Bisphenol a

Bisphenol A
Qualidade e Segurança Alimentar 2010-2011

Filipa Fontes; Katarzyna Roszczenko; Magda Marta Pawelczyk.

Bisphenol A (BPA)
4,4′-isopropylidenediphenol or 2,2′-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)-propane.

Anthropogenic chemical made up of two phenolic rings and joined by a bridging group.

• grayish or colorless crystalline powder or granule • with chlorophenol–like odor

Is prepared by the acetone process: the acid or cation exchanger-catalyzed condensation of acetone with phenol.

Bisphenol-A is primarily used as an intermediate in the production of: • polycarbonate (71.1%) • and epoxy resins (25.0%).

Minor uses include as an intermediate:
• flame retardants, • unsaturated polyester resins, • polyacrylate, polyetherimide and polysulphone resins.

Bisphenol A – Production
• Bisphenol A (BPA) is one of the highest volume chemicals in the world

• Global demand for BPA is predicted to grow from 3.9 million tonnes in 2006 to about 5 million tonnes in 2010
• The total EU consumption is estimated at 690,000

tonnes/year.

Bisphenol A – Exposure
Polycarbonates
• • • • • • infant feeding bottles table- ware microwave ovenware storage containers returnable water and milk bottles water pipes

Epoxy resins
• internal protective lining for food and beverage cans • coating on metal lids for glass jars and bottles • and surface-coating on drinking water storage tanks and wine vats

Bisphenol A – Other Uses

Bisphenol A – Migration

heat acid / basic

Ester bond

BPA molecules are bound by ‘ester bonds’ to form polycarbonate plastic. The bond is disrupted by heat and acidic or basic conditions that release BPA into the food and beverages in contact with the plastics.

Bisphenol A - Conditions of migration fatty foods Beverages pasteurization Canning

Acidic or basic food

sterilizing

dishwashing

Microwave

brushing

heating

storage

polymer degradation leading to release of BPA

warming prior to serving