title: Determination of potential migrants in polycarbonate containers used for microwave ovens by high-performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet and fluorescence detection.
abstract: The determination of several compounds present in a commercial polycarbonate container intended to be used in microwave ovens which could be considered as potential migrants has been carried out by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with both ultraviolet (UV) and fluorescence detectors. Total dissolution with dichloromethane and polymer reprecipitation with methanol have been used to evaluate 100% potential migration as the worst case. The extract consisted of a complex mixture containing monomers, oligomers, UV stabilizers, antioxidants, degradation products, and other additives. Phenol, Bisphenol A, 2,4-di-tert-butylphenol, Cyasorb UV5411, bis(2-ethylhexylphthalate), Irganox 1076, and Irgafos 168 were identified by both retention times and fluorescence-to-UV ratios. Additional confirmation was achieved by HPLC with diode array detection and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Recovery percentages were in the range of 73.8-94.4%, the lowest one being for the antioxidant Irgafos 168 due to its transformation into the phosphate form and 2,4-di-tert-butylphenol. The concentrations of the studied analytes present in the polycarbonate container ranged between 0.9 and 240 microg.g(-)(1). The total dissolution conditions that may affect the final concentration of analytes, mainly Bisphenol A, are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Química Analítica, Centro Politécnico Superior (Edificio Torres Quevedo), Universidad de Zaragoza, C/ María de Luna 3, E-50018 Zaragoza, Spain. cnerin@unizar.es
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Nerín
authors.forename: Consuelo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fernández
authors.forename: Celia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Domeño
authors.forename: Jesús
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Salafranca
mesh_terms: D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid / Q000379:methods*; D005506:Food Contamination; D018857:Food Packaging; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D008872:Microwaves; D011076:Polycarboxylate Cement
chemical_list: D011076:Polycarboxylate Cement; C005506:polycarbonate