Effects of organic vapor absorption on plastic packaging

Abstract

In this research work, the identification of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and effects of organic vapor absorption on polypropylene (PP) and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic packaging were studied. PET has a higher crystallinity content (57%) and a Tg at 80 oC, whereas PP has crystallinity of 43% and a Tg range at -5 to 0 oC.The main compounds detected in PP packaging material are hydrocarbons, esters, naphthalenes, benzene derivatives, aldehydes, ketones, phenols, and carboxylic acids. The main compounds detected in PET packaging are hydrocarbons, alcohols, aldehydes, esters, and amines. The results showed that PET packaging contains much less hydrocarbon and total VOCs than PP packaging. Absorption of acetone, 1-bromopropane, n-hexane, 2-propanol and trichloroethylene vapor in PET packaging were much less than those of PP packaging. Physical and chemical properties of the PET packaging were slightly changed in comparison with the PP packaging under testing condition.