It's a wrap

A technique for detecting potentially harmful metals in regenerated cellulose food packaging is discussed in the International Journal of Environment and Pollution. The new tool can be used for safety assessments of materials increasingly used as alternatives to conventional plastics.

The method measures cadmium, chromium, lead, and titanium in one pass. These metallic elements might be present in processed packaging after manufacture or remanufacture and, under certain conditions, could leach into food contained in the packaging. Tests on five commercially available packaging samples showed that none of these elements were above safety thresholds, but the researchers point out that this might not always be the case and that improved detection methods are needed to strengthen routine monitoring and allow regulatory standards to be applied across the industry.

The new technique uses microwave digestion with heated acidic reagents to break down a sample and release any metallic elements present. The resulting sample is then analysed with inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES). This type of analysis heats the sample to form a high-temperature plasma and identifies any metallic elements present based on the characteristic light they emit. It is essentially a high-tech version of the school-lab flame test for metals, where the colour of the flame reveals the presence of a given element.

While regenerated cellulose is at the forefront of environmentally friendly packaging, its manufacture can involve chemical additives and other substances requiring safety assessment. The new method could help manufacturers and regulators identify potential contamination more reliably, improving quality control and so the safety of this kind of packaging.

Wang, X., Chen, X., Liu, D. and Geng, H. (2026) ‘Study on detection method for harmful chemical residues in regenerated cellulose food packaging materials’, Int. J. Environment and Pollution, Vol. 76, No. 9, pp.1–19.

News media may use this press release as source material, in whole or in part, provided the content is not materially misrepresented. A link back to the original article is appreciated.