Meaning
A chemical treatment using peracids converts unsaturated compounds into polar epoxides to facilitate their removal from saturated hydrocarbon fractions. Applying epoxidation clean-up is a necessary step in the analysis of mineral oil in plastic extracts. This process ensures that alkenes do not interfere with the detection of saturated molecules like alkanes and cycloalkanes.
The resulting purified sample provides a clearer picture of the potential migrants in the resin.
Reaction Mechanism
Oxygen atoms are added to the double bonds of the unsaturated molecules. Because epoxidation clean-up specifically targets olefins, it leaves the saturated hydrocarbons unchanged.
Purification Efficiency
The newly formed epoxides are much more polar than the original hydrocarbons. During epoxidation clean-up, these polar compounds are removed using a silica gel column or a liquid extraction step. This separation is verified by checking for the disappearance of specific peaks in the chromatogram.
High efficiency in this step is required to prevent the overreporting of saturated hydrocarbons. The use of metachloroperbenzoic acid is a common choice for this procedure.
Analytical Accuracy
Removing the interfering substances allows for a more precise quantification of the mineral oil saturated hydrocarbons. Results after an epoxidation clean-up are more reliable for regulatory submissions and safety assessments. Manufacturers use this method to confirm that their materials meet the purity requirements for food grade applications.