Determination of mineral oil contaminations in foodstuff, cosmetics and packaging

Significance of the topic

Migration of mineral oil hydrocarbons into food, cosmetics and packaging poses a health concern because MOSH (saturated hydrocarbons) can accumulate in human tissues and MOAH (aromatic hydrocarbons) may include carcinogenic constituents. Reliable, sensitive analysis of these contaminants is essential for consumer safety, regulatory compliance and quality control in the food and personal care industries.

Objectives and study overview

This application note describes the development and automation of an on-line normal-phase HPLC–GC–FID method for parallel determination of MOSH and MOAH in a variety of matrices (foodstuffs, packaging materials and cosmetics). The goal is to achieve efficient purification, separation and quantification in accordance with DIN EN 16995:2017-08 and related protocols.

Methodology and Used Instrumentation

Sample preparation begins with hexane extraction of the target matrix followed by normal-phase HPLC on unmodified silica to separate MOSH and MOAH fractions from fats and polar interferences. After fraction transfer, large-volume GC injections and FID detection quantify hydrocarbon sums. Optional add-ons include:

• Aluminum oxide column for additional removal of biogenic n-alkanes
• Epoxidation station to eliminate olefinic interferences in the MOAH fraction

Core instrumentation:

• CHRONECT LC–GC Interface
• Agilent Infinity II 1260 HPLC system
• Agilent 7890B GC with dual flame ionization detectors
• PAL3 autosampler and CHRONOS/Clarity software suite

Main results and discussion

HPLC-UV monitoring at 230 nm demonstrates clear baseline separation of MOSH and MOAH fractions, with back-flush steps to remove retained matrix in under 9 minutes. Subsequent GC–FID chromatograms show complete absence of aromatic peaks in MOSH and negligible saturated hydrocarbons in MOAH. Typical analyses of sunflower oil spiked to 40 mg/kg (MOSH) and 14 mg/kg (MOAH) yield precise integrals. Applying alumina purification and epoxidation further reduces biogenic background, enabling reliable quantification down to 3 mg/kg MOSH and 25 mg/kg MOAH. The system easily meets the 10 mg/kg detection thresholds defined by DIN EN 16995:2017-08, with potential to reach 1 mg/kg using concentration techniques.

Benefits and practical applications of the method

The automated LC–GC–FID workflow integrates sample cleanup, separation and detection in a single platform. Key advantages include:

• Efficient removal of fats and polar interferents
• Parallel quantification of MOSH/MOAH in ~30 minutes per run
• Flexibility to handle diverse matrices (packaging, cosmetics, edible oils)
• Scalable sensitivity through optional pre-concentration, alumina and epoxidation steps

Future trends and possibilities for use

Advances in column technologies and detector sensitivity may further lower detection limits and expand throughput. Integration with mass spectrometry could provide compound-specific identification of MOAH constituents. Ongoing regulatory developments will drive demand for standardized, automated workflows across quality control laboratories.

Conclusion

The CHRONECT Workstation MOSH/MOAH offers a robust, fully automated solution for simultaneous determination of mineral oil saturated and aromatic hydrocarbons in complex samples. Its compliance with DIN EN 16995:2017-08, combined with optional purification enhancements, ensures reliable, reproducible quantification of trace contaminants.

References

1. European Food Safety Authority. Scientific opinion on mineral oil hydrocarbons in food. EFSA Journal. 2012;10(6):2704.
2. Biedermann M, Grob K. Measurement of mineral oil hydrocarbons in food and packaging. BfR and Kantonal Laboratory Zurich. 2014.
3. ISO 16995:2017-08. Foodstuffs—Determination of MOSH and MOAH by online HPLC-GC-FID.
4. Nestola M, Schmidt TC. J Chromatogr A. 2017;1505:69–76.
5. Biedermann M, Grob K. J Chromatogr A. 2009;1216:8652–8658.
6. Zurfluh M, Biedermann M, Grob K. J Verbrauch Lebensm. 2014;9(1):61–69.