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UPLC–ESI-Q-TOF-MSE and GC–MS identification and quantification of non-intentionally added substances coming from biodegradable food packaging

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Abstract

Biodegradable packagings are made by combination of several materials creating a multilayer with the properties needed. Each material, including the adhesive, could contain substances that could migrate to the food. In this work, gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry and ultra-high-pressure liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry were used to identify the biodegradable adhesive compounds. Five of the 13 compounds identified were nonintentionally added substances; they were neoformed compounds created by the reaction of added compounds in the adhesive. Moreover, the migration of the compounds through four different biodegradable materials—paper, polylactic acid, ecovio®, and polyvinyl alcohol—was studied for the first time. Three of the 13 compounds identified in the adhesive migrated from the adhesive to Tenax®, which was used as a solid food simulant. One of them, 2,4,7,9-tetramethyl-5-decyne-4,7-diol, was an intentionally added substance, and the other two were 1,6-dioxacyclododecane-7,12-dione and 1,6,13,18-tetraoxacyclotetracosane-7,12,19,24-tetraone, which were nonintentionally added substances identified in this work. Higher migration values (ranging from 0.81 to 2.07 mg/kg) were observed for migration through ecovio® than through the multilayer made by combination of ecovio® and polyvinyl alcohol (0.07–0.39 mg/kg) owing to the barrier effect provided by polyvinyl alcohol. The migration values for migration through paper and polylactic acid were below the limits of detection.

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Acknowledgments

The authors acknowledge Samtack for the samples supplied for this work and for partial finance of the research. The UPLC–Q-TOF-MS equipment was acquired with the help of FEDER funds. The authors thank Gobierno de Aragón and Fondo Social Europeo for financial help given to GUIA Group T-10.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. GUIA Group, Department of Analytical Chemistry, University of Saragossa, I3A, María de Luna 3, 50018, Saragossa, Spain

    Elena Canellas, Paula Vera & Cristina Nerín

  2. Samtack Adhesivos Industriales, C/ Cerámica, n°3, Pol. Ind. Magarola Sud, 08292, Esparreguera, Barcelona, Spain

    Elena Canellas

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  1. Elena Canellas
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  2. Paula Vera
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  3. Cristina Nerín
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Correspondence to Cristina Nerín.

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Canellas, E., Vera, P. & Nerín, C. UPLC–ESI-Q-TOF-MSE and GC–MS identification and quantification of non-intentionally added substances coming from biodegradable food packaging. Anal Bioanal Chem 407, 6781–6790 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00216-015-8848-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00216-015-8848-2

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