Effect of gamma irradiation on caprolactam migration from multilayer polyamide 6 films into food simulants: development and validation of a gas chromatographic method

J AOAC Int. 2010 Nov-Dec;93(6):1874-81.

Abstract

A GC method to determine caprolactam in water, 15% ethanol, and olive oil food simulants was developed and validated. Linear ranges varied from 0.96 to 642.82 microg/mL for water, 0.64 to 800.32 microg/mL for 15% ethanol, and 1.06 to 1062.34 microg/g for olive oil, with correlation coefficients higher than 0.999. Method precision studies showed RSD values lower than 5.45%, while method accuracy studies showed recovery from 72 to 111% for all simulants. The effect of gamma irradiation on caprolactam migration from multilayer polyamide 6 (PA-6) films intended for cheese into water, 15% ethanol, olive oil, and 3% acetic acid simulants was also studied. For migration assay, non-irradiated and irradiated (12 kGy) films were placed in contact with the simulant and exposed at 40 degrees C for 10 days. The validated method was used to quantify caprolactam migration from multilayer PA-6 films into the simulants, which ranged from 1.03 to 7.59 mg/kg for non-irradiated films, and from 4.82 to 11.32 mg/kg for irradiated films. Irradiation caused almost no changes in caprolactam levels, with the exception of olive oil, which showed an increase in the caprolactam level. All multilayer PA-6 films were in accordance with the requirements of the legislation for caprolactam migration.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Calibration
  • Caprolactam / analogs & derivatives*
  • Caprolactam / analysis
  • Caprolactam / chemistry*
  • Caprolactam / radiation effects*
  • Chromatography, Gas
  • Ethanol / analysis
  • Flame Ionization
  • Food Analysis / methods*
  • Food Packaging
  • Gamma Rays*
  • Indicators and Reagents
  • Olive Oil
  • Plant Oils / analysis
  • Polyethylenes
  • Polymers / chemistry*
  • Polyvinyl Chloride
  • Reference Standards
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Solutions
  • Water / analysis

Substances

  • Indicators and Reagents
  • Olive Oil
  • Plant Oils
  • Polyethylenes
  • Polymers
  • Solutions
  • Water
  • nylon 6
  • Ethanol
  • Caprolactam
  • Polyvinyl Chloride