Meaning
Solvents used for extraction simulate the behavior of aqueous and alcoholic foods in migration testing. Liquid mixtures containing ethanol 95 percent act as the official fatty-food simulant substitute under regulatory migration testing standards when vegetable oils present analytical difficulties. This specific liquid concentration extracts both intentionally and non-intentionally added substances from polymer matrices by penetrating the amorphous regions of the polymer.
This penetration enables rapid testing protocols.
Extraction Efficiency
Swelling behaviors of polymer networks depend on the solvent polarity and the polymer structure. Low-density polyethylene undergoes swelling when exposed to ethanol 95 percent, which accelerates the release of polymer additives. The extraction rate of antioxidants or slip agents increases under these conditions.
Analytical Application
Gas chromatography vials receive the extracted solvent for quantification after the migration period. Analysts measure the concentrations of compounds in ethanol 95 percent to evaluate potential food exposure risks. This step ensures packaging safety.
Regulatory Equivalence
Comparative tests must demonstrate that the substitute solvent provides a conservative estimate of migration into real food. Food contact regulations specify ethanol 95 percent as an alternative when olive oil extraction cannot be executed with sufficient precision. It mimics the extraction capacity of lipids for many common polyolefins.
