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

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.

Elucidation of non-intentionally added substances migrating from polyester-polyurethane lacquers using automated LC-HRMS data processing

“…Moreover, a potential hydrolysis may be considered, especially of esters [12]. Although the literature reports on the characterization of NIAS migrating from polyethylene terephthalate used in bottle packaging [13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21], polybutylene terephthalate used for kitchen utensils [22], polycarbonate tableware [23], or biodegradable food packaging [24], only a limited number of studies are available for NIAS migrating from epoxy-phenolic [25,26], polyvinyl chloride [27], polyester-polyphenolic [28], and polyester polyurethane can coatings [28][29][30]. Regarding polyester polyurethane oligomers, their separation using gas chromatography (GC) appears interesting to highlight volatile or non-polar NIAS such as those resulting from solvents or nitrogenous interactions.…”

Safety of Plastic Food Packaging: The Challenges about Non-Intentionally Added Substances (NIAS) Discovery, Identification and Risk Assessment

“…Usually, NIAS’s identification requires susceptible advanced analytical techniques and databases and software tools [ 5 , 9 ]. The general workflow for the analysis of FCMs involves the data acquisition after the selection of one or a combination of analytical techniques, such as gas chromatography (GC) for volatile and semi-volatile compounds with low polarity [ 78 , 95 , 123 , 124 , 125 ] and liquid chromatography (LC) for thermally unstable and non-volatile compounds; both coupled with mass spectrometry detectors (MS) [ 28 , 96 , 126 ].…”

“…GC-MS is the most frequently used technique for volatile, and semi-volatile knew organic compounds since the commercially available mass spectra library (e.g., NIST library) could help identify the compounds [ 32 , 78 , 80 , 123 ]. The libraries contain the MS spectra obtained by electronic impact and a quadrupole mass analyzer.…”

“…Canellas et al [ 123 ] studied the migration of compounds coming from a compostable adhesive through different industrial biodegradable materials. Five of the 13 compounds identified were NIAS; they were neoformed compounds created by the reaction of added compounds in the adhesive.…”

Determination of volatile non intentionally added substances coming from a starch-based biopolymer intended for food contact by different gas chromatography-mass spectrometry approaches

“…These compounds were found to be degradation products of polymeric resins [45]. According to Canellas et al [50], [AA-BD] and [(AA) 2 -(BD) 2 ] can also lead to the formation of high MW cyclic oligomers and lactones. [TPA-AA-(BD) 2 ] could come from the degradation of the copolymer polybutylene adipate terephthalate (PBAT), which is commonly used in the manufacture of starch-based materials in order to increase its mechanical and barrier properties [51,52].…”