Tenax Extraction

Meaning

Sampling procedures use a porous polymer adsorbent to capture and concentrate volatile substances migrating from a solid material. Tenax extraction is the standard method for testing migration from plastics into dry foods because the adsorbent mimics the behavior of food surfaces. This technique allows for the measurement of chemical transfer without using liquid solvents.

Adsorbent Capture

High surface area and thermal stability make the polymer particles effective at trapping a wide range of organic molecules. During the tenax extraction process, the plastic sample is placed in contact with the adsorbent at a specific temperature for a defined period. The migrants are then released from the beads using heat for analysis by gas chromatography.

Migration Testing

Prediction of long-term chemical transfer is achieved by accelerating the test conditions according to regulatory guidelines. Using tenax extraction avoids the swelling or dissolving of the polymer that can occur with liquid simulants, providing a more realistic assessment for dry products like flour or rice. This method is highly sensitive and can detect very low concentrations of mineral oils.

Thermal Desorption

Efficiency of the recovery depends on the rapid heating of the adsorbent to release the trapped compounds. Tenax extraction requires specialized equipment to transfer the migrants directly into the analytical column. The process provides a clean sample with minimal background interference from the adsorbent itself.

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Tenax Extraction

Meaning

Adsorbent Capture

Migration Testing

Thermal Desorption

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