Mineral oil hydrocarbons (MOH) have many industrial uses (inks, lubricants, plastics, adhesives, cosmetics, agrochemicals). Because they are widespread and chemically persistent, unintended transfer into food can occur via recycled paper/cardboard, printing inks, processing aids, machine lubricants, additives, environmental fallout, or other food-contact materials.
The result is a complex mixture of hydrocarbons—comprised of thousands of distinct compounds originating from crude oil distillation—that must be carefully monitored.
What we are looking for
MOH are grouped into:
- MOSH (Mineral Oil Saturated Hydrocarbons): n-alkanes, branched alkanes, and cyclic (naphthenic) compounds that can accumulate in human/animal tissues.
- MOAH (Mineral Oil Aromatic Hydrocarbons): from highly alkylated 1–2 ring aromatics up to 3–7 ring systems. Fractions with ≥3 rings are of particular toxicological concern due to structural similarity to PAHs (suspected genotoxic carcinogens).
- Synthetic MOH-like materials (e.g., PAO, POSH/POH) can also be present and are analytically similar.
Health and regulatory context (EU)
- EFSA (2023): MOSH is unlikely to pose a health risk at current dietary exposure levels, but it bioaccumulates. MOAH—especially those with ≥ 3 rings—raise concerns about carcinogenicity, and exposure in vulnerable groups (e.g., toddlers) requires further attention.
- EU & national guidance is tightening: monitoring per Recommendation (EU) 2017/84; Germany’s draft Mineral Oil Ordinance targets MOAH transfer from packaging; SC PAFF has endorsed the JRC’s proposed LOQ guidance for total MOAH (C10–C50) at 0.5, 1.0, and 2.0 mg/kg based on fat content. Although these levels remain recommendations today, industry and regulators anticipate they will become enforceable limits by the end of 2027.
- Bottom line: even without universal legal limits, LOQ-based expectations already drive investigations and corrective actions.
Why routine testing matters
- Consumer safety: detect MOAH at low mg/kg levels and prevent elevated exposure to aromatic mineral oil components.
- Regulatory compliance: demonstrate results at or below LOQ triggers (fat-dependent 0.5–2.0 mg/kg) and document due diligence across product categories.
- Supply-chain control: verify raw materials, packaging migration, and contract-manufacturer practices.
- Brand protection: rapid root-cause analysis for positives, fewer recalls, transparent reporting.
- Fitness for real products: complex, fatty, sugary, or spice-rich matrices demand robust, reproducible preparation and measurement.
How to test effectively
For defensible data, labs need:
- Validated, reproducible workflows for total MOSH and MOAH (C10–C50).
- Selective cleanup (epoxidation with performic acid) to remove interferences in the MOAH fraction.
- High-throughput, low-variance prep to meet monitoring frequencies and investigate non-compliances quickly.
Our online LC–GC–FID approach with the CHRONECT MOSH MOAH Automated workflow delivers this in practice cutting hands-on time ~15×, enabling up to 30 samples/day (when prep and analysis overlap), and reducing key solvent consumption versus manual ISO methods—so you can generate audit-ready MOH/MOSH/MOAH results across challenging food matrices.
Questions and Answers: Using the CHRONECT MOSH MOAH Automated workflow
Commercial Applications
Manual MOSH/MOAH prep is labor-intensive, error-prone, and hard to scale. Labs face throughput, reproducibility, and audit pressure—while customers expect LOQ-level results with short turnaround times.
The most common pain points
- High hands-on workload & many sub-steps: Saponification, multiple liquid-handling steps, evaporations, epoxidation, fraction changes—time-consuming and a bottleneck for capacity.
- Evaporation is timing-critical: Manually “drying to a target volume” is hard to hit consistently → variability in recoveries and signal.
- Contamination risk in the lab: Unintentional sources (e.g., cosmetics/hand cream, lab clothing, paraffins from lubricants, caps/packaging), solvent cross-contact, open vessels.
- Heavy solvent handling: Hexane/DCM/ethanol increase health, environmental, and disposal burdens—and require extra training.
- Skilled labor scarcity & training load: Complex LC–GC–FID workflows need experienced staff; onboarding and maintaining proficiency consume resources.
- Operator-to-operator variability: Differences in pipetting, mixing, temperature control, and waiting times directly impact RSDs and LOQ-adjacent results.
- Throughput & TAT pressure: Peak seasons, recall investigations, or retailer audits cause demand spikes that are hard to absorb manually.
- Documentation & audits (e.g., ISO/IEC 17025): Full SOP adherence, batch records, QC charts, blanks/spikes—all add administrative time.
- Safety & chemical management: Epoxidation reagents, vapors, and waste streams require robust EHS compliance.
- Method transfer & inter-lab comparability: LOQ-level results must align across labs; manual scatter complicates ring trials and client confidence.
- Instrument uptime & maintenance: Poorly controlled prep increases carryover/contamination, column wear, and cleaning cycles—reducing availability.
- Rising client expectations: LOQ-based assessments (e.g., 0.5/1/2 mg/kg by fat class), broader matrix coverage (fatty, sugary, spice-rich), and rapid root-cause analysis for positives.
How automation helps
- ~15× less hands-on time and up to 30 samples/day when prep and LC–GC–FID analysis are overlapped—so you can meet spikes without extra headcount.
- Robotic timing/temperatures/volumes reduce operator variability and stabilize results near LOQ.
- Closed, standardized steps lower contamination risk and solvent consumption vs. manual prep.
- Faster onboarding: Operators focus on running the workflow—not master-level “craft” steps.
How can I get a CHRONECT workstation MOSH/MOAH?
We offer two commercial paths to fit your budget and capacity planning:
- Purchase: Own the workstation outright and capitalize your investment.
- Lease: Flexible terms that preserve cash flow while you scale MOSH/MOAH testing.
Owning vs. leasing—how to decide
- Purchase if you want asset ownership and long-term cost efficiency.
- Lease if you need budget flexibility, easier upgrades, or to align costs with sample volume.
What do I get beyond the hardware?
-
CHRONECT MOSH MOAH Automated workflow: Standardized, reproducible preparation and online LC–GC–FID analysis for routine and high-throughput labs as well as in-plant/production laboratories that require continuous product monitoring and rapid, decision-ready results.
- Onboarding & handover: Fast setup so your team can start running samples quickly.
Ongoing support
- Consumables & parts supply aligned with your throughput.
- Remote and on-site support to resolve questions quickly between visits.
- Training refreshers during jour fixe sessions to keep new staff productive and minimize operator-to-operator variability.
Keeping uptime and performance high
- Preventive maintenance (scheduled): Regular, proactive service to reduce unplanned downtime and keep performance stable over time.
- Technician visits: A dedicated technician comes to your lab on a fixed cadence (e.g., weekly) to:
- check workstation health and verify function,
- fine-tune parameters,
- coach your team on best practices and small method tweaks.
- This "early-warning" approach prevents errors before they happen and avoids performance dips before they impact results—ideal for labs with the highest demands on uptime and analytical consistency.
Next steps
Tell us your expected sample load, matrix types, and preferred commercial model (purchase or lease). We'll size the workstation package, schedule preventive service, and set a jour fixe plan that meets your performance and uptime targets.