The kinetics of swelling and migration: A case study of plasticized polylactic acid food contact plastics tested with ethanolic food simulants

The effect of swelling and plasticizer content of a plastic, as well as the ethanol content of the food simulant on the migration kinetics of three stabilizer-type additives from polylactic acid (PLA)-based food contact plastics has been investigated. The results proved that the parameters that affe...

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Main Authors: Viktor Konstantin Dragan, Noémi Petrovics, Csaba Kirchkeszner, Tamás Tábi, Bálint Sámuel Szabó, Zsuzsanna Eke
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Budapest University of Technology and Economics 2024-04-01
Series:eXPRESS Polymer Letters
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Online Access:http://www.expresspolymlett.com/letolt.php?file=EPL-0012792&mi=cd
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author Viktor Konstantin Dragan
Noémi Petrovics
Csaba Kirchkeszner
Tamás Tábi
Bálint Sámuel Szabó
Zsuzsanna Eke
author_facet Viktor Konstantin Dragan
Noémi Petrovics
Csaba Kirchkeszner
Tamás Tábi
Bálint Sámuel Szabó
Zsuzsanna Eke
author_sort Viktor Konstantin Dragan
collection DOAJ
description The effect of swelling and plasticizer content of a plastic, as well as the ethanol content of the food simulant on the migration kinetics of three stabilizer-type additives from polylactic acid (PLA)-based food contact plastics has been investigated. The results proved that the parameters that affect the diffusion of substances inside the polymer matrix, i.e., swelling, plasticization, and the size of migrants, are the decisive factors in the migration from PLA to ethanolic food simulants. Both swelling and migration were negligible when ethanol 10% (v/v) was used. Contrarily, the specific migration limits of Commission Regulation (European Union, EU) No. 10/2011 were exceeded in ethanol 50% (v/v) for all investigated stabilizers. Migration was promoted by plasticization, but this effect could only be observed when the applied food simulant swelled the plastic (at least 20% (v/v) ethanol content). The dependence of the plasticizer’s migration-enhancing effect on the swelling has not been shown before. When the plasticization caused increased migration, it also led to specific migration limit exceeding within a shorter period of time. It happens even if PLA-based plastics are dedicated to the storage of hydrophilic food, which is the most common application area of these products. These results can support the improvement of both consumer safety and active packaging development.
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spelling doaj-art-79b8dc4abe8c4418beb032ebd5cc1b492025-08-20T02:52:11ZengBudapest University of Technology and EconomicseXPRESS Polymer Letters1788-618X2024-04-0118439140510.3144/expresspolymlett.2024.29The kinetics of swelling and migration: A case study of plasticized polylactic acid food contact plastics tested with ethanolic food simulantsViktor Konstantin DraganNoémi PetrovicsCsaba KirchkesznerTamás TábiBálint Sámuel SzabóZsuzsanna EkeThe effect of swelling and plasticizer content of a plastic, as well as the ethanol content of the food simulant on the migration kinetics of three stabilizer-type additives from polylactic acid (PLA)-based food contact plastics has been investigated. The results proved that the parameters that affect the diffusion of substances inside the polymer matrix, i.e., swelling, plasticization, and the size of migrants, are the decisive factors in the migration from PLA to ethanolic food simulants. Both swelling and migration were negligible when ethanol 10% (v/v) was used. Contrarily, the specific migration limits of Commission Regulation (European Union, EU) No. 10/2011 were exceeded in ethanol 50% (v/v) for all investigated stabilizers. Migration was promoted by plasticization, but this effect could only be observed when the applied food simulant swelled the plastic (at least 20% (v/v) ethanol content). The dependence of the plasticizer’s migration-enhancing effect on the swelling has not been shown before. When the plasticization caused increased migration, it also led to specific migration limit exceeding within a shorter period of time. It happens even if PLA-based plastics are dedicated to the storage of hydrophilic food, which is the most common application area of these products. These results can support the improvement of both consumer safety and active packaging development.http://www.expresspolymlett.com/letolt.php?file=EPL-0012792&mi=cd poly(lactic acid) plasticizer additive biobased (bio-based) biopolymer
spellingShingle Viktor Konstantin Dragan
Noémi Petrovics
Csaba Kirchkeszner
Tamás Tábi
Bálint Sámuel Szabó
Zsuzsanna Eke
The kinetics of swelling and migration: A case study of plasticized polylactic acid food contact plastics tested with ethanolic food simulants
eXPRESS Polymer Letters
poly(lactic acid)
plasticizer
additive
biobased (bio-based)
biopolymer
title The kinetics of swelling and migration: A case study of plasticized polylactic acid food contact plastics tested with ethanolic food simulants
title_full The kinetics of swelling and migration: A case study of plasticized polylactic acid food contact plastics tested with ethanolic food simulants
title_fullStr The kinetics of swelling and migration: A case study of plasticized polylactic acid food contact plastics tested with ethanolic food simulants
title_full_unstemmed The kinetics of swelling and migration: A case study of plasticized polylactic acid food contact plastics tested with ethanolic food simulants
title_short The kinetics of swelling and migration: A case study of plasticized polylactic acid food contact plastics tested with ethanolic food simulants
title_sort kinetics of swelling and migration a case study of plasticized polylactic acid food contact plastics tested with ethanolic food simulants
topic poly(lactic acid)
plasticizer
additive
biobased (bio-based)
biopolymer
url http://www.expresspolymlett.com/letolt.php?file=EPL-0012792&mi=cd
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