Untargeted characterization of compounds in textile fabrics

Textile fabrics contain a great number of chemicals that humans are exposed to through direct contact with skin. The compounds present in textiles may originate from manufacturing steps, addition of chemicals to protect the fabric, or from chemicals used in securing the product quality during transport. The chemicals compounds present in textiles are a priority area according to the Swedish Chemicals Agency. People suffering from asthma or allergy can be severely affected by compounds present in textiles.
A strategy is being developed for untargeted detection of chemicals present in textile fabrics. As there is no chemical analysis apparatus that can detect or determine all chemicals present a division into several sub-populations must be made. One such group is lipophilic (or fairly lipophilic) compounds that are thermally stable and sufficiently volatile to be measured by gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC/MS).
Several fabrics will be characterized using extraction with organic solvents followed by untargeted GC/MS analysis.
For more information please contact Gunnar Thorsén (gunnar.tho[email protected]) or Conny Östman ([email protected]).