Mineral Oil Analysis in Recycled Fibre Food Packaging
Verify MOSH and MOAH compliance in recycled fibre packaging using accredited HPLC-GC-FID testing, validated functional barriers, and complete declarations of compliance.
C10 to C50 Carbon Range
Petroleum Classification
Mineral oil hydrocarbons defined by chain length identify the presence of heavy paraffinic and naphthenic molecules in packaging substrates. The c10 to c50 carbon range acts as the standard analytical window for total hydrocarbon content in food contact materials. Regulatory bodies utilize gas chromatography to quantify these specific aliphatic structures which migrate from printing inks or adhesives into paperboard.
High concentration levels of these medium and long chains correlate with structural stability but violate safety migration limits for direct food exposure.
Production Boundary
Mineral oils within this specific molecular weight spectrum originate from base oils used in offset ink formulations or recycled fibre contaminants. Solvent extraction removes lower fractions while c10 to c50 carbon range compounds persist during the processing of secondary packaging pulp. Mills control these levels through careful selection of low-migration binders and barrier coatings applied during the finishing phase.
A shift toward water-based or soy-based technologies replaces these petroleum derivatives when the end application demands strict compliance with chemical migration standards.
Detection Protocol
Laboratory procedures rely on flame ionization detectors to isolate the c10 to c50 carbon range from the total hydrocarbon matrix within a substrate sample. Technicians employ a pre-separation step to distinguish between saturated and aromatic fractions before integration of the chromatographic peaks occurs. This separation ensures the accuracy of the final mass calculation because aromatic rings pose higher toxicity concerns than their saturated counterparts.
Measured mass values dictate the suitability of the material for secondary food packaging applications under current industrial safety protocols.