Styrene-acrylonitrile-copolymer and acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene-copolymer: a study on extractable and migratable oligomers

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

Abstract

Styrene-acrylonitrile-copolymer (SAN) and acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene-copolymer (ABS) are gaining in importance as food contact materials. Oligomers and other non-intentionally added substances can migrate into foodstuffs. Five SAN and four ABS samples from the German market and manufacturers were extracted and the extractable oligomers were characterised by high performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry/ultraviolet detection/chemiluminescence nitrogen detection/fluorescence detection and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Trimers, formed from acrylonitrile and styrene units, were determined to be the dominating group of extractable oligomers in SAN and ABS in concentrations of about 4900–15800 mg/kg material. Furthermore, styrene-acrylonitrile dimers, styrene oligomers, styrene monomer and ethylbenzene were identified in the sample extracts. Migration testing with three consecutive migrations for multiple use articles was performed for two SAN articles. Migration of trimers into water, 3% acetic acid, 10% and 20% ethanol under hot-fill conditions (70°C, 2 h) was not detectable above 9 µg/dm2, while 50% ethanol acting as a food simulant for milk (124 µg/dm2 trimers during the third migration) was shown to overestimate the actual migration into milk (< 11 µg/dm2 trimers at 70°C, 2 h). 2-Amino-3-methyl-1-naphthalenecarbonitrile (AMNC), an oligomer degradation product and a primary aromatic amine, was detected in all material sample extracts (0.3–17.1 mg/kg material) and was released into food simulants in low amounts (< 0.014 µg/dm2 during the third migration into 50% ethanol at 70°C, 2 h).

Details

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)397-414
Number of pages18
JournalFood Additives and Contaminants - Part A Chemistry, Analysis, Control, Exposure and Risk Assessment
Volume39
Issue number2
Publication statusPublished - 2022
Peer-reviewedYes

External IDs

PubMed 34780321

Keywords

Sustainable Development Goals

Keywords

  • acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene-copolymer, migration, non-intentionally added substances, oligomers, Styrene-acrylonitrile-copolymer