Reduction of adsorption phenomena of volatile aldehydes and aromatic compounds for static headspace analysis of cellulose based packaging materials

Headspace analysis of solid samples is frequently hampered by severe matrix effects due to adsorption phenomena of the analytes on polar matrix surfaces. Since adsorption can give rise to incorrect results, a possible alternative can be provided by a transfer of the adsorption system into a partition system. This can be accomplished by the addition of substances, which exhibit higher affinity to the matrix than the analyte, thus acting as displacer or modifier.The effect of water as displacer for a quantitative static headspace analysis of straight chained saturated aldehydes and mononuclear aromatics (benzene, toluene, xylenes and ethylbenzene) in cellulose based packaging material has been investigated. Special emphasis was given to an establishment of distribution equilibrium conditions. For this, the influence of the amount of added displacer was studied by means of a multiple headspace extraction procedure coupled to gas chromatography with mass spectrometric detection and selected ion monitoring.