Experimental and Theoretical Study of Ldpe: Evaluation of Different Food Simulants and Temperatures

The mass transfer process of additives from plastic packaging to food is of great importance and interest because of the possible harmful effects on the human health. In this work the effect of different food simulants (EtOH 10-50%) and temperatures (28-60 °C) on the specific migration of Octadecyl 3-(3,5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxyphenyl) propionate (I-1076) from LDPE films is experimentally and theoretically studied, considering also the antioxidant stability in the food simulants studied at different temperatures.On the other hand, a phenomenological model based on a resistances-in-series which was resolved through the Regula Falsi algorithm according to a routine that considers the income of the structural parameters of the system and experimental conditions in which migration testing was performed. Diffusion coefficients of I-1076 in LDPE were ranged between 8.0E10-14 and 1.2E10-12 (m2s-1) for temperatures of 28 to 60°C, respectively. The coupled effect of mass transfer and thermodynamical aspects was analyzed through the parameter Bi/KP/FS proposed in this work, estimated in order to identify the combined contribution of the transport rate and the availability of the migrant compound in the food phase. © 2011 Elsevier Ltd.