Simultaneous chromatographic analysis of photoinitiators and amine synergists in food contact materials

Anal Bioanal Chem. 2014 Jul;406(17):4251-9. doi: 10.1007/s00216-014-7792-x. Epub 2014 May 11.

Abstract

Photoinitiators (PIs) are components of UV-cured inks widely used in printing of food packaging. These substances can migrate into food and may be a hazard to human health. High-performance liquid chromatography with diode-array detection (HPLC-DAD) has been used for analysis of PIs and amine synergists in food packaging. Analysis was performed with a Kromasil C18 column (250 mm × 3.2 mm i.d., 5 μm particle size) with a binary mobile phase gradient prepared from acetonitrile and Milli-Q water. The flow rate was 0.5 mL min(-1). The method enables separation of fourteen PIs and amine synergists in a single run. The method was validated for linearity, repeatability, and limits of detection and quantification. Excellent sensitivity (LODs ≤ 1.56 μg dm(2)) and appropriate repeatability (RSD (n = 10) <0.9%) were achieved. Different types of food packaging material including plastic films, cardboard, and cans were analyzed and PIs were detected in 47% of the samples tested (n = 17). Positive samples were confirmed by use of LC-MS-MS in positive electrospray ionization (ESI) mode.

Publication types

  • Evaluation Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amines / analysis*
  • Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid / methods*
  • Food Contamination / analysis*
  • Food Packaging / instrumentation*
  • Photosensitizing Agents / analysis*
  • Plastics / analysis*
  • Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization / methods*
  • Tandem Mass Spectrometry / methods

Substances

  • Amines
  • Photosensitizing Agents
  • Plastics