Approval/authorization  for use of 2-pentanol, propionaldehyde, and 6 -methylquinoline  
as food additive s  
 
 Purpose  
This activity is to newly designate  2-pentanol, propionaldehyde, and 
6-methylquinoline  as authorized food additives .  
Unde r Article 10 of the Food Sanitation Law, food additives may be used or 
marketed only when they are authorized  by the Minister of Health, Labour and 
Welfare. Where standards for use of additives and/or their compositional 
specifications are established under Article 11 of the L aw, those additives may be 
marketed only when they meet the  standards and/or specifications.  
In response to a request  from the Minister, the Subcommittee on Food 
Additives under the Food Sanitation Committee which is established under the 
Pharmaceutical Affairs and Food Sanitation Council has discussed the adequacy of 
the designation of these  substance s as food additives. Conclusion of the  
subcommittee is outlined as below.  
 
 
The Minister should designate  2-pentanol, propionaldehyde, and 6 -pethylquinoline , 
based on  Article 10 of the Food Sanitation Law , as food additive s unlikely to  harm 
human health,  and establish compositional spec ifications for the se substance s, based on  
Article 11 of the Law (see Attachment s 1, 2 and 3 ). Conclusion from the subcommittee   
 
 
Attachment  1 
 
2-Pentanol  
sec-Amyl Alcohol  
 
It shall not be used for purposes other than flavoring.  Standard for use  
 
Name of the s ubstance : 2-Pentanol  Compositional specifications   
Structural formula : 
H3COH
CH3 
Molecular formula : C5H12O 
Mol. Weight : 88.15  
Chemical name  [CAS number ] : Pentan -2-ol [6032 -29-7] 
Content : 2-Pentanol  contains not less than 98.0% of 2-pentanol  (C5H12O).  
Description : 2-Pentanol  occurs as a colorless, transparent liquid having a characteristic  
od or.    
Identification : Determine the infrared absorption spectrum of 2-Pentanol , as directed in 
the Liquid Film Me thod under Infrared Spectrophotometry, and compare it with the 
Reference Spectrum.  Both spectra  exhibit absorption s having about the same intensity 
at the same wavenumbers . 
Purity : 
(1) Refractive index20
D  n: 1.403– 1.409.  
(2) Specific gravity25
25  d : 0.802– 0.809.  
Assay : Proceed as directed in the Peak Area Percentage Method in the Gas 
Chromatographic Assay under the Flavor Substance Tests. Use operating conditions ( 2).  
 
 
Reference Spectrum  
  
 
 
Attachment 2 
 
Propionaldehyde  
 
It shall not be used for purposes other than flavoring.  Standard for  use  
 
Name of the s ubstance : Propionaldehyde Compositional specifications  
Structural formula : 
H3C CHO 
Molecular formula : C3H6O 
Mol. Weight : 58.08  
Chemical name  [CAS number ]: Propanal [123-38-6] 
Content : Propionaldehyde  contains not less than 97.0% of p ropionaldehyde  (C3H6O).  
Description : Propionaldehyde  occurs as a colorless, transparent liquid having a 
characteristic od or.    
Identification : Determine the infrared absorption spectrum of p ropionaldehyde , as 
directed in the Liquid Film Me thod under Infrared Spectrophot ometry, and compare it 
with the Reference Spectrum.  Both spectra  exhibit absorption s having about the same 
intensity at the same wavenumbers . 
Purity : 
(1) Refractive index20
D  n: 1.360– 1.380.  
(2) Specific gravity25
25  d : 0.796– 0.814.  
(3) Acid value
Assay : Proceed as directed in the Peak Area Percentage Method in the Gas 
Chromatographic Assay under the Flavor Substance Tests. Use operating conditions 
described below . Obtain the sum of the peak areas of all components that appear within 
60 minutes after injection, and determine the peak area percentage of propionaldehyde 
sought to the sum as the content.    Not more than 5 .0 (Flavoring Substance Tests).  
Operating conditions  
Detector: Hydrogen flame ionization detector or thermal conductivity detector.  
Column: Use a silicate glass capillary column (0.25 –0.53 mm in internal diameter 
and 30 –60 m in length), coated with a 0.25 –1 µm thick layer of dimethyl 
polysiloxane or polyethylene glycol.  
Column temperature: Maintain the  temperature at 50 °C for 5 minutes, and  raise  
 
 
to 230° C at a rate of 5 °C/minute, and then maintain at 230 °C for 19 minutes.  
Inlet temperature: 125 –175°C. 
Detector temperature: 250 –300°C. 
Injection: Split (30:1 –250:1). Adjust the column so that no component exceeds the 
capacity of the column.  
Carrier gas: Use helium or nitrogen.  
Flow rate: Adjust the flow rate so that the peak of the component to be 
determined appears within 5 –10 minutes.   
 
 
Reference Spectrum  
  
 
 
Attachment 3 
 
6-Methylquinoline  
 
It shall not be used for purposes other than flavoring.  Standard for u se  
 
Name of the s ubstance : 6-Methylquinoline  Compositional specifications  
Structural formula : 
N
H3C 
Molecular formula : C10H9N 
Mol. Weight : 143.19  
Chemical name  [CAS number ]: 6-Methylquinoline  [91-62-3] 
Content : 6-Methylquinoline  contains not less than 98.0% of 6 -methylquinoline  
(C10H9N).  
Description : 6-Methylquinoline  occurs as a colorless, transparent liquid having a 
characteristic od or.    
Ident ification : Determine the infrared absorption spectrum of 6 -methylquinoline , as 
directed in the Liquid Film Me thod under Infrared Spectrophotometry, and compare it 
with the Reference Spectrum.  Both spectra  exhibit absorption s having about the same 
intensity at the same wave numbers . 
Purity :  
(1) Refractive index20
D  n: 1.611– 1.617.  
(2) Specific gravity25
25  d : 1.060– 1.066.  
(3) Acid value
Assay : Proceed as directed in the Peak Area Percentage Method in the Gas 
Chromatographic Assay under the Flavor Substance Tests. Use operating conditions 
described below .    Not more than 1 .0 (Flavoring Substance Tests).  
Operating conditions  
Detector: Hydrogen flame ionization detector or thermal conductivity d etector.  
Column: Use a silicate glass capillary column (0.25 –0.53 mm in internal diameter 
and 30 –60 m in length), coated with a 0.25 –1 µm thick layer of dimethyl 
polysiloxane or polyethylene glycol.   
 
 
Column temperature: Raise temperature from 150 °C to 230° C at a rate of 
5°C/minute, and then maintain at 230 °C for 24 minutes.  
Inlet temperature: 225 –275°C. 
Detector temperature: 250 –300°C. 
Injection: Split (30:1 –250:1). Adjust the column so that no component exceeds the 
capacity of the column.  
Carrier gas: Use helium or nitrogen.  
Flow rate: Adjust the flow rate so that the peak of the component to be 
determined appears within 5 –10 minutes.   
 
 
Reference Spectrum