Kinetics of the hydrolysis of bisphenol F diglycidyl ether in water-based food simulants. Comparison with bisphenol A diglycidyl ether

We studied the first-order degradation kinetics of Bisphenol F diglycidyl ether (BFDGE) in three water-based food simulants [3% (w/v) acetic acid, distilled water, and 15% (v/v) ethanol] at various temperatures. BFDGE and its first and second hydrolysis products were determined by reversed phase high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection. Nonlinear regression was used to fit the experimental data at 40, 50, and 60 degrees C with the proposed kinetic equations; the Arrhenius equation was then fitted to the rate constants obtained, and the kinetic models were tested by comparing experimental data obtained at 70 degrees C with the kinetic curves calculated using the rate constants predicted for this temperature. The half-life of BFDGE was longest in ethanol and shortest in acetic acid. The difference between the hydrolysis rates of BFDGE and Bisphenol A diglycidyl ether may be due to 10% of the BFDGE used being in n = 1 monomer form. The results imply that resins which comply with existing legislation on the migration of unreacted monomer may still contaminate foodstuffs