Atmospheric Solids Analysis Probe (ASAP) and Atmospheric Pressure Gas Chromatography (APGC) coupled to Quadrupole Time of Flight Mass Spectrometry (QTOF-MS) as alternative techniques to trace aromatic markers of mineral oils in food packaging

Abstract

The aim of this work was to select and identify the best markers of aromatic hydrocarbon mineral oil (MOAH) in food packaging. For this purpose, a series of mineral oils was initially analysed. Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) and the alkylated isomers of Methylnaphthalene (MNS), Diisopropylnaphtalene (DIPNs), Dibenzothiophenes (DBTS), Methyldibenzothiophene (MDBTs), Dimethyldibenzothiophenes (DMDBTs) and Benzonaphthiophenes (BNTS) were then explored. Their presence was confirmed by direct analysis of several mineral oils by Atmospheric Solids Analysis Probe Quadrupole-Time of Flight Mass Spectrometry (ASAP-QTOF-MS). Atmospheric Pressure Gas Chromatography Quadrupole-Time of Flight Mass Spectrometry (APGC-QTOF-MS) was used to confirm the markers in different samples of oils, recycled PET (rPET), recycled cardboard and packaging of couscous and semolina to confirm the contamination. 27 markers were found in the mineral oil samples, 22 of them in rPET, 8 in recycled board and no MOAH were found in packaging of couscous and semolina.

Development of an analytical method for the determination of mineral oil aromatic hydrocarbons (MOAH) from printing inks in food packaging

“…The substances used as target analytes in this study were proposed in a previous study as MOAH markers (Jaén et al, 2021). Furthermore, these substances were identified by different authors in mineral and crude oil samples.…”

“…In a recent study, Koster et al indicated that when MOH contamination is low, current methodologies cannot reliably conclude whether or not the sample is contaminated (Koster et al, 2020). Therefore, it is necessary to apply additional confirmatory techniques, such as two-dimensional gas chromatography (GCxGC), mass spectrometry, and the identification of chemical markers (Jaén, Domeño, Alfaro, & Nerín, 2021;Moret et al, 2013;Spack et al, 2017).…”

“…Spack et al concluded that identifying a more significant number of marker substances would improve the capacity of mass spectrometry as a confirmatory technique (Spack et al, 2017). Recently, Jaén et al found 27 substances in different mineral oil samples that could be used as markers of MOAH contamination (Jaén et al, 2021).…”

First report on quality and purity assessment of sweet almond oil in Brazilian body oils by gas chromatography and mass spectrometry

“…[9][10][11] Atmospheric solids analysis probe mass spectrometry (ASAP-MS) is an easy-to-use, simple, low cost, and rapid ionization technique that enables direct analysis of volatile and semi-volatile solid and liquid samples without the need for any sample preparation and solvents. [12][13][14][15] The temperature ramp applied in ASAP-MS allows volatilizing components according to their boiling points, with no chromatographic separation. In addition, it is efficient of ionizing low polarity molecules not responsive to ESI-MS and atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (APCI) at high sensitivity.…”

“…Atmospheric solids analysis probe mass spectrometry (ASAP‐MS) is an easy‐to‐use, simple, low cost, and rapid ionization technique that enables direct analysis of volatile and semi‐volatile solid and liquid samples without the need for any sample preparation and solvents 12–15 . The temperature ramp applied in ASAP‐MS allows volatilizing components according to their boiling points, with no chromatographic separation.…”