Quantitation of residual solvents in food packaging by automated headspace–trap GC–MS

Quantitation of residual solvents in food packaging by automated headspace–trap GC–MS

This study shows that headspace samples acquired on the new Centri^® automated multimode sampling and concentration system for gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) can be used to screen food packaging for residual solvents and other additives. Analysis of a sample of a thin composite polymer used to contain savoury snacks found ethanol at 1.92 mg/m², in addition to a number of other volatile compounds resulting from the manufacturing process.

The vast majority of foodstuffs consumed today use packaging to convey information about the product and to protect it during shipping and storage. However, the packaging itself can be a source of contaminants, including residual solvents, monomers and additives. As well as off-odours, such contaminants can also give rise to health concerns, and for these reasons residual solvents in food packaging are regulated in the US (under 21CFR175) and the EU (under EC 1935/2004). The analysis of flexible packaging for the determination of residual solvents typically uses static headspace–GC in accordance with EN 13628-1 or -2.

In this study we demonstrate the fully automated sampling and detection of residual solvents and additives in the headspace of thin flexible packaging for savoury snacks, using syringe headspace sampling with trap-based focusing on the new Centri automated multi-mode platform, in conjunction with GC–MS.