Study of diffusion through LDPE film of Di-n-butyl phthalate
Titel:
Study of diffusion through LDPE film of Di-n-butyl phthalate
Auteur:
Schiraldi, Luciano Piergiovanni Patrizia Fava Alberto
Verschenen in:
Food additives and contaminants. Pt. A, Chemistry, analysis, control, exposure & risk assessment
Paginering:
Jaargang 16 (1999) nr. 8 pagina's 353-359
Jaar:
1999-08-01
Inhoud:
The apparent diffusion coefficients (D) across a PE-LD film of Di-n-butyl phthalate (DnBP) dissolved in isooctaneand ethanol,werecalculated indifferentways and compared. DnBP, a common plasticizer of plastics and printing inks, may be a possible contaminant of flexible packaging and PE-LD is the most common food-contacting polymer. To perform diffusion measurements, small plastic sachets filled with solutions of the contaminant were used at three different temperatures. The D coefficients of the two solvents and dissolved DnBP were calculated using the lag time method, a formula taking into account the molar weight and absolute temperature,and an equation based on the initial concentration and the amounts migrated after subsequent times. The results demonstrated great solvent interference in the plasticizer diffusion across polyethylene; in particular as far as isooctane is concerned, a remarkable co-diffusion of both the plasticizer and the non-polar solvent must be assumed. Isooctane quickly penetrates PE-LD but ethanol also diffuses across PE-LD, although at a greatly reduced speed. These facts must be considered for realistic prediction of migration or effectiveness of the functional barrier.