Evaluation of the Equality of Non-Polar Capillary Columns in GC/MS Analysis of Food Contact Plastics

Abstract

Non-polar capillary columns for GC/MS are widely utilized in the analysis of additives for food contact materials. Though various kinds of non-polar capillary columns are commercially available, the equality of their performance has not been verified. Herein, ninety-six additives for food contact plastics were analyzed using fifteen kinds of columns, and the peak separation, retention times, and peak areas of each additive were compared. The additives, with various chemical properties, comprised forty four plasticizers, twenty lubricants, twenty antioxidants, nine ultraviolet absorbers, and three other compounds. 10 μg . mL - 1 test solutions were prepared in acetone, and injected to the GC/MS. The fifteen columns were classified into five categories based on the chromatogram pattern and peak separation. To facilitate comparison of the retention time and detection sensitivity of the columns for the additives, the relative retention time (RRT) and relative peak area (RPA) were calculated by using dibutylphthalate or 4- tert -butylphenylsalicylate as an internal standard. The RRTs of the additives on each column were essentially similar. However, the RRT of the additives which were detected in the later stages differed slightly. Although the RPA of the plasticizers and lubricants were roughly similar, column-to-column differences were observed for certain additives, such as antioxidants and ultraviolet absorbers. Furthermore, certain fatty acids, antioxidants, two plasticizers, and two benzophenone type ultraviolet absorbers were not detected in the chromatograms of two columns.