Application of the Solubility Parameter in Estimating the Sorption Behavior of Flavor into Packaging Film

In order to estimate the sorption behaviors of flavors into film packaging, a two-dimensional approach based on the affinity of flavor for film was performed. When the solubility parameter (SP) value is divided into polar and nonpolar components, the affinity can be represented as a two-dimensional distance (δ_c) between two SP values of film and flavor. On the basis of this δ_c concept, the sorptions of flavors into MDPE and EVOH films in the aqueous phase were proved to depend on the δ_c value; the logarithms of the solubility coefficient decreased linearly with an increase in δ_c value, i.e., about one-sixth decrease for one δ_c value. In addition, a large negative slope of the line indicated that the sorption was remarkably influenced by affinity (δ_c).