Simulation of nanosilver migration from polystyrene nanocomposite into food simulants

Polystyrene granules were combined with nanosilver to form a nanocomposite film. One-side migration was conducted to test into three food simulants (3% acetic acid, 10% ethanol and 95% ethanol) at 40 degrees C temperature on different period of time (2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 days). It was found that, among the simulants, the highest migration amount was obtained with 3% acetic acid, while the 95% ethanol revealed the least migration level. Diffusion coefficients of nanosilver particles into simulants were estimated by inverse simulation using experimental data of concentration variation in the simulants. The finite element method used to solve the mass transfer equation and the numerical results indicates the sameresponse with the experimental data. The numerical results confirmed that the highest diffusion coefficient for acetic acid 3% (1.82E-10 to 1.76E-9 m(2) s(-1)) and the lowest diffusion coefficient for ethanol 95% from 2 to 10 days were obtained, respectively. Also, results of diffusion coefficient - concentration relation showed, the diffusion coefficient had in direct correlation with time and concentration. The results indicated that, in the 3% acetic acid, due to the increasing of diffusion coefficient of silver nanoparticles, they are released faster and distributed uniformly.