Batching Oils on Sisal Bags Used for Packaging Foods: Analysis by Coupled LC/GC

Abstract

Sisal fibers are treated with a batching oil before spinning. Such oils usually consist of mineral oil products and cause considerable contamination of the packed foods (typically 10-100 mg/kg). Batching oils recovered from sisal bags previously used for transporting cocoa and coffee beans were analyzed for total concentrations on the bag as well as the composition of the paraffins and aromatics. Concentrations of total hydrocarbons ranged between 0.3 and 39 g/kg sisal bag; concentrations of aromatics ranged between <0.1 and 2.7 g/kg. The applied batching oils varied between raw mineral oil fractions, somewhat purified fractions, and a crystallized product.