1. A new headspace gas chromatographic method for the determination of methanol content in paper materials used for food and drink packaging.
- Author
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Hu HC, Tian YX, Jin HJ, Chai XS, and Barnes DG
- Subjects
- Analytic Sample Preparation Methods, Beverages analysis, China, Flame Ionization, Food Contamination prevention & control, Formates metabolism, Hydrolysis, Indicators and Reagents chemistry, Lignin chemistry, Limit of Detection, Methanol metabolism, Phosphoric Acids chemistry, Poisons metabolism, Volatilization, Food Packaging, Methanol analysis, Paper, Wood chemistry
- Abstract
This study reports on a method for determination of methanol in paper products by headspace gas chromatography (HS-GC). The method is based on the hydrolysis of the pulp or paper matrix, using a phosphoric acid solution (42.5%) as the medium at 120 °C in 5 h (excluding air contact) in order to release matrix-entrapped methanol, which is then determined by HS-GC. Data show that, under the given conditions of hydrolysis, no methanol was formed from the methoxyl groups in the material. Reproducibility tests of the method generated a relative standard deviation of <3.5%, with recovery in the range of 93.4-102%. The present method is reliable, accurate, and suitable for use in batch testing of the methanol content in paper-related materials. The method can play an important role in addressing food safety concerns that may be raised regarding the use of paper materials in food and beverage packaging.
- Published
- 2013
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