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.
EN 16995 Protocol
Separation Standard
European analytical methodology defines formal procedures for quantifying mineral oil saturated hydrocarbons and aromatic hydrocarbons in paperboard and dry food matrices. Coupled liquid chromatography and gas chromatography with flame ionization detection allows precise separation of complex hydrocarbon mixtures. The EN 16995 protocol governs the extraction and chromatographic quantification of mineral oil fractions originating from recycled fibres or printing inks.
On-line coupling isolates saturated hydrocarbons from aromatic hydrocarbons during liquid chromatography before transferring distinct fractions to the gas chromatograph. Standardized calibration procedures using specific internal standards ensure reproducible integration of broad hydrocarbon humps.
Fractionation Precision
Mechanical preparation steps require converting paperboard samples into fine particles to maximize extraction efficiency without thermal degradation of volatile fractions. Solvent mixtures containing hexane and ethanol extract hydrocarbons from cellulose matrices during rapid mechanical agitation. Applying the EN 16995 protocol ensures that interfering natural plant waxes and synthetic polymers undergo accurate separation or chemical modification before gas chromatography analysis.
Epoxidation reagents convert interfering olefins into polar compounds that remain retained on the silica column, leaving mineral oil aromatic hydrocarbons free for quantification. Incomplete epoxidation causes false positive readings in the aromatic hydrocarbon fraction, misrepresenting raw packaging safety.
Interference Control
Complex paperboard formulations contain synthetic additives that overlap with mineral oil retention windows. Interferences require secondary purification steps to prevent overestimating mineral oil contamination. The EN 16995 protocol establishes clear boundaries for acceptable chromatographic baseline stability in compliance testing.