Navigating Residue on Evaporation, OM, and E&L
In the highly regulated worlds of pharmaceutical and food packaging, the material " barrier property " is only half the story. While we often focus on what stays out (Oxygen and Moisture), it is equally critical to monitor what moves in—specifically, the migration of chemicals from the packaging material into the product. To ensure safety, the industry relies on a hierarchy of tests: Residue on Evaporation (ROE), Overall Migration (OM), and Extractables & Leachables (E&L). (AI generated image) 1. Defining the Terms While these terms can be confusing, they are essentially different "lenses" used to view the same physical phenomenon: the transfer of mass. Gravimetric Testing: This is the fundamental physical method. It involves using a high-precision microbalance to measure the weight of solids left behind after a solvent has been evaporated. Residue on Evaporation / Non-Vol...