Volatile Components in Polypropylene Containers

Abstract

The volatile components in 22 samples of commercial polypropylene (PP) containers were identified and determined by gas chromatography, with due consideration of solvent residues.
The volatile compounds from PP resins could be classified largely into two groups.
One was saturated C₆ hydrocarbons (detected in 6 samples), and the other was saturated C₇ hydrocarbons (detected in 16 samples).
In the group of C₆ compounds, n-hexane was the main component, whereas the C₇ compounds were a mixture of 2-methylhexane, 3-methylhexane, n-heptane and methyl-cyclohexane.
The amounts of C₆ and C₇ hydrocarbons in PP resins analyzed after extraction into toluene were as follows: C₆ hydrocarbons 15-23ppm; C₇ hydrocarbons 34-343ppm.