Analyzing Volatile Compounds Released from Food Can Liners

Food cans do much more than simply hold food. A thin polymer liner on the inside of each can acts as a protective barrier, helping prevent corrosion, preserve product quality, and extend shelf life.

But what happens when these coatings are exposed to elevated temperatures?

To explore that question, Innovatech Labs recently conducted an exploratory study evaluating volatile compounds—chemicals that can evaporate into the air when heated—from several commercially available food cans. Using analytical chemistry techniques, Innovatech analyzed the chemical profiles generated after controlled thermal exposure.

While this study focused on food can liners, the same testing approach can be applied to polymers, coatings, adhesives, packaging materials, and other engineered products. Understanding how materials respond to heat can provide valuable insight during research, product development, and quality investigations.

Understanding Food Can Liners

Most metal food cans contain an internal polymer-based coating designed to:

• Prevent corrosion between the food and the metal container
• Help maintain product quality during storage
• Extend shelf life
• Provide a protective barrier

Like many polymer materials, these coatings can release volatile compounds when exposed to elevated temperatures. Capturing and analyzing these compounds helps scientists better understand a material’s composition and how it responds under specific thermal conditions.

Study Overview

Several commercially available food cans were evaluated, including:

• Canned tomato paste
• Canned beans
• Canned jalapeños

Before testing, each can was washed to remove food residue, and external labels were removed whenever possible.

Testing Conditions

• Temperature: 250°C (482°F)
• Heating duration: 1 hour
• Analysis method: Static headspace outgassing with GC-MS

How Innovatech Analyzed the Samples

To evaluate the compounds released during heating, Innovatech used static headspace outgassing.

During testing, samples were heated inside sealed containers. As compounds evaporated from the material, they accumulated in the air space above the sample, known as the headspace. That vapor was then collected and analyzed.

The analysis was performed using an Agilent 7697A Static Headspace Autosampler coupled with a Gas Chromatograph-Mass Spectrometer (GC-MS).

Gas chromatography separates individual chemical compounds within a sample, while mass spectrometry identifies those compounds based on their molecular characteristics. Together, these techniques create a detailed chemical profile, often referred to as a chemical fingerprint, showing the different compounds detected within a material.

What We Found

Each can produced its own unique chemical fingerprint, demonstrating differences in the volatile compounds detected after heating.

Across the samples, our scientist identified several categories of compounds, including:

• Hydrocarbons
• Organic acids
• Volatile organic compounds (VOCs)

One compound, benzonitrile, was detected in every sample except the tomato paste can.

The chromatograms generated during analysis illustrate the differences in chemical profiles between samples. Each peak represents a detected compound, creating a visual representation of each material’s unique chemical signature. Click each chromotogram to enlarge for detai.

Caption: Chromatograms from commercially available food cans following controlled thermal exposure. Differences in peak number and intensity illustrate the unique volatile compound profile of each sample.

Why Does This Matter?

Every material responds differently under controlled testing conditions. Analytical chemistry helps uncover those differences by identifying compounds present within a material and evaluating how those materials behave under specific conditions.

Understanding how packaging materials respond to heat can help researchers and manufacturers compare formulations, investigate material changes, and better understand product performance.

Analytical testing can help organizations:

• Compare packaging materials and liner formulations
• Identify unknown compounds
• Evaluate material changes during processing
• Support research and product development
• Troubleshoot quality concerns
• Better understand material composition and behavior

Laboratory analysis provides measurable data that helps manufacturers make informed decisions about materials and processes.

Analytical Testing at Innovatech Labs

Every material has its own chemical signature. Whether it is a food package, polymer, adhesive, coating, or industrial component, analytical chemistry helps reveal what compounds are present and how those materials behave under different conditions.

Innovatech Labs provides analytical testing services to identify and characterize chemical compounds in a wide range of materials.

Using advanced analytical instrumentation and scientific expertise, our team helps organizations answer questions such as:

• What compounds are present?
• How does a material respond under thermal conditions?
• Has a material changed during processing?
• Are unexpected compounds present?
• How do different formulations compare?

From food packaging and polymers to coatings, adhesives, and industrial materials, Innovatech Labs helps organizations better understand their materials through objective, data-driven analysis.

Whether you are evaluating packaging materials, polymers, industrial coatings, consumer products, or specialty materials, Innovatech Labs can help uncover the chemistry behind your materials.