Quantitation of Residual Solvents in Food Packaging by Automated Headspace–Trap GC–MS

This study shows that headspace samples acquired on the new Centri^® automated multimode sampling and concentration system for gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) can be used to screen food packaging for residual solvents and other additives. Analysis of a sample of a thin composite polymer used to contain savoury snacks found ethanol at 1.92 mg/m², in addition to a number of other volatile compounds resulting from the manufacturing process.