Food Simulant
A synthetic porous polymer composed of modified polyphenylene oxide acts as the official solid simulant for testing chemical migration from paperboard into dry, non-fatty foods. This material is commercially known as Tenax mppo, and it possesses a high thermal stability that allows for extraction testing at elevated temperatures. It simulates the adsorption behavior of dry foodstuffs such as cereals and flour over long storage periods.
It has a high surface area and uniform pore structure, ensuring consistent and reproducible absorption results across different test laboratories.
Migration Extraction
Placing the synthetic polymer in contact with the paperboard sample at a specified temperature enables researchers to measure the transfer of volatile compounds. After the contact period, solvents extract the adsorbed substances from the polymer beads for chromatographic analysis. This process identifies potential contaminants like mineral oils or plasticizers that could migrate into actual food.
Regulatory Testing
Compliance with international food contact standards requires rigorous evaluation of migrant levels before any new packaging material is approved. The results obtained from testing with this polymer provide the data needed to secure safety certification. This ensures that recycled paperboard or barrier coatings do not release harmful substances during distribution and storage.
