A study of some polymer materials used in food packaging to develop quantitative analysis method in x-ray fluorescence spectroscopy

Many inorganic materials during the production of polymers used in food packaging are added which could result in changing properties. This situation affects the quality of the materials produced as well as damage to human health and the environment are discussed. Legislation and regulations have been developed in the U.S. and the European Union about food contact materials such as food packaging. In Turkey, additives must be determined as quantitative according to the Turkish Food Codex and notification of Plastic Stuff and Materials that is contact to food. Wavelength dispersive X-ray Fluorescence Spectrometry (WDXRF) is more advantageous compared to other spectrometers because of superiority and precision of the analytical evaluation, rapid, non-destructive and easy to sample preparation. In the first stage of this thesis study, semi-quantitative analysis of high density polyethylene and polypropylene materials that belongs to food packaging industry was carried out in WDXRF spectrometer. However, semi-quantitative analysis(SQX) for the accuracy of the results is not sufficient. In the second stage of the thesis it was planned to product the standard sample set. Polystyrene, a polymer used in food packaging using tehtahydrofuran was provided dissolution. Then, zinc and iron metals were added dissolved these samples with using standard addition method and standartsample sets were produced for using in WDXRF spectrometry. Quantitative and SQX of these samples were carried out. Quantitative analysis of the results, were found to be more accurate than the results SQX. This case shows that importance of produced standart sample set for quantitative analysis in WDXRF.