Silver migration from nanosilver and a commercially available zeolite filler polyethylene composites to food simulants

Abstract

Polyethylene composites containing Agion(TM) commercial silver ion filler at three different percentage fill rates (0.5, 1.0 and 2% w/w) and polyethylene composites containing laboratory produced silver nanoparticles (Agnps) at two different percentage fill rates (0.1 and 0.5% w/w) underwent migration tests according to Commission Regulation (EU) No. 10/2011. Migrated silver in the two simulants (acidified water with 3% acetic acid and distilled water) was quantified using two techniques: inductively coupled atomic emission spectroscopy (ICPAES) and Hach Lange spectroscopy. The former had higher sensitivity with mean silver migration from Agion composites (n = 12) ranging from < 0.001 to 1.50 × 10(-2) mg l(-1). Mean silver migration from Agnps composites ranged from 4.65 × 10(-2) to 0.38 mg l(-1) and 8.92 × 10(-2) and 5.15 × 10(-2) mg l(-1) for Hach Lange spectrophotometry and ICPAES, respectively. Both percentage fill rate in the composite and the simulant type, as factors, were found to be significant in both silver migration from Agion (p < 0.0001 and < 0.01, respectively) and Agnps (p < 0.05 and < 0.01, respectively). Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) imagery showed differences in size distributions and morphology of particles (shape and degree of agglomeration) before and after migration. PE composites containing 0.5% Agion, simulating contact with non-acidic foods, was the only scenario that did not exceed the permitted migration level of non-authorised substances given in EU 10/2011. This study illustrates the need for careful engineering of the composite filler system to conform to limits with cognisance of food pH and percentage fill rate.

Silver nanoparticle release from commercially available plastic food containers into food simulants

“…There have been attempts to quantify the total Ag release rates from various consumer products, including food contact materials (von Goetz et al 2013;Huang et al 2011;Hauri and Niece 2011;Song et al 2011;Bott et al 2011;Smirnova et al 2012;Echegoyen and Nerín 2013;Cushen et al 2014;Artiaga et al 2014).…”

Effect of polymer/nanosilver composite packaging on long-term microbiological status of Iranian saffron (Crocus sativus L.)

“…Composites with different nanosilver concentrations are commercially available. Cushen et al (2014) have reported 0.1–0.5% filling rate of composites analyzed for exploring silver migration into solutions. The composites usually are consumed for packaging liquid products not for dry crops like saffron.…”

Outlook and Challenges of Nanotechnologies for Food Packaging

“…particulate migration, was made for the subsequent exposure assessments. A more recent paper, by the same authors, compared TEM images of the silver particles prior to insertion in the matrix and after migration, which showed a significant reduction in size of the particles. These results led them to conclude that the majority of the silver migrated in the ionic form.…”