Um método simples e de baixo custo foi desenvolvido e validado para a determinação de contaminantes voláteis em flakes de PET pós-consumo reciclado por Concentração Dinâmica do Espaço Livre e Cromatografia em fase Gasosa com Detecção por Ionização de Chama (CDEL-CG-DIC). Os parâmetros analíticos avaliados pelo uso de substâncias modelo incluíram: coeficiente de correlação, limite de detecção, limite de quantificação, exatidão, precisão intra-ensaio e inter-ensaio. Com o objetivo de comparar a eficiência do método proposto com técnicas automáticas reconhecidas, amostras de embalagens PET pós-consumo coletadas no Brasil foram utilizadas. CG-EMS foi utilizada para a confirmação da identificação das substâncias identificadas no PET. Alguns dos contaminantes identificados foram estimados quantitativamente no material pós-consumo em concentrações superiores a 220 ng.g-1. Os resultados obtidos neste trabalho corroboram os dados disponíveis na literatura científica, evidenciando a adequação do método analítico proposto.

A simple and low cost method to determine volatile contaminants in post-consumer recycled PET flakes was developed and validated by Headspace Dynamic Concentration and Gas Chromatography-Flame Ionization Detection (HDC-GC-FID). The analytical parameters evaluated by using surrogates include: correlation coefficient, detection limit, quantification limit, accuracy, intra-assay precision, and inter-assay precision. In order to compare the efficiency of the proposed method to recognized automated techniques, post-consumer PET packaging samples collected in Brazil were used. GC-MS was used to confirm the identity of the substances identified in the PET packaging. Some of the identified contaminants were estimated in the post-consumer material at concentrations higher than 220 ng.g-1. The findings in this work corroborate data available in the scientific literature pointing out the suitability of the proposed analytical method.

Plastic packaging materials intended for use in food packaging is an area of great interest from the scientific and economic point of view due to the irreversible internationalization and globalization process of food products. Nevertheless, a debate related to food safety aspects has emerged within the scientific community. Therefore, the development of analytical methods that allow identifying and quantifying chemical substances of toxicological potential in the packaging is considered essential. This article focuses on the main analytical methods, including validation parameters, as well as extraction and quantification techniques for determination of volatile organic compounds from food packaging materials.