Week 3

May 2, 2017 May 6, 2017

Recycling of Dirty Solvents and Checking of Solvent Retention of Food

Packaging through Gas Chromatograph Analysis

The trainee was brought to the area where solvents are recycled by Mr. Idano.
Basically, the recycling of the sludge uses the principle of distillation. The recovered
solvents are not used for inks since it is already contaminated. Instead, it is used for
cleaning glass bottles. This practice saves them money and also lessens their waste.
Another activity done by the trainee was Gas Chromatography. Her mentor was
Mr. Aguillo. He discussed what is GC and its applications. In gas chromatography (GC),
the sample, which may be a gas or a liquid, is injected into a gaseous mobile phase (often
called the carrier gas). The mobile phase carries the sample through a packed or capillary
column that separates the samples components based on their ability to partition
between the mobile phase and the stationary phase.

Its main application, particularly in their company, is the checking of solvent

retention of food packaging. Excess solvent retention causes the package to have an
odor, which in turn, can spoil the taste of food products.

After the discussion and a brief introduction with the GC software, the trainee was
able to have a hands-on experience. She prepared a sample (food packaging by Lucky
Me!), cut it to a certain size and put it inside a clean and sealed vial. The vial was heated
in a 90C oven for 20 minutes before the gas was injected (using a syringe) to the GC
machine. The analysis time was 15 minutes. The software then showed the different
solvents found in the sample. The levels of solvents in the packaging must be minimal in
order for it to pass.

Noted by:

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Joselito Miguel
Ink Making Department Senior Supervisor