Partition coefficient of migrants in food simulants/polymers systems

Partition coefficients of six migrants (ethyl acetate, acetaldehyde, acetonitrile, methyl ethyl ketone, isopropyl acetate and butyraldehyde) were determined between four food simulants (water, 10% ethanol, 3% acetic acid and 95% ethanol) and two polymers (polyamide and polyethylene terephthalate). The results showed that partition coefficient is highly dependent on the nature of the migrant, polymer and food simulant. Of the six migrants, acetonitrile and ethyl acetate had the highest affinity for polar food simulants such as water, 10% ethanol and 3% acetic acid. Partition values for systems containing 95% ethanol as a food simulant were higher for non-polar migrants and lower for polar migrants.