E 1202

E 1202 is the EU food additive number for crosslinked polyvinylpyrrolidone (Polyvinylpolypyrrolidone, PVPP). Produced by crosslinking N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone, PVPP is an insoluble synthetic polymer. Owing to its three-dimensional crosslinked structure, it both imbibes water and strongly adsorbs polyphenols. It is widely used for beverage clarification, as a superdisintegrant in pharmaceutical tablets, and for polyphenol removal in molecular biology workflows.

I. What is E 1202?

• Chemical name: Crosslinked polyvinylpyrrolidone / Polyvinylpolypyrrolidone (PVPP)

• Common aliases: Crosslinked povidone; crosslinked povidone superdisintegrant (pharmacopeial name: Crospovidone)

• Abbreviation: PVPP

• Solubility: Insoluble in water and most organic solvents; swells in water and selectively adsorbs polyphenols/tannins

• Properties: Three-dimensional crosslinked particles; odorless, tasteless; good chemical and thermal stability

II. Main Characteristics of E 1202 (PVPP)

• Insoluble particulate: Remains as particles in process streams and can be removed by filtration.

• High specific-surface adsorption: Strong hydrogen-bonding and physical adsorption toward polyphenols/tannins.

• Superdisintegration: Rapid water uptake, capillary wicking, and particle rupture in tablets for fast disintegration.

• Favorable safety profile: Considered safe within authorized uses and levels.

III. Comparison with Similar Clarifying Aids

Additive No.	Name	Primary Source	Use Features
E 1202	Crosslinked PVP (PVPP)	Synthetic polymer	Adsorbs polyphenols/tannins; removed by filtration to prevent chill haze
E 414	Gum arabic	Plant exudate	Emulsifier, stabilizer
E 406	Agar	Seaweed extract	Gelling, thickening
E 441	Gelatin	Animal collagen	Clarification, gelling, excipient (often with other steps)

Note: PVPP clarifies via an “adsorb-and-remove” mechanism, distinct from mere thickening/gelling/stabilization.

IV.Comparison with Related Materials

Dimension	Sucrose/Glycerol (Protectants)	PEG (Polyethylene glycol)	PVPP (E 1202)
Solubility	Good (water-soluble)	Good (water-soluble)	Insoluble in water and most organic solvents; swells
Film-forming/dispersion	No notable film formation	Some film-forming/solubilizing	Non-film-forming; not a dispersant (crosslinked particles)
Core function	Osmotic/protective effects	Carrier, solubilizer, release modifier	Adsorbs polyphenols/tannins; superdisintegration
Typical uses	Food protection, cryoprotection	Drug modification/carrier (soluble systems)	Beverage clarification; tablet superdisintegrant; plant NA extraction

V. Mechanism of Action of E 1202 (PVPP)

• Beverage clarification: PVPP’s pyrrolidone amide groups hydrogen-bond with polyphenols; the loaded particles are removed by filtration or centrifugation, lowering long-term haze risk.

• Tablet disintegration: Water uptake, capillary action, and particle rupture markedly shorten disintegration time and enhance dissolution.

• Molecular biology: Adsorbs polyphenols during plant nucleic-acid extraction, alleviating inhibition in PCR, restriction digestion, and other enzymatic steps.

VI. Main Functions & Applications

1.Food & Beverage

• PVPP treatment for beer, fruit wines, and clarified juices to remove tannins/polyphenols, improving mouthfeel and colloidal stability.

• Used as a clarifying aid/carrier and removed by subsequent filtration.

2.Pharmaceuticals & Biopharma

• Tablet excipient—superdisintegrant (Crospovidone): Enhances disintegration and dissolution; compatible with co-use of other disintegrants.

3.Biological & Research

• Plant nucleic acids: Binds polyphenols to improve nucleic-acid quality and reliability of downstream reactions.

VII. Common Experimental Issues & Remedies

Symptom	Likely Cause	On-Site Checks	Corrective Actions
Recurring chill haze	Under-dosing / excessive contact temperature / insufficient time	Re-measure polyphenols; low-temp retains	Raise dose → cool to 0–5 °C → extend contact; co-treat with silica gel
High filtration ΔP	Inadequate pre-wetting / agglomerated dosing / excess fines	Inspect cake; screen particle size	Improve pre-dispersion; optimize PSD and mixing
Variable tablet disintegration	Excess lubricant / tablets too hard	Correlate disintegration vs. hardness	Reduce MgSt; fine-tune hardness; extragranular addition to promote surface fissuring
DNA/PCR inhibition	Incomplete PVPP removal / high sample polyphenols	Check supernatant color / residual particles	Increase to 1–2% (w/v); adequate centrifugation; switch to higher-purity grade

VIII. Safety & Regulatory

• JECFA: ADI “not specified” for PVPP (E 1202) when used as authorized.

• EU (EFSA): Approved as a food additive, primarily as a carrier and for clarification/stabilization under specified conditions.

• USA (21 CFR 173.50): PVPP may be used to clarify beverages and vinegar; must be removed by filtration post-treatment; residuals limited per GMP.

IX. Quality Control

QC Item	Control Focus	Reference Standards
Purity & impurities	Residual monomer, heavy metals, residual solvents	Codex / FAO/WHO / EU regulations
Pharmacopeial attributes (Crospovidone)	Type A/B, particle size/surface area, peroxide limit, moisture	USP / Ph. Eur.
Microbiology/endotoxin (as needed)	TAMC/yeasts & molds; low-endotoxin for research/pharma grades	USP / Ph. Eur.
Stability	Protect from moisture/light; avoid oxidation; validate regeneration/reuse if applicable	GMP storage & validation guidance

X.Aladdin Typical Products

Crospovidone（C494178）

Parameter	Limit Values
Arsenic (As)	0–2 (ppm)
Assay (Nitrogen content)	11.0–12.8 (%)
Heavy metals	0–10 (ppm)
Lead (Pb)	0–2 (ppm)
Loss on drying	0–5 (%)
Peroxide, as H₂O₂	0–400 (ppm)
PH	5–8
Residue on Ignition	0–0.1 (%)
Water soluble substances	0–1 (%)
Total aerobic microbial count (TAMC)	0–100 (cfu/g)
Total yeasts and molds count (TYMC)	0–20 (cfu/g)
Particle size (D50)	60–140 (µm)
Infrared spectrum	Conforms to Structure

XI. Aladdin E 1202 Advantages

• Multiple types/grades: Pharmacopeial Type A/B and assorted particle-size specifications.

• High purity & stability: Suitable for beverage clarification, research, and formulation development.

• Broad applicability: Beverage clarification, tablet superdisintegrant, plant nucleic-acid extraction.

• Professional support: Formulation and process recommendations, test reports, and full traceability (CoA).

XII. Grade Comparison

Grade	Purity & Impurity Control	Microbial/Endotoxin	Functional Stability	Documentation & Compliance	Typical Applications
Technical grade	Basic impurity control, broad impurity profile	Limited microbial control	Adsorption performance less consistent	Basic test data provided	Industrial clarification, filtration aid
RUO	Controlled for lab-relevant impurities	Limited microbial consideration	Reproducible in small-scale experiments	CoA provided	Plant extract cleanup, polyphenol removal, lab clarification
Food Additive Grade (E 1202)	Strict control of residual monomers and impurities	Meets food safety microbial standards	Stable adsorption capacity, low batch-to-batch variation	Complies with EU/GB additive regulations	Beer, wine, juice clarification
Pharmaceutical Excipient Grade	Multi-dimensional impurity limits, heavy metals and residues controlled	Enhanced sterile/low endotoxin standards	Stable disintegration and adsorption performance	Pharmacopoeia-listed, GMP/DMF documentation	Tablet disintegrant, detoxification agent
High-Performance	Customized impurity window per application	Low endotoxin or sterile control	Long-term validated performance	Method validation data provided	Premium beverage processing, specialized drug development

E 1202 (PVPP) is more than a traditional beverage clarifier—it is a cross-sector enabling material spanning food, pharmaceuticals, research, and industry. With advances in life sciences and polymer technology, its value continues to expand. From food safety to drug development—and onward to emerging nanomedicine and sustainable materials—E 1202 plays an increasingly important role. Aladdin provides high-purity, multi-specification, fully traceable E 1202 products to support diverse needs in research, diagnostics, and industrial applications.

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