Identification of potential migrants from a vinylic organosol varnish by gas chromatography mass spectrometry and liquid chromatography mass spectrometry

The inner coating of food cans may include epoxy resins, using bisphenol A diglycidyl ether (BADGE) as crosslinking agent. Unreacted BADGE and various derivatives mag. migrate into foodstuffs. As a prerequisite to migration studies, it is essential to identify all potential migrants in solvent extracts of the coating. In this study the chemical structures of substances extracted from a vinylic organosol are determined by gas and liquid chromatography, coupled to mass spectrometry, on the basis of mass fragmentation patterns and/or comparison with authentic samples. Two classes of substances are found: BADGE, the corresponding monoethers and HCl adducts on one hand, and bisphenol F diglycidyl ether isomers and derivatives on the other hand., The possible origin of these compounds is discussed.