Migration Testing Conditions That Do Not Match Your Filling Line
Matching migration simulant and thermal parameters to exact filling line mechanics prevents compliance invalidation during customs and market audit checks.
GC-MS Analysis
Analytical Technique
Separation and identification of volatile organic compounds using a combined chromatography column and mass detector provides detailed chemical profiling of packaging substrates and coatings. In the testing laboratory, gc-ms analysis separates the extracted chemicals based on their boiling points and interaction with a column coating. The separated compounds are then ionized and fragmented, creating a unique spectrum that is compared to reference databases.
This method identifies trace chemical additives or contaminants.
Testing Application
Food safety verification for paperboard packaging represents the primary application of this technique. The method is used to detect mineral oil saturated hydrocarbons and aromatic hydrocarbons that might migrate from recycled newsprint into dry foods. It also identifies residual solvents from printing inks or adhesive layers that could cause odor or taint.
This screening protects food products from unwanted chemical transfer. Regular testing of printed cartons ensures that drying ovens on the printing press are operating at the correct temperatures to evaporate all liquid carriers.
Detection Limit
Sensitivity of the mass spectrometer is restricted by the ionization efficiency and the background noise of the extraction solvent. While most plasticizers and residual solvents can be quantified down to parts per billion, highly polar or non-volatile compounds require chemical modification before testing. This step increases preparation complexity.
The technique is restricted to compounds that can be vaporized without decomposing.