Investigation of Diethyl Hexyl Phthalate Migration from Poly(Vinyl Chloride) Serum Bags

Abstract

Plasticizers are used to make Poly (Vinyl Chloride) (PVC) flexible so it can be used in different areas such as intravenous solution containers. Plasticizers can migrate from PVC over time because of contact with these solutions; this phenomenon creates gaps in the polymer structure and causes the migration of other additives. This paper discusses the specific migration of di-2-ethyl hexyl phthalate (DEHP) from plasticized poly (vinyl chloride) (PVC) into 5% glucose solution, although studying the possibility of migration of other components. For this purpose, the bags were stored in real conditions by respecting temperatures (20 ± 2°C) and time of conservation (18 months). Samples were taken off every 3 months to be analyzed. The Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy was used to investigate the migration phenomena, the atomic absorption spectrometry was used to follow the migration's evolution of metals from plastic bags and the gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry was used for the determination of DEHP migration. The results obtained by the three techniques showed the migration of the serum bags additives such as DEHP in the glucose solution. This migration depends on time of contact.