This European standard describes a method for the determination of BADGE, BFDGE and their reaction products in food simulants: distilled water, 3 % w/v aqueous acetic acid, 10 % v/v aqueous ethanol solution and olive oil or sunflower oil.
A high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method is employed based on reversed phase HPLC and fluorescence detection.
The method is capable of determining BADGE and its derivatives at a minimum level of 0,05 µg/ml food simulant.
BFDGE and its derivatives can be determined at a minimum level of 0,1 µg/ml food simulant.
Direct HPLC analysis of the migration solutions may result in chromatograms difficult to interpret, due to interference from other components or the instability of the monomers resulting in a complex mixture of derivatives and/or reaction products. By forced hydrolysis of all epoxy groups and their reaction products, the quantification of the relevant substances is simplified and in addition the identities of the substances are indicatively confirmed.
NOTE In this European standard the term "BADGE, BFDGE and their derivatives" refers to the substances listed in Directive 2002/16/EC. These substances are listed in 4.1.