Examining the Migration of Antimony (Sb) from PET Bottles into Carbonated Water: Impact of Temperature and Storage Duration

Abstract

Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles have become a popular choice for beverage packaging. They are widely used for carbonated drinks, water, and other beverages. The clarity and stability of PET are enhanced by the addition of antimony (Sb), as a catalyst in the polymerization process. Sb is a toxic element that can cause acute and chronic health effects when ingested in high amounts. Carbonated water may be more susceptible to Sb leaching due to its slightly acidic nature. This study aims to investigate the factors influencing Sb leaching from PET bottles into carbonated water from four different brands under various temperature conditions over a storage period of 270 days. Inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) is employed for the accurate quantification of Sb concentration. The results revealed the presence of Sb in carbonated water from these PET bottles, especially that of PET3, with significantly higher (p < 0.05) concentrations quantified at 2.32 μg/L. Temperature and storage time were investigated as factors influencing Sb leaching over time. In this study, the values of Sb measured for bottled water at different temperatures oscillated between 0.022 and 2.32 μg/L at 30, 45, or 60 °C, over 270 days. The maximum Sb concentration reached 2.32 μg/L at 60 °C after 270 days, exceeding the Japanese limit of 2.00 μg/L, however, Sb levels were well within the range of USEPA and WHO limits. These results imply that Sb leached from PET bottles can be an active health hazard, especially in conditions of higher temperatures