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. 2021 May 30:345:128739.
doi: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2020.128739. Epub 2020 Dec 8.

Analysis of PBT and PET cyclic oligomers in extracts of coffee capsules and food simulants by a HPLC-UV/FLD method

Joao Alberto Lopes  1 , Emmanouil D Tsochatzis  2 , Lubomir Karasek  1 , Eddo J Hoekstra  3 , Hendrik Emons  1
Affiliations

Analysis of PBT and PET cyclic oligomers in extracts of coffee capsules and food simulants by a HPLC-UV/FLD method

Joao Alberto Lopes et al. Food Chem. .

Abstract

A HPLC-UV/FLD method was validated for the quantification of six polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and four polybutylene terephthalate (PBT) oligomers. PBT oligomers are EU regulated, while the PET ones are considered non-intentionally added substances (NIAS). LOQs were higher than 0.4 and 3.5 μg kg-1 for the simulants and in the polymer extracts, respectively. Recoveries ranged from 95 to 114 % with RSDs below 12%. Migration testing of PBT and polypropylene coffee capsules were performed with H2O and simulant C, and extracts were obtained with accelerated solvent extraction (ASE). For the latter legislative limits weren't surpassed. As no migration limits are existing for the analytes, both EFSA's toxicological threshold of concern (TTC) and sum of oligomers approaches were applied. The majority of oligomers were below the TTC (90 µg/person/day), but the limit value of 50 µg/kg food was surpassed for some capsules, which indicates a significant intake in both single and multiple consumption.

Keywords: Coffee capsules; Exposure assessment; Migration testing; Non-intentionally added substances (NIAS); Polyesters cyclic oligomers.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
HPLC-UV (240 nm) chromatogram of food simulant C fortified with oligomer standard mixture at concentrations of 0.5 mg L-1.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Exposure estimate (A) individual PET and PBT oligomers (/person/day) and (B) the sum of quantified mass fractions (µg kg−1) of PET and PBT oligomers (M < 1000 Da), in water and food simulant C.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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