Pigments & Colorants
REACH
Carminic acid
CAS Number
1260-17-9
EC Number
215-023-3
E Number
E120
What is Carminic acid?
Carminic acid (CAS 1260-17-9) is a natural red colorant derived from cochineal insects. Also sold as Natural Red 4 and approved under E120.
Where is Carminic acid used?
- Food and beverage: colorant for yogurts, confectionery, meat preparations and fruit drinks
- Personal care: pigment in lipsticks, blushers and color cosmetics
- Textile and leather: crimson shades on wool and silk
- Printing inks: natural-origin colorants with defined hue consistency
- It delivers stable red-to-purple hues over a broad pH range.
Good to know: Mordant-assisted dyeing gives wash fastness on wool and silk. Food-grade material meets FCC and E120 specifications; cosmetic grade meets EU and FDA compliance.
Commercial specifications
- Concentration expressed as carminic acid content
- Purity grades from standard extract concentrations up to high-purity isolated carminic acid for technical and analytical use
Other Names (Synonyms)
Natural red 4|Cochineal tincture|Sun Red No. 1|Sanred 1|CI Natural Red 4|Sun Red 1|San-Ei Gen San Red 1|CARMINE|E120 (dye)
What are the physical properties of Carminic acid?
Melting Point 136 °C (decomp)
Boiling Point 506.2°C (rough estimate)
Density 1.4504 (rough estimate)
Flash Point 12°C
Appearance red to dark red crystalline powder
Color Red to dark red
Odor Odorless
Form Crystalline Powder
Water Solubility 1.298g/L(room temperature)
Refractive Index 1.6000 (estimate)
pH 1.6 (10g/l, H2O, 20℃)
Log P 1.532 (est)
Which trade and regulatory codes apply to Carminic acid?
HS Code 32129000
WGK (Germany) 2