Determination of Five (5) Possible Contaminants in Recycled Cardboard Packages and Food Simulants Using Ultrasound Assisted Extraction Coupled to GC-MS

Abstract

A modified analyticalprocedure has been developed to test for 5 organic pollutants [benzophenone, 2diisopropylnaphthalenes (DIPNs) {2,6- and 2,7-diisopropylnapthalene} and 2hydrogenated terphenyls (HTPs) {m-terphenyl and o-terphenyl}] that can be foundas residues in recycled cardboards intended for use as food packaging materialsand to test for migration levels of these compounds in a food simulant (Tenax).A main objective was to develop a modified rapid and reliable method for theidentification and quantification of these compounds at low concentrations. Themethod was based on ultrasound-assisted solvent extraction (UAE) followed bygas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis. The developed method wasapplied to analyze 3 commercially available recycled carton boardfood-packaging materials and also to study the potential migration of the 5organic pollutants from these materials into Tenax to check if these recycledcardboards can be considered as suitable for use in direct contact withfoodstuffs. The limits of detection (LODs) of standard solutions of the 5compounds were determined at a signal-to-noise ratio of 3. The LODs and thelimits of quantification (LOQs) of examined pollutants ranged between 0.005 to0.5 mg/kg, and 0.1 to 1 mg/kg, respectively. The extremely low amounts of mostcontaminants that migrate from packaging materials to Tenax indicate that therecycled cardboards tested can be safely used for direct food contactapplications.