Resolving Saturated Polyolefin Hydrocarbon Oligomer Interference in Mineral Oil Migration Dossiers
Polyolefin oligomer co-elution requires epoxidation clean-up and GCxGC deconvolution to prevent false mineral oil failures in migration dossiers.
Mineral Oil Migration
Meaning
Mass transfer of saturated hydrocarbon hydrocarbons from plastic packaging into the contained product often occurs through diffusion at the interface. Mineral oil migration involves the movement of mineral oil saturated hydrocarbons and mineral oil aromatic hydrocarbons from substrates like recycled paperboard through a plastic barrier. It is a critical concern in food safety because these substances can accumulate in human tissue.
Converters use high-barrier films to block this transit.
Diffusion Barrier
Polyethylene and polypropylene provide poor resistance to these non-polar molecules. When mineral oil migration occurs in a multilayer structure, the oil dissolves into the polyolefin layer and moves toward the food. Specialized coatings or functional barriers like ethylene vinyl alcohol are required to stop this process effectively.
Source Identification
Recycled fibers often contain inks and adhesives that are rich in these oils. Even virgin resins can contribute to the problem if process lubricants are not carefully managed.
Risk Assessment
Testing laboratories measure the concentration of hydrocarbons in the food over the shelf life of the product. If mineral oil migration exceeds the safety thresholds set by health authorities, the packaging must be redesigned. This might involve increasing the thickness of the barrier layer or switching to a virgin fiber substrate.