Ion Selective Electrode (ISE) Method for Determination of Total Fluorine and Total Organic Fluorine in Packaging Substrates

Abstract

Various testing methods and techniques have been used to identify and quantify per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in food packaging. A common indirect measurement of PFAS is total fluorine (TF) and total organic fluorine (TOF). These methods are critical in rapidly screening food packaging materials for the >9000 PFAS and are often globally used for regulatory limits. However, this destructive approach requires careful sample preparation, combustion, and the analysis of the solution by a fluoride-specific electrode. The method described herein is a cost-effective, rapid, quantitative, and externally validated initial screening of packaging materials for fluoro-chemistry. This study presents validated protocols for measuring TF and TOF in packaging substrates using oxygen combustion sample preparation coupled with fluoride ion-selective electrode (F-ISE); the materials and required equipment are provided, and the step-by-step procedure from sample preparation to the analysis are described, including critical steps to minimize contamination and interferences during sample preparation.

Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances in Food Packaging: Migration, Toxicity, and Management Strategies

“…PFASs are known to be found in food packaging and other food contact articles (FCAs) used in the production, processing, transport, handling, and storage of foods . Like many other food contact chemicals (FCCs), PFASs have been shown to migrate from different food contact materials (FCMs), such as paper and board and plastics, into food, allowing for exposure of the general public. − Many current legal frameworks covering FCMs require the risk assessment of individual chemicals present in FCMs; however, to date there is no overview of the range of PFASs actually used in FCMs and whether they have been assessed for their risks at all. Furthermore, the presence of PFASs in FCMs raises particular concerns with regards to their life cycle, as the production of PFASs and PFAS-containing materials causes occupational exposure , and their disposal leads to contamination of groundwater and drinking water via landfill leachate. , Disposal of FCMs containing PFASs via recycling and/or incineration also may lead to environmental contamination and human exposure .…”