Migration of antimony from polyethylene terephthalate used in mineral water bottles

• Published in: Food chemistry Vol. 166; pp. 544 - 550
• Main Authors: Carneado, S., Hernández-Nataren, E., López-Sánchez, J.F., Sahuquillo, A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01.01.2015
• Subjects: Antimony; Antimony - analysis; Antimony speciation; Bottles; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; Drinking Water - analysis; European Union; Food Contamination - analysis; Food Packaging; Food Storage - methods; Inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry; Mass Spectrometry; Migration; Mineral waters; Mineral Waters - analysis; Noise levels; Polyethylene terephthalate bottle; Polyethylene terephthalates; Polyethylene Terephthalates - chemistry; Speciation; Temperature; Water; Water; Polyethylene terephthalate bottle; Migration; Inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry; Antimony speciation
• ISSN: 0308-8146; 1873-7072
• DOI: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2014.06.041

•Sb migration from PET to water evaluated with speciation analysis using HPLC-ICP-MS.•Small amounts of Sb in water compared to total Sb present in PET.•Fast migration of Sb from PET to water at 60°C. The influence of storage time and temperature on Sb migration from PET bottles into mineral water was studied in short-term tests lasting up to 15days and long-term studies lasting up to 220days. Samples purchased were stored in three different coloured bottles: clear (CL), light blue (LB) and dark blue (DB). Sb migration was assayed by HG-AFS for total determination and HPLC-ICP-MS for speciation analysis. Migration studies showed that waters stored at 4 and 20°C were not subject to Sb migration. At 40°C there was a significant increase in Sb concentration, although the maximum limit established by the European Union (5.0μgL−1) was not exceeded, whereas at 60°C samples were subject to considerable Sb migration after 30days of storage. In this case, the maximum limit established by the European Union was exceeded and both Sb (V) and Sb (III) were detected.