Abstract

• The aim of this research work is to investigate the presence and comparative amount of plasticizers and non-intentionally added substances (NIAS)from the yoghurt bottles and disposable plastic cups. The types of polymer were identified by Fourier Transform Infrared (FT IR) spectrophotometer and plasticizers and NIAS were identified by Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS).The type of polymer of the yoghurt bottle samples was high density polyethylene (HDPE) and that of disposable plastic cups was polypropylene (PP). The plasticizers and NIAS mostly found in both types of polymers were Fatty Acid Methyl Ester (FAME) compounds and long chain hydrocarbon compounds. The other compounds found from these types of food containers were aromatic hydrocarbon compounds, ether compound, ketone, bicyclic compounds, epoxy compound and sulphur containing compounds. Overall migration percents were evaluated by using three solvents, chloroform, water and olive oil. The migration percents of HDPE polymer were found to be 0.11 %, 0.81 % and 0.06 % and those of PP polymer were found to be 0.34%, 1.35 % and 0.07% in water, chloroform and oil, respectively.Elemental analysis of the samples by Wavelength Dispersive X-ray Fluorescence (WDXRF) showed that the common elements found in both types of polymer samples were Ti, Zn, Ca, Fe, Cl, Si, K and Al.