Determination of 21 per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances in paper- and cardboard-based food contact materials by ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to high-resolution mass spectrometry

Abstract

In this work, a new analytical method was developed and validated for the determination of the total content of 21 per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) in paper- and cardboard-based food contact materials (FCMs). This method is based on green ultrasound-assisted lixiviation followed by ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to high-resolution mass spectrometry (UHPLC-Q-Orbitrap HRMS). The method was validated in various paper- and cardboard-based FCMs, showing good linearity (R² ≥ 0.99), limits of quantification (1.7–10 μg kg⁻¹), accuracy (74–115%), and precision (RSD < 20%). The eco-friendly characteristics of the proposed analytical method were assessed according to the analytical eco-scale, demonstrating that it can be considered an excellent green analytical method (EcoScale score > 75). Finally, 16 field samples of paper- and cardboard-based FCMs, including pizza boxes, popcorn boxes, paper bags and cardboard boxes for potato fries, ice cream tubs, pastry trays, and cardboard-based packaging for cooked Spanish omelets, fresh grapes, frozen fish, and salads were analyzed, showing that they comply with the current European regulations regarding the studied PFASs. The developed method is currently accredited according to UNE-EN ISO/IEC 17025 by the Spanish National Accreditation Body (ENAC) to be implemented for official control analysis of FCMs in the Public Health Laboratory of Valencia, Generalitat Valenciana (Valencia, Spain).