Optimizing Detection Levels of Solvents Used in Printing Inks on Plastic Films Using a Chemosensory System

Volatiles from ink solvents present in packaging films could pose a quality problem in food products stored in those packages. Volatiles from ink solvents used on 20 plastic food packaging films were analyzed using chemosensory system with 6 resonating quartz sensors. A response surface analysis was used to determine if the system parameters (sample temperature, equilibration time, sensor temperature, and pressurization time) significantly affected the detection levels of the solvents by this system. The parameters, sample temperature, equilibration time, and sensor temperature were significant (Pr>0.05) for each of the sensors and that the optimum settings for these parameters to maximize detection levels were 80°C, 20 minutes, and 40°C respectively. For some of the sensors, the quadratic term for pressurization time was also found to be significant. An initial database for the film samples characterized as conforming by the supplier was developed and recognition patterns for the 20 samples and 5 classes of samples were obtained. The preliminary results of this study indicate the potential for this chemosensory system to be used as a discriminatory tool in quality control for packaging films.