Possibility of migration of nanoparticles from foodstuff packaging to products

Iranian researchers from the University of Tehran studied the possibility of the migration of nanoparticles from nanocomposite packaging (bottles) to foodstuff products using inductive coupled plasma spectroscopy method. The bottles were made of poly (ethylene terephthalate) (PET) and clay nanoparticles through melt blending method. Taking into account the application of nanocomposite bottles as packaging stuff, results of the research may have numerous applications in various fields such as foodstuff, medical, and chemical industries. Studying the possibility of aluminum and silicone migration to acidic food simulant was the main objective of the research. In this research, nanocomposite bottles were firstly made of poly (ethylene terephthalate) (PET) and clay nanoparticles through melt blending method. Then, a test was carried out to study the migration of silicone and aluminum elements from nanocomposite bottles to acidic food simulant. To this end, a determined area of the nanocomposite bottle was cut and immersed in acidic food simulant. Results showed that clay nanoparticles could migrate from PET nanocomposite bottles to acidic food simulant. The concentration of aluminum and silicone increased in acetic acid solution after a while and when temperature increased. Moreover, TEM and AFM results showed both intercalation and exfoliation morphology in PET/clay nanocomposites. The researchers are currently working on the production of safer nanocomposite bottles by using various nanoparticles and by changing the method to produce bottles. Results of the research have been published in Packaging Technology Science, vol. 27, issue 2, February 2014, pp. 161-168.