27 CFR § 21.127 - Shellac (refined).

---
identifier: "/us/cfr/t27/s21.127"
source: "ecfr"
legal_status: "authoritative_unofficial"
title: "27 CFR § 21.127 - Shellac (refined)."
title_number: 27
title_name: "Alcohol, Tobacco Products and Firearms"
section_number: "21.127"
section_name: "Shellac (refined)."
chapter_name: "ALCOHOL AND TOBACCO TAX AND TRADE BUREAU, DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY"
subchapter_number: "A"
subchapter_name: "ALCOHOL"
part_number: "21"
part_name: "FORMULAS FOR DENATURED ALCOHOL AND RUM"
positive_law: false
currency: "2026-03-24"
last_updated: "2026-03-24"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
authority: "5 U.S.C. 552(a); 26 U.S.C. 5242, 7805."
regulatory_source: "T.D. ATF-133, 48 FR 24673, June 2, 1983, unless otherwise noted."
cfr_part: "21"
---


# 21.127 Shellac (refined).

(a) *Arsenic content.* Not more than 1.4 parts per million as determined by the Gutzeit Method (AOAC method 25.020; for incorporation by reference, see § 21.6(c)).

(b) *Color.* White or orange.

(c) *Rosin content.* None when tested by the following method: Add 20 mL of absolute alcohol or glacial acetic acid (m. p. 13° to 15 °C.) to 2 grams of the shellac and thoroughly dissolve. Add 100 mL of petroleum ether and mix thoroughly. Add approximately 2 liters of water and separate a portion of the ether layer (at least 50 mL) and filter if cloudy. Evaporate the petroleum ether and test as follows: Solution A—5 mL of phenol dissolved in 10 mL of carbon tetrachloride. Solution B—1 mL of bromine dissolved in 4 mL of carbon tetrachloride. To the residue obtained above add 2 mL of Solution A and transfer the mixture to a porcelain spot plate, filling one cavity. Immediately fill an adjacent cavity with solution B. Cover the plate with a watch glass and observe any color formation in Solution A. A decided purple or deep indigo blue color is an indication of the presence of rosin.

[T.D. ATF-133, 48 FR 24673, June 2, 1983. Redesignated by T.D. ATF-442, 66 FR 12854, Mar. 1, 2001]