Linear and cyclic oligomers in PET, glycol-modified PET and Tritan™ used for food contact materials

Polyesters are commonly used as food contact materials. During manufacture of polyesters different low molecular mass oligomers (<1000 Da) are formed in the polymer melt. These so-called non-intentionally added substances (NIAS) are potential migrants into foods. In this work, different polyester samples made of polyethylene terephthalate (PET), glycol-modified PET (PETG) and Tritan (TM) were investigated on their qualitative and quantitative oligomer composition. The analysis of acetonitrile extracts by HPLC-DAD/ESI-MS revealed the presence of about 100 linear (different combinations of hydroxyl-, carboxyl-, methyl ester end groups) and cyclic oligomers depending on the main and co-monomers. The identified oligomers were quantified in different extracts and after reprecipitation by HPLC-DAD using bis-hydroxyethylene terephthalate (BHET) as external standard. The amount of oligomers isolated by reprecipitation ranged between 0.80 and 3.4% in the respective polyester. Cyclic oligomers generally made up 90% or more of the isolated oligomers. Compared to the exhaustive extracts the leaching of oligomers into 20% ethanol (1 h, 60 degrees C) resulted in a considerable change of the oligomer distribution with a predominant detection of linear oligomers. This suggests linear oligomers to be relevant for migration into aqueous foods despite the dominant amount of extractable cyclic oligomers in polyesters. Analysis of the extractable oligomers of a PET preform and a PETG container and their corresponding raw material pellets revealed that the injection moulding process did not significantly change the amount of cyclic oligomers but did increase the amount of low molecular mass linear oligomers about twofold.

Automated summary

Polyesters are commonly used as food contact materials, but during manufacturing process low molecular weight oligomers are formed, which may migrate into foods. This study analyzed the oligomer composition of different polyester samples and found that cyclic oligomers were predominant. Leaching experiments showed an increase in linear oligomers, indicating their relevance for migration into aqueous foods.