Product Specifications for Polynuclear Aromatics

The key toxicity specifications required by FDA food/medicinal requirements are the readily carbonizable substances test (ASTM D565) and the UV test for polynuclear aromatics (ASTM D2269). 

Readily carbonizable substances are those that form colored compounds with fuming sulfuric acid. These carbonizable compounds include polynuclear 

FIGURE 11.4 Structures of some of the 30+ PAHs used in FDA s development work. 

Source R. D. Galli, B. L. Cupples, and R. E. Rutherford, A New Synthetic Food Grade White Oil, Journal of the American Society of Lubrication Engineers 36 365-372 (1982). With permission. 

In the case of white oils from poly-alpha-olefins, the original work showed that the usual tests for PNAs, namely, the carbonizable and FDA UV tests, were passed by the products. Further analyses for specific PNAs, benzo[a]pyrene, pyrene, and benzo(a)anthracene showed the levels of these contaminants to be less than 0.1 ppb (see Table 11.7). 

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