Glycerol ester of wood rosin

Glycerol ester of wood rosin (CAS 8050-31-5), also identified as E445 and commercially known as glyceryl rosinate, is produced by esterifying wood rosin with glycerol to yield a pale, tacky resin.

Where is Glycerol ester of wood rosin used?

• Food and beverage: density-adjusting agent and emulsion stabilizer
• Adhesives and rubber: tackifier and plasticizer
• In carbonated soft drinks and flavored beverages, E445 weights citrus and flavor oils, preventing phase separation and maintaining uniform emulsion stability throughout shelf life
• Pressure-sensitive and hot-melt adhesives: tackifier controlling tack, peel strength and cohesion
• Rubber compounding: plasticizer and processing aid improving flow and reducing hardness
• Printing inks: resin binder adjusting viscosity and improving adhesion to packaging substrates
• Functions as a softener in chewing gum.
• Used as a protective coating agent for citrus fruits.
• Can be used as a natural, biodegradable substitute for synthetic resins in industrial applications such as varnishes, inks, and adhesives.

Formulation notes

• Substances derived from gum rosin and from tall oil rosin are excluded from the definition of glycerol ester of wood rosin (E 445).

Typical specification

• Ring and ball softening range between 82 and 90°C according to Commission Regulation (EU) No 231/2012.
• Fat-soluble and supplied as hard amber-colored pastilles.

Regulatory status

• In 2013, JECFA re-established an ADI of 0–25 mg/kg body weight for glycerol ester of wood rosin.
• Only glycerol ester of wood rosin is authorized for beverages in the European Union.
• Assigned INS number 445(iii).

Storage, packaging and handling

• Packaged with special resistance, oxygen barrier, inertization, antistatic, and modern design.

Frequently asked questions about Glycerol ester of wood rosin

How does glycerol ester of wood rosin protect volatile flavor compounds?

It helps encapsulate volatile oils and flavor compounds, protecting them from oxidation and degradation.

What production processes are used to purify wood rosin ester?

Two processes are used: steam stripping when the ester is intended for gum, or countercurrent steam distillation when adjusting the density of citrus oils for beverages.

Technical content is compiled and updated by the SoleChem product team from public technical sources; the certificate of analysis (COA) governs product-specific specifications.