Identification of Polymer Additives from Multilayer Milk Packaging Materials by Liquid-Solid Extraction Coupled with Gc-Ms

Polyethylene-based co-extruded multilayer films are exclusively used in India for packaging of processed dairy commodities, such as, milk, ghee, curd, etc. and large variety of chemical compounds, like: processing aids, additives, etc. are added during fabrication to enhance their functionality. Chemical migration of these additives from packaging materials into food could be a potential means of contamination which possess human health risks. In present study, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) was used for identification of chemical compounds in milk packaging films. Samples were extracted with chloroform: methanol (1:1) and out of 65 detected compounds only 17 are listed in Commission Regulation (EU) No.10/2011. Further, frequently occurring compounds, viz., 2, 4-di-tert-butylphenol, butylated hydroxyl toluene, diethyl phthalate, acetyl trib-utylcitrate (ATBC), bis (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate, bis (2-ethylhexyl)adipate, 13-docosenamide, Irgafos (R) 168, tris (2,4-di-tert-butylphenyl) phosphate, Irganox (R) 1076 were quantified in multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) mode. ATBC was the most detected compound in concentrations ranging 28.16-91.58 mu g mL-1, followed by Irgafos (R) 168 (32.54-60.68 mu g mL-1).