Glucuronate residues shown above vary in the naturally occurring alginate. The associated water molecules are not shown.

Formula weight

Structural unit:

176.13 (theoretical)

200 (actual average)

Macromolecule:

10,000 - 600,000 (typical average)

Assay

Yields, on the dried basis not less than 20.0% and not more than 23.0% of carbon dioxide (CO₂), equivalent to not less than 91.0% and not more than 104.5% of alginic acid (C₆H₈O₆)_n.

DESCRIPTION

Occurs as white to yellowish brown filamentous, grainy, granular or powdered forms

FUNCTIONAL USES

Stabilizer, thickener, gelling agent, emulsifier

CHARACTERISTICS

IDENTIFICATION

Solubility

Insoluble in water and organic solvents; dissolves slowly in solutions of sodium carbonate, sodium hydroxide and trisodium phosphate

pH

2.0-3.5 (0.3 in 10 suspension)

Precipitate formation with calcium chloride

Passes test
See description under TESTS

Precipitate formation with ammonium sulfate

Passes test
See description under TESTS

Test for alginate

Passes test
See description under TESTS

PURITY

Loss on drying

Not more than 15% (105°, 4h)

Sulfated ash

Not more than 8% on the dried basis

Sodium hydroxide insoluble matter

Not more than 2% on the dried basis
See description under TESTS

Arsenic

Not more than 3 mg/kg (Method II)

Lead

Not more than 5 mg/kg
Prepare a sample as directed for organic compounds in the Limit Test, using 5 m g of lead ion (Pb) in the control

Microbiological criteria

Total plate count: Not more than 5,000 colonies per gram.
Initially prepare a 10^-1 dilution by adding a 50 g sample to 450 ml of Butterfield's phosphate buffered dilution water and homogenizing in a high speed blender.
Yeasts and moulds: Not more than 500 colonies per gram
Coliforms: Negative by test
Salmonella: Negative by test

TESTS

IDENTIFICATION TESTS

Precipitate formation with calcium chloride

To a 0.5% solution of the sample in sodium hydroxide TS add one-fifth of its volume of a 2.5% solution of calcium chloride. A voluminous, gelatinous precipitate is formed. This test distinguishes alginic acid from gum arabic, sodium carboxymethyl cellulose, carrageenan, gelatin, gum ghatti, karaya gum, carob bean gum, methyl cellulose and tragacanth gum.

Precipitate formation with ammonium sulphate

To a 0.5% solution of the sample in sodium hydroxide TS add one-half of its volume of a saturated solution of ammonium sulfate. No precipitate is formed. This test distinguishes alginic acid from agar, sodium carboxymethyl cellulose, carrageenan, de-esterified pectin, gelatin, carob bean gum, methyl cellulose and starch.

Test for alginate

Dissolve as completely as possible 0.01 g of the sample by shaking with 0.15 ml of 0.1 N sodium hydroxide and add 1 ml of acid ferric sulfate TS. Within 5 min, a cherry-red colour develops that finally becomes deep purple.

PURITY TESTS

Sodium hydroxide insoluble matter

Weigh accurately about 1 g of the sample and dissolve in 100 ml of sodium hydroxide TS, centrifuge and decant. Wash the residue five times with water by mixing, centrifuging and decanting. Transfer the residue by means of water to a tared fine glass filter, dry for 1 h at 105°, cool and weigh. Calculate as percentage of the dry weight.

METHOD OF ASSAY

Proceed as directed under Carbon Dioxide Determination by Decarboxylation in the General Methods. Each ml of 0.25 N sodium hydroxide consumed is equivalent to 5.5 mg of carbon dioxide (CO₂) or 25 mg of alginic acid (equivalent weight 200).

SYNONYMS	INS No. 400
DEFINITION	Alginic acid is a naturally occurring hydrophilic colloidal polysaccharide obtained from the various species of brown seaweed (Phaeophyceae). It is a linear copolymer consisting mainly of residues of b -1,4-linked D-mannuronic acid and a -1,4-linked L-glucuronic acid. These monomers are often arranged in homopolymeric blocks separated by regions approximating an alternating sequence of the two acid monomers.
C.A.S. number	9005-32-7
Chemical formula	(C₆H₈O₆)_n
Structural formula	Structural formula from Phillips, Wedlock and Williams: Gums and Stabilizers for the Food Industry 5 (1990) by permission of Oxford University Press. The number and sequence of the Mannuronate and Glucuronate residues shown above vary in the naturally occurring alginate. The associated water molecules are not shown.
Formula weight	Structural unit:	176.13 (theoretical)
		200 (actual average)
	Macromolecule:	10,000 - 600,000 (typical average)
Assay	Yields, on the dried basis not less than 20.0% and not more than 23.0% of carbon dioxide (CO₂), equivalent to not less than 91.0% and not more than 104.5% of alginic acid (C₆H₈O₆)_n.
DESCRIPTION	Occurs as white to yellowish brown filamentous, grainy, granular or powdered forms
FUNCTIONAL USES	Stabilizer, thickener, gelling agent, emulsifier
CHARACTERISTICS
IDENTIFICATION
Solubility	Insoluble in water and organic solvents; dissolves slowly in solutions of sodium carbonate, sodium hydroxide and trisodium phosphate
pH	2.0-3.5 (0.3 in 10 suspension)
Precipitate formation with calcium chloride
	Passes test See description under TESTS
Precipitate formation with ammonium sulfate
	Passes test See description under TESTS
Test for alginate	Passes test See description under TESTS
PURITY
Loss on drying	Not more than 15% (105°, 4h)
Sulfated ash	Not more than 8% on the dried basis
Sodium hydroxide insoluble matter
	Not more than 2% on the dried basis See description under TESTS
Arsenic	Not more than 3 mg/kg (Method II)
Lead	Not more than 5 mg/kg Prepare a sample as directed for organic compounds in the Limit Test, using 5 m g of lead ion (Pb) in the control
Microbiological criteria	Total plate count: Not more than 5,000 colonies per gram. Initially prepare a 10^-1 dilution by adding a 50 g sample to 450 ml of Butterfield's phosphate buffered dilution water and homogenizing in a high speed blender. Yeasts and moulds: Not more than 500 colonies per gram Coliforms: Negative by test Salmonella: Negative by test
TESTS
IDENTIFICATION TESTS
Precipitate formation with calcium chloride
	To a 0.5% solution of the sample in sodium hydroxide TS add one-fifth of its volume of a 2.5% solution of calcium chloride. A voluminous, gelatinous precipitate is formed. This test distinguishes alginic acid from gum arabic, sodium carboxymethyl cellulose, carrageenan, gelatin, gum ghatti, karaya gum, carob bean gum, methyl cellulose and tragacanth gum.
Precipitate formation with ammonium sulphate
	To a 0.5% solution of the sample in sodium hydroxide TS add one-half of its volume of a saturated solution of ammonium sulfate. No precipitate is formed. This test distinguishes alginic acid from agar, sodium carboxymethyl cellulose, carrageenan, de-esterified pectin, gelatin, carob bean gum, methyl cellulose and starch.
Test for alginate	Dissolve as completely as possible 0.01 g of the sample by shaking with 0.15 ml of 0.1 N sodium hydroxide and add 1 ml of acid ferric sulfate TS. Within 5 min, a cherry-red colour develops that finally becomes deep purple.
PURITY TESTS
Sodium hydroxide insoluble matter
	Weigh accurately about 1 g of the sample and dissolve in 100 ml of sodium hydroxide TS, centrifuge and decant. Wash the residue five times with water by mixing, centrifuging and decanting. Transfer the residue by means of water to a tared fine glass filter, dry for 1 h at 105°, cool and weigh. Calculate as percentage of the dry weight.
METHOD OF ASSAY	Proceed as directed under Carbon Dioxide Determination by Decarboxylation in the General Methods. Each ml of 0.25 N sodium hydroxide consumed is equivalent to 5.5 mg of carbon dioxide (CO₂) or 25 mg of alginic acid (equivalent weight 200).