Abstract:

The migration of plasticizers from the printing inks through packaging paper to Tenax and milk powder was
studied under microwave heating at power levels of 110, 250, 440 W and 900 W, respectively, and for different contact times
ranging from 2 min at 900 W to 15 min at 110 W. The inks were offset printed by simulating the real situation, which has
never been used in migration research. The plasticizers investigated included the commonly used dibutyl phthalate (DBP),
bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), di-n-octyl phthalate (DOP) and a new type environmentally-friendly plasticizer, acetyl
tributyl citrate (ATBC). Gas chromatograph coupled with mass spectrometer (GC-MS) was used for the determination of
ethanol extracts of these plasticizers from printed paper, Tenax and milk powder. The results showed that heating power,
contact time and some properties of the compounds were all able to affect their real mass transfer. Migration factors under
the conventional conditions also apply to microwave conditions.

Key words: inks, plasticizers, paper packaging, migration, Tenax, milk powder