Photoinitiator Migration Limits in Food Contact Print Finishes
Photoinitiator migration limits demand complete photopolymer conversion or functional containment to keep extractable residues below 10 parts per billion.
LC-MS MS Testing
Liquid Chromatography
Analytical testing of non-volatile and polar compounds in paperboard packaging uses liquid chromatography combined with tandem mass spectrometry. This procedure, widely known as lc-ms ms testing, detects high-molecular-weight contaminants like photoinitiators and adhesive components. It is essential for evaluating materials that cannot be analyzed by gas chromatography.
This method ensures that hard-to-detect chemicals are identified.
Compound Detection
Separation of the target compounds occurs in a liquid mobile phase before they are ionized and analyzed by the tandem mass spectrometer. This process provides exceptionally high sensitivity, which is needed to measure chemicals that might migrate from the paperboard into aqueous or fatty food stimulants. The double mass filtration step removes interfering signals from the paperboard matrix.
This results in highly accurate quantitative data.
Food Safety
Implementing this analytical method allows converters to audit their supply chain and ensure that raw materials are free from hazardous substances. For instance, paperboards treated with grease-resistant coatings can be screened for restricted fluorinated compounds that are subject to strict regulatory limits. This liquid-phase analysis can identify trace amounts of additives that have migrated through paper fibers.
By running these tests regularly, manufacturers can prevent contaminated batches of board from entering the production line. This continuous monitoring is a necessary part of modern quality assurance for food contact materials.