Contamination test of metal and non‐metal elements from copper gas pipe to food gases. Issue 3 (27th December 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Capecchiacci, Francesco; Tassi, Franco; Vaselli, Orlando
• Is Part Of: Packaging technology and science. Volume 31:Issue 3(2018)
• Page Start: 151
• Page End: 156
• Publication Date: 2017-12-27
• Subjects: analytical protocol -- contamination process -- food gases -- metal elements -- packaging material; Packaging -- Periodicals; 688.8
• DOI: 10.1002/pts.2362
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0894-3214

Abstract

Abstract : In the last decade, EC regulations have been issued to minimize any interaction between packaging materials intended to come in contact with foodstuffs and potential contaminants. In this paper, the concentrations of 26 metals and metalloids in a food gas (CO2 ), possibly related to the migration of elements from copper pipes, which are commonly used during gas storage and distribution, were determined by ICP‐AES and ICP‐MS. A simple, though efficient, procedure to chemically trap these elements has shown that the copper pipes do not release significant concentrations of metals and metalloids, most of them being below or clustering below or around the instrumental detection limit. According to this study, only Al, Cu, Fe, Ni, and Zn can be related to the copper line. However, when considering the consumption of 3 L of water, at which 12 g/L of CO2 is added, the computed concentrations of metals and metalloids are 3 to 6 orders of magnitude lower than the limit concentrations in mineral waters intended for human consumption (European Directive 98/83/EC). This implies that the amount of contaminants in CO2 introduced in the human body is negligible. Abstract : A test was carried out to determine the concentrations of metal and metalloid elements in food gas (CO2 ), possibly related to the migration from copper storage and distribution pipes. The procedure developed to chemically trap these elements showed that copper pipes do not release significant concentrations of metals and metalloids. Considering the consumption of 3 L of water, at which 12 g/L of CO2 is added, the amount of contaminants introduced in the human body is negligible.