A clever strategy for permeability studies of methyl bromide and some organic compounds through high-barrier plastic films

An analytical strategy has been proposed and optimized to study the permeability of several flexible plastic materials, some of them with high-barrier properties, versus naphthalene, methyl bromide, toluene, ethylbenzene, and ortho- and para-xylenes. The strategy involves using a system of concentric plastic bags made from the materials to be tested polyethylene (PE) and used as permeable plastics to facilitate the homogeneous distribution of a solid compound, such as naphthalene, in vapour phase. After the permeation test, the vapour phase containing the pollutants that cross the plastic barrier is trapped in a 12% ethanol–water solution and further analysed by SPME in headspace mode. Several experimental conditions as well as different samples were tested. The results obtained are shown and discussed.