Study of the partition coefficients K_p/f of seven model migrants from LDPE polymer in contact with food simulants

ABSTRACT

This study evaluated the influence of parameters such as temperature and type of low-density polyethylene (LDPE) film on the log K_p/f values of seven model migrants in food simulants. Two different types of LDPE films contaminated by extrusion and immersion were placed in contact with three food simulants including 20% ethanol, 50% ethanol and olive oil under several time–temperature conditions. Results suggest that most log K_p/f values are little affected by these parameters in this study. In addition, the relation between log K_p/f and log P_o/w was established for each food simulant and regression lines, as well as correlation coefficients, were calculated. Correlations were compared with data from real foodstuffs. Data presented in this study could be valuable in assigning certain foods to particular food simulants as well as predicting the mass transfer of potential migrants into different types of food or food simulants, avoiding tedious and expensive laboratory analysis. The results could be especially useful for regulatory agencies as well as for the food industry.

KEYWORDS:

• Food-contact materials
• low-density polyethylene (LDPE)
• migration modelling
• partition coefficients
• temperature
• food simulants

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

The authors are grateful to the Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación for a Predoctoral Fellowship FPI [reference BES-2009-023016] awarded to Rafael Paseiro-Cerrato.