Abstract: In this study, qualitative and semi-quantitative analysis of volatile and semi-volatile potential migrants in 12 infant food contact thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) products were carried out by solid phase microextraction and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (SPME-GC-MS). Non-target compounds were extracted by divinylbenzene/carboxen/ polydimethylsiloxane (DVB/CAR/PDMS), CAR/PDMS and polyacrylate fibers, and separated and identified by GC-MS. A total of 68 compounds were detected and further confirmed by comparison of retention indices with those of reference standards, and the semi-quantitative analysis of these compounds was carried out by single point internal standard method. All the compounds were filtered in sequence by three-step screening based on their detection rates, retention indices and contents. Finally, a total of 32 compounds, including siloxanes, aromatics, alkanes, aldehydes, esters and phenols, were regarded as being of concern. This study may provide a scientific basis for future studies on the migration and exposure assessment of specific substances.

Key words: food contact materials, thermoplastic elastomer (TPE), potential migrants, solid phase microextraction (SPME), gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), retention index (RI)