Glycerol Ester of Wood Rosin E445
Glycerol Ester of Wood Rosin, also known as GEWR, ester gum or glycerol ester of rosin, is a food-grade rosin-derived ester used mainly as a beverage weighting agent and citrus-oil emulsion stabiliser. It is considered in citrus-flavoured soft drinks, fruit-flavoured beverages, cloud emulsions, flavour emulsions, beverage bases, chewing gum systems, confectionery coatings, fruit coatings and selected glazing or surface applications where permitted by local regulation.
For industrial buyers, E445 should be evaluated as a specification-sensitive resin ester rather than only as a generic coating ingredient. The correct supplier grade can affect beverage cloud stability, oil-phase density, emulsion ring formation, creaming, flavour-oil suspension, softening point, solubility, colour, odour, processing temperature, label declaration, regulatory approval, documentation quality and batch-to-batch performance.
Product identity
| Product name | Glycerol Ester of Wood Rosin |
|---|---|
| Common industry name | GEWR / Ester Gum |
| Other names | Glycerol Ester of Rosin; Glyceryl Abietate; Rosin Ester; Wood Rosin Glycerol Ester |
| Category | Glazing, Coating & Release Agents |
| Functional class | Beverage weighting agent / density adjuster / emulsion stabiliser / ester gum / coating or gum-base component |
| E / INS number | E445 / INS 445 |
| CAS / identity | 8050-31-5 |
| Chemical nature | Glycerol esters of resin acids obtained from refined wood rosin; exact resin-acid and ester profile is supplier dependent |
| Typical commercial form | Pale yellow to amber solid, flake, bead, pastille, resinous mass, solution, emulsion or formulated beverage-grade system |
| Primary technical purpose | Adjust density of citrus and flavour oils, stabilise beverage cloud emulsions and support selected coating or gum-base functions |
| Important grade distinction | Beverage weighting grades, gum-base grades, coating grades and technical rosin esters are not automatically interchangeable |
Application fit
Glycerol Ester of Wood Rosin is normally considered where oil-phase density, emulsion stability, surface behaviour or resin-based texture contribution is important. Potential industrial use areas may include:
- Citrus-flavoured carbonated soft drinks and still beverages
- Cloud emulsions, flavour emulsions and beverage concentrates
- Orange, lemon, lime, grapefruit and mixed-citrus beverage bases
- Chewing gum base systems and confectionery resin systems where permitted
- Fruit coatings, confectionery coatings, tablet coatings and selected glazing systems
- Process trials where density adjustment, oil suspension or surface-film behaviour must be controlled
Industrial function and formulation value
Glycerol Ester of Wood Rosin is valued in beverage manufacturing because many citrus oils have lower density than the water phase and can separate, cream, ring or form oil deposits in the package. E445 is dissolved into the flavour-oil phase to increase oil-phase density and help match the density of the surrounding beverage. When the oil phase, emulsifier system, homogenisation and preservative system are correctly designed, this can improve cloud stability and visual consistency during shelf life.
The ingredient is not a stand-alone emulsifier and should not be treated as a universal stabiliser. Beverage cloud stability depends on the entire emulsion design: oil loading, weighting-agent level, gum arabic or modified-starch emulsifier, droplet size, homogenisation pressure, sugar level, pH, acidity, preservative system, carbonation, heat process, bottle material, storage temperature and distribution vibration.
Technical performance considerations
Density adjustment
The main beverage function is to increase the density of citrus or flavour oils so that the oil droplets remain suspended more uniformly in the beverage. The target is not simply maximum density, but density compatibility with the water phase and the intended storage conditions.
Oil-phase solubility
E445 must dissolve properly into the selected citrus oil, flavour oil or cloud oil system. Solubility can depend on oil type, terpene level, temperature, mixing time, resin ester grade, softening point and the presence of other weighting agents or carriers.
Emulsion stability
Stable beverage clouds require controlled droplet size and compatible emulsifiers. E445 helps with density, while emulsifiers and homogenisation help create and protect small droplets. Poorly designed systems can still show ringing, creaming, haze loss or separation.
Coating and resin behaviour
In gum-base, coating or surface systems, resin ester properties such as softening point, colour, tack, film behaviour and compatibility with waxes, fats, oils and plasticisers become more important than beverage density performance.
Typical manufacturing applications
| Application area | Technical role | Purchasing and formulation notes |
|---|---|---|
| Citrus soft drinks | Adjusts flavour-oil density and supports stable citrus cloud or flavour emulsion appearance. | Check citrus oil type, oil loading, density target, emulsifier system, droplet size, carbonation, pH, preservative system and finished-beverage legal limit. |
| Cloud emulsions and beverage bases | Helps maintain uniform oil droplet suspension in concentrated or diluted beverage systems. | Evaluate cloud stability after dilution, pasteurisation, carbonation, storage, transport vibration and temperature cycling. |
| Flavour emulsions | Improves suspension of oil-soluble flavour components in water-based beverage systems. | Review compatibility with gum arabic, modified starches, sucrose acetate isobutyrate where permitted, glycerol ester systems and flavour-oil chemistry. |
| Fruit-flavoured beverages | Supports visual cloud and oil-phase stability in lemon, lime, orange, grapefruit or tropical beverage profiles. | Confirm target market, fruit-content rules, colour system, acidity, packaging, storage temperature and permitted use level. |
| Chewing gum systems | May contribute resinous body, tack, softening behaviour and gum-base texture in permitted formulations. | Check compatibility with gum base, elastomers, waxes, plasticisers, flavours, sweeteners and regional gum-base additive rules. |
| Confectionery and tablet coatings | May be evaluated for surface film, gloss, coating adhesion or protective resin functionality. | Review solvent or carrier system, coating temperature, film behaviour, colour, odour, gloss, tack, drying time and label declaration. |
| Fruit coatings and glazing systems | May support surface shine, barrier properties or coating structure where permitted. | Verify permitted coating use, wax compatibility, residue expectations, export-market restrictions, surface tack and sensory neutrality. |
Specification points to review before approval
Industrial buyers should compare supplier specifications against internal quality standards, application requirements, customer expectations and destination-market legislation. A robust technical review normally covers:
- Acid value or acid number: Important for identity, esterification control, batch comparison and regulatory matching.
- Drop-softening point: Critical for resin behaviour, beverage-grade identity, handling, melting, gum-base functionality and coating performance.
- Colour: Important for beverage clouds, clear or light-coloured emulsions, coatings and customer appearance standards.
- Density or specific gravity: Relevant for beverage-oil weighting calculations and density matching with the finished beverage.
- Solubility in citrus oil: Essential for orange, lemon, lime, grapefruit and other flavour-oil systems.
- Resin-acid profile: Supplier-dependent resin chemistry may affect solubility, odour, performance and regulatory conformity.
- Glycerol ester content: Supports assessment of esterification level and functional consistency.
- Residual free glycerol: May be reviewed for specification compliance and process control.
- Residual solvents and purification: Request details where supplier process, extraction route or destination-market rules require confirmation.
- Odour and flavour neutrality: Important for citrus beverages, flavour emulsions and delicate coating systems.
- Heavy metals and impurities: Review lead, arsenic, cadmium, mercury and other market-specific impurity limits.
- Microbiology: Confirm appropriate microbiological criteria for emulsion, dispersion or carrier-based grades where relevant.
- Rosin source and origin: Confirm wood rosin, gum rosin or tall oil rosin basis as required by regulation, customer standard or label strategy.
- Dietary and customer documents: Confirm allergen, GMO, halal, kosher, vegetarian or vegan status where required by the finished product.
- Packaging and shelf life: Check carton, bag, drum, pail, lined bag, block, pastille or container format, net weight, storage condition and expiry or retest date format.
Regulatory and labelling review
Glycerol Ester of Wood Rosin is identified as E445 / INS 445, but permission is not automatic for every country, food category, beverage type or use level. Before commercial use, the buyer should verify additive status in the destination market, relevant beverage or food category, maximum permitted level, finished-product limit, carry-over rules, import requirements and finished-product label declaration.
In beverage applications, the buyer should confirm whether the target market permits E445 as a density-adjusting agent, stabiliser, emulsifier support, clouding-system component or another defined additive function. Depending on local rules, labels may need to declare "glycerol ester of wood rosin", "glycerol ester of rosin", "ester gum", "E445", "INS 445", "stabiliser", "emulsifier", "clouding agent" or a market-specific equivalent.
Quality, storage and handling expectations
Storage
Store in tightly closed original packaging according to supplier instructions. Protect from heat, direct sunlight, moisture, dust, foreign odours and damaged packaging. Solid resin grades should be stored to avoid blocking, excessive softening, contamination or loss of pellet/flake handling performance.
Handling
Use clean, dry handling tools and controlled heating where melting or dissolution is required. Avoid overheating, local scorching, contamination with incompatible oils or solvents and uncontrolled addition to beverage bases without proper dissolution into the oil phase.
Incoming inspection
At goods receipt, verify product name, grade, batch number, net weight, packaging condition, shelf life, certificate of analysis and label information. Inspect for abnormal odour, dark colour, contamination, softened blocks, broken bags, leakage in liquid grades or damaged pallets before release.
Traceability
Batch-level traceability should connect purchase order, supplier lot, certificate of analysis, warehouse receipt, internal material code, flavour-emulsion batch, beverage batch and finished-product lots. This supports audits, export compliance and recall-readiness programs.
Plant-trial and emulsion-validation guidance
Before full commercial approval, Glycerol Ester of Wood Rosin should be evaluated in pilot or plant-scale trials using the same flavour oil, emulsifier, homogenisation system, beverage base, pH, sugar level, preservative system, carbonation, pasteurisation, packaging and storage conditions planned for commercial production. Laboratory dissolution alone is not sufficient to prove finished beverage stability.
- Define the target function: Confirm whether the material is intended for beverage density adjustment, cloud stability, gum base, coating, glazing or another function.
- Measure oil-phase density: Determine the density of citrus or flavour oil before and after E445 addition.
- Validate dissolution: Confirm melting temperature, mixing time, oil compatibility and absence of undissolved resin particles.
- Control droplet size: Use appropriate emulsification and homogenisation to reach a stable droplet-size distribution.
- Run shelf-life testing: Monitor ringing, creaming, sediment, oil separation, haze loss, bottle staining, flavour changes and colour stability.
- Test temperature cycling: Evaluate chilled, ambient, warm and transport-abuse conditions where distribution may fluctuate.
- Confirm legal dose: Calculate finished-beverage concentration and verify compliance with target-market limits.
- Benchmark alternatives: Compare with current weighting agents, emulsifiers or cloud systems where reformulation is planned.
Documents to request
For a professional food-manufacturing approval process, buyers should request documentation that supports identity, safety, compliance, traceability and customer claims. Typical document requirements include:
- Product specification or technical data sheet
- Certificate of analysis for the offered batch or representative lot
- Safety data sheet where applicable
- Food-grade statement and intended-use statement
- Origin statement, manufacturer statement and production-route declaration
- Rosin-source declaration, such as wood rosin, gum rosin or tall oil rosin where relevant
- Acid value, softening point, colour, density and solubility information
- Glycerol ester content, free glycerol, resin-acid profile or purity information where required
- Residual solvent and purification information where relevant
- Heavy metals, arsenic, lead and other impurity limits from the supplier specification
- Allergen statement and cross-contact information
- GMO status statement, if required by the destination market or customer
- Halal, kosher, vegetarian or vegan certificate or declaration, if applicable
- Microbiological limits for emulsion, dispersion or formulated grades where relevant
- Shelf-life, storage, packaging and pallet-configuration details
- Label draft, bag marking, drum label or batch-coding format
- Market-specific declarations required by the importing country, retailer or end customer
Commercial sourcing and logistics notes
Glycerol Ester of Wood Rosin is typically purchased by industrial users according to grade, source rosin, acid value, softening point, colour, solubility, documentation package, batch availability, shipment destination, packaging format and cost-in-use performance. When comparing offers, buyers should not evaluate only the unit price. Beverage stability, dissolution speed, legal suitability, source declaration, colour, odour, impurity profile, documentation quality, lead time and plant performance can all affect the real commercial value of the material.
For export projects, buyers should confirm HS code guidance with their customs broker, required import permits, original document requirements, shelf-life remaining at dispatch, pallet and container requirements, temperature exposure during transport and whether the product requires protection from heat, moisture or blocking during shipment.
How to request this product
To receive a more accurate quotation, send the product name, target specification, intended food or beverage application, annual or spot quantity, destination country, packaging preference, required delivery term, expected shipment date and requested documents. If you already purchase Glycerol Ester of Wood Rosin or ester gum, attach your current specification, supplier label, certificate of analysis, acid-value requirement, softening-point requirement, beverage-emulsion target or benchmark sample details so alternatives can be compared more accurately.
Minimum inquiry details
- Product name: Glycerol Ester of Wood Rosin / GEWR / E445 / CAS 8050-31-5
- Required grade and target specification
- Target function: beverage weighting, cloud emulsion, gum base, coating or glazing
- Required acid value, softening point, colour or rosin source, if known
- Quantity per shipment and annual forecast
- Destination country and delivery term
- Preferred packaging size and pallet requirements
- Required certificates and declarations
Helpful technical details
- Application type: citrus beverage, carbonated drink, cloud emulsion, flavour emulsion, gum base, coating, glazing or fruit coating
- Target issue: oil ring, creaming, haze loss, unstable cloud, poor dissolution, coating tack or surface gloss
- Current weighting agent, emulsifier system and dosage level
- Flavour oil type, oil loading, beverage pH, sugar level, homogenisation process and package type
- Need for food-grade, halal, kosher, vegetarian, vegan, allergen, GMO or rosin-source documentation
- Any regulatory market, customer standard or retailer requirement to be matched
Useful answers
What is Glycerol Ester of Wood Rosin used for in food manufacturing?
Glycerol Ester of Wood Rosin E445 is most commonly evaluated as a beverage weighting agent and citrus-oil emulsion stabiliser. It helps increase the density of oil-phase flavour systems so citrus oils, clouding systems and flavour emulsions remain more uniformly dispersed in water-based beverages. It may also be reviewed for chewing gum, coating, glazing or surface systems where permitted. Exact suitability depends on grade, application, process, label requirements, regulations and supplier documents.
Is Glycerol Ester of Wood Rosin the same as ester gum?
Yes. In industrial food and beverage sourcing, Glycerol Ester of Wood Rosin is often called ester gum, GEWR, glycerol ester of rosin or glyceryl abietate. Buyers should confirm whether the offered material is wood rosin, gum rosin or tall oil rosin based and whether it matches the target market specification.
Why is E445 used in citrus beverages?
Citrus oils are lighter than water and can rise, ring, cream or separate in beverages. E445 can be used in the oil phase to adjust density and improve cloud or flavour-emulsion stability when combined with proper emulsifiers, homogenisation, particle-size control and beverage formulation design.
Can E445 replace brominated vegetable oil directly?
Not automatically. E445 may be used as part of a beverage weighting strategy, but replacement depends on oil phase density, emulsifier system, homogenisation, cloud stability, flavour oil loading, beverage pH, preservative system, packaging, legal limits and shelf-life performance. Pilot and plant trials are required.
Which applications are most relevant?
Relevant applications may include citrus-flavoured soft drinks, carbonated beverages, noncarbonated beverages, cloud emulsions, flavour emulsions, beverage bases, chewing gum systems, confectionery coatings, fruit coatings and selected glazing systems, subject to local additive rules.
Which specification points are important?
Important specification points include acid value, softening point, colour, density, solubility in flavour oils, resin-acid profile, glycerol ester content, residual free glycerol, residual solvents where applicable, heavy metals, arsenic, lead, microbiology for emulsion grades, particle behaviour in beverage emulsions, packaging type, shelf life and storage conditions.
Which documents should be requested?
Buyers commonly request a technical data sheet or specification, certificate of analysis, safety data sheet where applicable, food-grade statement, origin statement, rosin-source declaration, acid value, softening point, colour, impurity limits, allergen statement, GMO statement, halal or kosher documents if required, shelf-life information, storage guidance, label details and packaging configuration.
Is this product permitted in every country?
No. Food additive use depends on destination-market rules, food category, beverage type, use level, finished-product limit, labelling requirements and buyer responsibility. Regulatory approval should be checked before commercial production.
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