Tenax Migration Testing Parameters for Recycled Packaging Hydrocarbon Verification
Modified solid simulant Tenax TA testing under EN 14338 verifies gas-phase MOSH and MOAH migration from recycled paperboard without false-positive wax interference.
Tenax TA
Adsorbent Polymer
A porous, granular resin based on 2,6-diphenyl-p-phenylene oxide is the standard solid simulant used to measure the migration of volatile substances from packaging. Laboratories use tenax ta to collect and concentrate organic compounds that escape from recycled paperboard during thermal extraction tests. It has a high affinity for mineral oils, plasticizers, and ink solvent residues, making it ideal for checking the safety of food-contact materials.
Extraction Procedure
The paperboard sample is placed in a test cell and covered with a layer of the polymer powder before being heated in an oven to a specified temperature. Any volatile compounds that evaporate from the board are trapped by the polymer particles. After the heating cycle, the polymer is washed with a solvent to extract the trapped chemicals, or heated to release them directly into a chromatograph for analysis.
This process provides a precise measurement of the total amount of substance that could migrate into dry, fatty foods.
Compliance Benchmarking
European and international standards specify the use of this adsorbent to certify recycled boxboard for direct food contact. By showing that the migration of mineral oils into the polymer remains below regulatory limits, mills can prove that their recycled boards are safe for consumer use. This granular adsorbent provides the repeatable, dry testing method required for industry-wide quality control.