Meaning
Porous polymer resins based on 2,6-diphenyl-p-phenylene oxide serve to trap volatile and semi-volatile organic compounds during headspace extraction or gas sampling. Tenax ta sorbent is the industry standard material for food simulant tests on plastic packaging due to its high thermal stability and low self-emission. It is particularly useful for simulating high-temperature migration into dry foods.
Sorbent Performance
Low affinity for water makes this material ideal for analyzing samples with high moisture content without clogging the analytical system. The trapped compounds are easily desorbed by heating the sorbent tube, transferring them directly into a gas chromatograph for analysis. This efficient desorption ensures high sensitivity and low limits of detection.
Material Testing
Migration studies for plastic materials intended for food contact use this sorbent to measure the transfer of potential contaminants. The plastic sample is placed in direct contact with the sorbent at a specified temperature and time, replicating real-world storage conditions. This provides a realistic assessment of the packaging safety.
Sourcing Quality
Consistency of the sorbent material is critical for obtaining reproducible results across different laboratory runs. Impurities in the sorbent can produce baseline noise or false peaks, which complicates the interpretation of the results. Purchasing certified high-purity sorbent tubes prevents these analytical errors and ensures reliable compliance data for packaging manufacturers.
Furthermore, proper pre-conditioning of the tubes before use is essential to remove any residual volatiles that may have accumulated during storage.
