ROSIN, WOOD, MALEIC ANHYD. MOD., PENTAERYTHRITOL ESTER, ACID #134-145
ROSIN, WOOD, MALEIC ANHYDR. MOD., PENTAERYTHRITOL ESTER, ACID #134-145 is a chemically modified rosin derivative used predominantly as a technical surface-finishing agent in food contact coatings and related applications regulated under multiple sections of the U.S. Code of Federal Regulations.
What It Is
ROSIN, WOOD, MALEIC ANHYDR. MOD., PENTAERYTHRITOL ESTER, ACID #134-145 belongs to a class of chemically modified rosin derivatives derived from wood rosin esterified with maleic anhydride and pentaerythritol. This additive is identified by the CAS number 977045-97-8 and serves as a surface-finishing agent in food contact applications. Chemically, it is a high molecular weight ester resin formed through the reaction of the complex mixture of resin acids in wood rosin with maleic anhydride, followed by esterification with a polyol (pentaerythritol). Its classification as a surface-finishing agent reflects its role in imparting gloss, film integrity, and functional performance when included in coatings used on food surfaces or in indirect food contact materials such as adhesives and paper coatings. In regulatory inventories, this additive appears under multiple parts of Title 21 of the U.S. Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), where it is authorized for specific uses related to citrus fruit coatings and indirect food contact materials. The structural complexity and esterification chemistry differentiate this substance from simple rosin esters, conferring modified physical properties such as higher softening points and more stable film-forming characteristics compared to unmodified rosin derivatives. Its identification as a rosin derivative means that, despite its wood origin, it undergoes significant chemical modification to achieve the desired functional properties for technical applications rather than nutritional value or flavor modulation.
How It Is Made
The manufacturing of ROSIN, WOOD, MALEIC ANHYDR. MOD., PENTAERYTHRITOL ESTER, ACID #134-145 involves the esterification modification of naturally derived wood rosin with maleic anhydride followed by reaction with pentaerythritol, a polyol. Wood rosin itself is a complex mixture of resin acids obtained from the distillation of crude tall oil or from wood sources and contains monocarboxylic acids that are reactive toward chemical modification. In an industrial setting, wood rosin is first reacted with maleic anhydride in an addition or Diels-Alder type of reaction, introducing maleic functionality onto the rosin backbone. Subsequently, the maleated rosin intermediate undergoes esterification with pentaerythritol under controlled temperature and acid catalysis to form a high molecular weight rosin ester. The process typically involves heating the mixture to facilitate water removal and drive the esterification equilibrium toward product formation, often with vacuum application to remove by-products and unreacted reagents. The resulting resinous material is then refined to meet specification parameters such as acid number and softening point, which affect functional performance in coating applications. The manufacturing process does not generate a simple single molecular species but rather a distribution of rosin-based esters with varying degrees of esterification and modification, which collectively impart desirable physical characteristics for surface finishing. The production of this additive follows industrial chemical procedures for resin synthesis and is not derived directly from food-grade raw materials, but wood rosin feedstock is sourced from tree-derived materials. Because it is a resinous material with high molecular weight and limited solubility profiles, typical analytical characterization focuses on physical and rheological properties relevant to performance rather than detailed small molecule composition.
Why It Is Used In Food
This modified rosin ester is used in food-related applications primarily for its technical functional properties rather than nutritional or flavor effects. Specifically, its inclusion in formulations for coatings on fresh citrus fruits or as an ingredient in adhesives and coatings used in indirect food contact applications helps to provide surface finishing characteristics, such as gloss, protective layering, and enhanced film integrity. In coatings applied to citrus fruits, the additive can contribute to a surface film that aids moisture retention and appearance without imparting flavor or aroma. The modification by maleic anhydride and pentaerythritol increases the polarity and thermal stability of the resin compared to unmodified rosin, allowing it to perform reliably under varying processing conditions. In indirect food contact settings, the material acts as a component of adhesives or coatings that may come into contact with food packaging substrates like paper or board, serving as a defoaming agent, binder, or reinforcing resin in polymeric coatings. These technical functions facilitate product performance where mechanical or surface characteristics are critical, for example, ensuring adhesion, film formation, and protection from environmental exposure. Because this additive is regulated under multiple sections of the CFR for specific uses, it is not intended for broad dietary exposure but rather for controlled inclusion in products where its surface-finishing and film properties are essential for product quality and safety compliance.
Safety And Health Research
To date, detailed public toxicological evaluations specific to ROSIN, WOOD, MALEIC ANHYDR. MOD., PENTAERYTHRITOL ESTER, ACID #134-145 have not been prominently published in major scientific literature or regulatory monographs. Its inclusion in the U.S. Food Contact Substance Inventory and the specified CFR sections reflects a regulatory determination that exposure from authorized uses in coatings and indirect contact materials does not present safety concerns when used as intended. Food contact substance reviews typically consider endpoints such as migration into food simulants, lack of genotoxicity, and limited systemic toxicity in relevant animal models, although specific studies for this additive are not readily accessible in public databases. Because the additive is a high molecular weight resin, its potential for absorption in the gastrointestinal tract is considered minimal when present at trace levels in food contact contexts, and it does not exhibit properties associated with low molecular weight toxicants. Nonetheless, in the absence of explicit toxicological data in authoritative sources, regulators rely on structural analogs and functional class evaluations to infer safety under conditions of intended use. There is also no evidence from regulatory inventories that this additive has been linked to adverse health outcomes in consumers when used under the stipulated conditions in the CFR.
Regulatory Status Worldwide
In the United States, ROSIN, WOOD, MALEIC ANHYDR. MOD., PENTAERYTHRITOL ESTER, ACID #134-145 is included in the Food and Drug Administration’s Inventory of Food Contact Substances and appears under multiple sections of Title 21 of the Code of Federal Regulations that govern indirect food additive uses, including coatings on fresh citrus fruit and components of adhesives and paperboard coatings, as d in sections 172.210, 175.105, 175.300, 176.200, 178.3120, 178.3800, 178.3850, and 178.3870. These provisions authorize its use for specified technical purposes and under conditions where it is not intended for direct ingestion but rather as part of materials that may contact food surfaces. The inclusion of this additive in these CFR sections signifies regulatory recognition of its technical functions and safety when used appropriately as specified. Outside the United States, explicit regulatory listings for this particular modified rosin ester in the European Union or other jurisdictions were not identified in available sources at the time of writing, and specific E-number or INS numbering was not found in authoritative additive compendia. Likewise, authoritative entries in the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA) database for this precise substance were not located, suggesting that no specific international additive number or ADI has been established by JECFA. As such, regulatory acceptance may vary by region, and food contact applications often depend on national or regional food contact materials regulations rather than generalized additive approvals.
Taste And Functional Properties
ROSIN, WOOD, MALEIC ANHYDR. MOD., PENTAERYTHRITOL ESTER, ACID #134-145 does not contribute taste or nutritional value in food applications, as its primary role is technical rather than sensory. In formulations where it is permitted, such as coatings on fruit or indirect food contact materials, it is used at levels that do not influence flavor perception. Because of its high molecular weight and resinous character, it is effectively non-volatile and does not interact with taste receptors. Functionally, this additive exhibits properties typical of modified resin esters, such as high softening point, film-forming capability, and compatibility with other coating components like plasticizers and polymers. Compared to unmodified rosin esters, the maleic anhydride modification introduces additional polar functionality, which can improve adhesion and surface coverage in coating applications. Its solubility profile favors organic solvents and resin systems rather than aqueous environments, making it suitable for use in solvent-borne or polymer-rich coatings. The physical properties conferred by this additive, such as structural integrity and durability of surface films, contribute to the overall performance of the final product but do not manifest as taste or aroma characteristics. Sensory attributes of foods treated with this additive arise from other formulation components and the food itself, not from the resinous ester.
Acceptable Daily Intake Explained
For many food additives, an acceptable daily intake (ADI) is established by regulatory authorities to define the amount that can be consumed daily over a lifetime without appreciable health risk. However, for ROSIN, WOOD, MALEIC ANHYDR. MOD., PENTAERYTHRITOL ESTER, ACID #134-145, authoritative sources such as the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA) database did not provide a specific ADI value at the time of writing. This reflects that the substance is regulated primarily as a food contact material rather than a directly ingested additive, and exposure levels from indirect contact uses are considered very low. Consequently, a numerical ADI is not available, and any consumption estimation must be framed within the context of exposure from migration studies rather than direct dietary inclusion. In the absence of an established ADI, regulatory safety assessments focus on ensuring that migration of the substance into food remains below thresholds of toxicological concern under specified conditions of use.
Common Food Applications Narrative
Although ROSIN, WOOD, MALEIC ANHYDR. MOD., PENTAERYTHRITOL ESTER, ACID #134-145 is not a food ingredient in the traditional sense, it is included in specific food-related applications due to its performance as a surface-finishing agent in coating systems and indirect food contact materials. One of the key applications of this additive is in coatings applied to fresh citrus fruits, where it functions to improve surface appearance and protect against moisture loss during storage and handling, in accordance with its authorization under 21 CFR 172.210. In these formulations, the resin ester contributes to the formation of a stable, glossy film that helps delay dehydration and preserve visual quality. In addition to fruit coatings, this modified rosin ester is used as a component in adhesives and coatings for food packaging materials. For example, it can be incorporated into adhesive systems that bind layers of paperboard used for boxed goods or into coatings that provide protective barriers on food contact surfaces. These indirect food contact applications take advantage of the additive’s ability to form durable films, resist degradation under processing conditions, and interact compatibly with other polymeric components. Because the additive itself is not intended for consumption, its use is confined to functional applications where it remains bound within coatings or packaging materials, limiting potential dietary exposure. Its regulatory acceptance in these uses reflects a balance between functional necessity in product performance and safety determinations that exposure under these controlled conditions is consistent with food contact substance guidelines.
Safety & Regulations
FDA
- Notes: While this additive is listed in U.S. food contact substance inventories under multiple CFR citations, explicit direct approval status and associated conditions are defined within those regulations rather than a single additive approval entry.
EFSA
- Notes: No authoritative E-number or EFSA ADI values were found in available regulatory databases.
JECFA
- Notes: JECFA database does not list a specific evaluation or ADI for this substance.
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