GASKROMATOGRAFISK ANALYS AV FÖRPACKADE VATTEN / Gas Chromatographic Analysis of Bottled Waters
Volatile organics in bottled waters from Sweden were analysed by stripping enrichment followed by gas chromatography (GC/ECD and GC/FID) and chromatographic sniffing. The GC/FID analyses showed that measurable amounts of organic substances leached from plastic (PET) bottles and Tetra-Brik packages. Chromatographic sniffing showed that the earthy or musty off-flavours, often found in tap water were practically absent in the bottled waters. On the other hand, all bottled waters, except for a natural mineral water, were markedly contaminated with fruity off-flavours from the packaging process. The GC/ECD-analyses indicated that one of the bottled waters had been strongly chlorinated. This conclusion was further strengthened by the high concentration (70 ìg/l) of adsorbable, organic halogen (AOX) in this water. To sum up, this study showed that, concerning off-flavours and trace organics, bottled waters are not necessarily more pure than tap waters.