Volatile compounds extracted from polypropylene pellets by hot water: influence of the level of the peroxide agents

To improve the quality level of plastic packaging materials, we determined the influence of chemical degradation of polypropylene (PP) upon the amount of volatile components extracted by hot water from PP pellets. Two formulations were analyzed and compared: PP CR (degraded) and PP (not degraded). After Likens-Nickerson's extraction of the pellets and concentration of the extract, an HPLC fractionation was made to collect three fractions of different poiarities: a pentane (A), a dichloromethane (B), and an ether (C) fraction. Fractions (B) and (C) were olfactively evaluated by GC sniffing to be most interesting. Their analysis by GC/MS coupling allowed the identification of different compon…