Migration of model contaminants from PET bottles: influence of temperature, food simulant and functional barrier.
To simulate post-consumer recycled plastics, selected model contaminants were incorporated into PET bottles using a time saving method. Migration into 3% acetic acid, a cola-type beverage and 95% ethanol was followed during 1 year of storage at 20 and 40 degrees C. Aroma compounds previously found in post-consumer PET material were used as model contaminants. Benzaldehyde was found to migrate to the highest extent. Storage at 40 degrees C affected the bottle material and this might be one reason for the high migration values of these bottles. Migration into ethanol was up to 20 times higher than into 3% acetic acid or a cola-type beverage. Bottles with a functional barrier resisted migration into food simulants even when filled with 95% ethanol and stored for 1 year at 40 degrees C. Differential scanning calorimetry measurements showed that ethanol was interacting with the plastic material. This resulted in a lower glass transition temperature of bottles stored with ethanol compared with bottles stored empty or with other food simulants.
Widén
H
H
SIK - The Swedish Institute for Food and Biotechnology, SE-402 29 Goteborg, Sweden. helene.widen@sik.se
Leufvén
A
A
Nielsen
T
T
D019342:Acetic Acid / Q000737:chemistry; D002253:Carbonated Beverages / Q000032:analysis; D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources; D004058:Diffusion; D000431:Ethanol / Q000737:chemistry; D005506:Food Contamination / Q000032:analysis*; D018857:Food Packaging; D006801:Humans; D011093:Polyethylene Terephthalates / Q000737:chemistry*; D013696:Temperature
D011093:Polyethylene Terephthalates; D000431:Ethanol; D019342:Acetic Acid