Addressing the Challenges of Residual VOCs in Food Packaging by an Advanced HS GCMS System

Significance of the Topic

Residual volatile organic compounds in food packaging can migrate into food, impacting consumer health and product quality. Reliable quantification of these compounds ensures compliance with food safety regulations and protects organoleptic properties.

Objectives and Study Overview

This study evaluates an advanced multiple headspace extraction (MHE) gas chromatography system coupled with flame ionization detection (FID) and single quadrupole mass spectrometry (MS) to quantify residual solvents in flexible food packaging. The goals include assessing linearity, detection limits, and applicability to real packaging samples following EN 13628-1:2002.

Methodology

Essential steps:

• Preparation of two standard solvent mixtures (7.14% and 9.09% v/v) spiked in headspace vials.
• Application of static headspace sampling with four extraction cycles per sample.
• Gas chromatographic separation optimized for sub-7 min runtime ensuring resolution Rs>1.0.
• Detection via split FID for quantitation and full-scan EI-MS for compound confirmation against NIST17.

Instrumentation Used

• TriPlus 500 HS Autosampler configured for multiple headspace extraction.
• TRACE 1310 GC with TraceGOLD column for high inertness and low bleed.
• Instant Connect FID and ISQ 7000 Single Quadrupole MS with dual detector microfluidics.
• Chromeleon CDS software v7.2 for automated data acquisition, processing, and reporting.

Main Results and Discussion

• Linearity: Excellent MHE calibration (R2≥0.997) across all analytes, surpassing the EN method requirement (≥0.98).
• Sample analysis: Most packaging materials (pizza, cookies, bread) showed no detectable solvents.
• Residuals detected: Ethyl acetate in sliced salami packaging (0.76–29.0 mg/m2); ethanol and acetone in salad wrap (0.97 and 1.9 mg/m2).
• Performance: Fast GC ramp and efficient column enabled high throughput (up to 240 samples unattended).

Benefits and Practical Applications

The MHE-GC-FID/MS approach:

• Eliminates complex sample prep and matrix-matched standards.
• Provides absolute quantitation overcoming matrix effects.
• Offers rapid analysis suitable for routine quality control in packaging and food safety labs.

Future Trends and Potential Applications

Anticipated developments include integration with advanced MS detectors for trace-level screening, expansion to non-volatile migrants using complementary techniques, and deployment in continuous packaging line monitoring to ensure real-time safety compliance.

Conclusion

The advanced HS-GC-FID/MS system demonstrated robust quantitative performance for residual solvents in food packaging, meeting regulatory standards and facilitating efficient, high-throughput analysis in industrial and regulatory laboratories.

References

1. Regulation (EC) No 1935/2004 on food contact materials.
2. EN 13628-1:2002 – Determination of residual solvents by static headspace GC.
3. 21 CFR Part 170–179 – Indirect food additives guidelines.
4. Thermo Fisher Scientific. Food Packaging Application Note, 2019.