From the plasticizer problem in wine to Orientflex flexible metal hose

The liquor industry plays an important role in the national economy and people’s daily lives. However, many liquors have been exposed to excessive plasticizer content. In addition, the statement issued by the China Liquor Industry Association that “liquor products basically contain plasticizer” shocked the entire liquor industry. It has once again caused public panic and doubts about food safety. The US, Canada, EU and other countries and regions have not yet formulated national standards for the detection of plasticizer in alcoholic products. China’s standards have not yet been introduced. As plasticizer environmental pollution continues to intensify, the potential risks of liquor plasticizer will still exist for a long time. It is very urgent to carry out research on the sources, detection and effects in liquor on human health.

Plasticizer overview

Our country is the world’s largest consumer of plastic products, and the use of plasticizer is quite common. There are many types of plasticizer like PAE, fatty acid esters, polyol esters, phenyl alkyl sulfonates. Among them, phthalate esters (PAEs) are formed through the alcoholysis reaction of phthalic anhydride and alcohol. It is a common polymer additive in industry. Mainly composed of benzene ring and 2 plastic nonlinear aliphatic chains.

PAEs have high performance and and low price. The use of PAEs accounts for about 85% of the total plasticizer. Its principle of action is to insert small molecule plasticizer into the molecular chains of high molecular polymers. Weaken the force between polymer molecular chains by blocking, shielding, lubrication, increasing distance, etc. It leads to increased mobility and reduced crystallinity of polymers such as plastics. Then it increases its plasticity. Adding plasticizer can reduce production costs. Thus plastic bag, plastic pipe rubber products, etc. all contain it. However, not allow to add it in food, beverage and wine.

Plasticizer is generally a colorless and transparent oily viscous liquid at room temp. It is fat-soluble and is easily soluble in organic solvents such as ether. The steam pressure is low and not easy to volatilize. A few are solids with lower melting points. Mainly include DEHP, DBP, DINP, DOP, DE, BBP, etc. Plasticizer can interfere with endocrine chemicals in organisms and change the levels of the hormone estrogen in the human body. Considered an endocrine disruptor. Both the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and China have listed it as a priority pollutant to control. Long-term consumption of foods with excessive plasticizer will damage male reproductive capacity. Besides, it can promote premature puberty in women. It also increases women’s risk of breast cancer and causes damage to the immune and digestive system. Cause malignant tumors and lead to cancer and other diseases. It can even damage human genetic material.

Source Analysis of Liquor Plasticizer

Through analysis of various liquor brewing processes and the entire process of product formation, it shows that there are mainly 4 sources. First, pollution of brewing raw material. Second, migration during production. Last, finished wine polluted by plastic package. Pollution of brewing raw material.

The annual global use of PAEs is more than 8.16 million tons. More than 1% of it enters the environment through leakage. plasticizer have become ubiquitous pollutants around the world. Plasticizer have been in water, air, soil, animals and plants. Considered as the second global “PCB pollution”. Various processed food can absorb it from polluted environment. It enters the finished product during processing. Oil crops such as soybeans and rapeseed are brought in to dissolve the plasticizer in the oil. Natural liquor is no exception. In short, as environmental pollution continues to intensify, the possibility of wine raw material crops absorbing plasticizer from polluted soil, atmosphere and water increases. Once the wine-making raw materials absorb the this, it will enter the liquor during the production and process.

The liquor brewing process will come into contact with some pipe fittings or pipes made of plastic and rubber materials. For example, in the production of liquor, it uses a large number of plastic wine pipelines and plastic films that are resistant to acid, alkali and corrosion. While the wine hose and plastic film often contain plasticizer. In addition, it is easy to migrate and has good solubility in liquor. This allows the plasticizer to migrate silently into the liquor.

Through tracking and inspection of the liquor brewing process, the plasticizer in liquor may also come from plastic wine barrels, plastic wine pipes, wine pump inlet and outlet latex pipes, wine tank plastic sheets, finished wine plastic inner lids, finished wine Plastic bag packaging, finished wine plastic bottle packaging, finished wine plastic barrel packaging, etc. Some large wine companies have begun to use stainless steel metal hoses to minimize the impact of plastic and rubber products on liquor. But there are still many small wineries that continue to use rubber hoses and even PVC pipes.

The Shanghai International Liquor Trading Center released an inspection report on Xifeng Liquor. The report showed that two plasticizers in the three bottles of wine sent for inspection by Xifeng Wine exceeded the standard by nearly three times.

The above report shows that the DIBP test result of Xifeng vintage wine is 1.44mg/kg, and the report limit is 0.5mg/kg. The DBP test result is 1.02mg/kg, and the corresponding limit is 0.3mg/kg. The content of both additives was nearly three times the limit.

In fact, it is not the first accident

Jiugui Liquor is a high-end liquor brand in China. However, on November 19, 2012, Jiugui Liquor was found to contain 2.6 times more plasticizer than the standard.

Someone bought 438 yuan/bottle of Jiugui Liquor and sent it to Shanghai Quality and Technical Service Co., Ltd. for testing. The test report showed that a total of three plasticizer components were detected in Jiugui Liquor, namely DEHP, DIBP and DBP. Among them, the content of DBP in Jiugui Liquor is 1.08 mg/kg, exceeding the specified maximum residue amount.

On the afternoon of November 21, 2012, the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine announced the test results of the 50-degree Jiugui liquor samples. Among them, the highest detected value of DBP is 1.04mg/kg.

The National Food Safety Risk Assessment Center stated that the human body can tolerate the intake based on the international common risk assessment method and the European Food Safety Authority. Calculated based on the DBP content in Jiugui Liquor reported by the media as 1.08mg/kg, according to my country’s average life expectancy, if one kilogram is consumed per day, the DBP contained in it will not cause harm to health. The General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine stated that the quality inspection department has deployed further in-depth inspections of liquor production enterprises across the country.

Enterprises are required to carefully identify the reasons that may cause liquor to contain DBP. Make rectifications immediately from the source. This includes measures such as adjusting process equipment, replacing contact materials and product packaging. and report to regulatory authorities. The regulatory authorities insist on strict supervision and will strictly investigate and deal with any illegal activities found in accordance with the law.

Why company adds DBP into wine

The first is to make the wine that is not old enough look good. Adding various tackifiers can solidify the sugar in the fake grain wine. In addition, it can produce the effect of sticking the cup to the cup, enhancing the taste and improving the grade of the wine. The second plasticizer stabilizes the scent. It can stabilize the spices and wine aroma added to the wine.

What are the harms of DBP?

Affects reproductive system

DPB can enter the human body through the respiratory tract, digestive tract, skin and other routes. Due to its anti-androgenic and anti-estrogenic activities, it can affect the reproductive function of organisms. This can lead to endometrial hyperplasia, testicular damage, reduced sperm count, and infertility. Especially for developing children, it may lead to more serious consequences.

Affects the endocrine system

DBP belongs to a class of exogenous endocrine-disrupting chemicals. It can enter the human body directly or indirectly and interfere with human endocrine. This in turn leads to women’s menstrual disorders, precocious puberty, etc.

Carcinogenic

DBP acts on the chromosomes of cells. This causes abnormal growth of some tissues and cells. Can cause cancer disease.

In addition to the above relatively common causes, there are other possible hazards. Including damaging liver function and causing fetal malformations. To sum up, plasticizers are more harmful, so you need to pay attention to avoid direct skin contact with plasticizers and wear a mask. Do not choose inferior building materials, daily necessities, etc. Try to choose building materials and daily necessities with less chemical components or natural materials.

Solutions to liquor plasticizer

In order to deal with the DBP problem in wine, Orientflex brings you several kinds of hoses.

The first one is PVC wine hose. It adopts special food grade PVC as material which does not contain DBP. In fact, it is specially designed hose for wine. When the liquor passes through such PVC hose, it will not be polluted. Besides, the additives in the hose will never release to the liquor. Thus the wine can be safe.

Then the second one is food grade rubber hose. Besides food grade raw material, there is a UHMWPE lining inside the inner tube. Then it can greatly improve the corrosion resistance. In another hand, it makes the rubber food hose more safe to deliver liquor.

Both of the PVC wine hose and food grade rubber hose can deal with the liquor problem. But there is another hose that suits the wine more better. That is the flexible metal hose, or stainless steel hose.

Orientflex reccomends you stainless steel hose

Orientflex has drawn conclusions on the materials of liquor transportation pipelines through years of fluid technology experience in liquor transportation projects. Put an end to PVC and prefer 316L stainless steel pipes. As we all know, PVC materials have been widely used in various industries due to their low price and good plasticity. However, PVC is inherently hard and brittle. In order to meet the needs of use, softeners are often added. The more common one is DEHP. DEHP is one of the DBP. Therefore, in liquor and even the entire food processing industry.

The use of PVC piping systems should be avoided. At present, there are still cases where rubber hoses are used. Some rubber hoses can provide reports on plasticizer content. However, rubber hoses often inevitably experience inner layer aging and performance degradation during long-term transportation of alcoholic fluids such as wine. At this time, the phthalate ester, which is the plasticizer component, will precipitate. Therefore, the use of stainless steel hoses is the preferred pipeline for fluid transportation in the liquor industry.

The 316 stainless steel material used in Orientflex’s metal hose is inherently different from rubber and plastic materials. No matter how long it is used, DBP and other toxic substances will not be released. This effectively solves the essential problem of plasticizer.

Why Orientflex steel hose pipe is good

Orientflex metal hose is made of 316L stainless steel, which is different from the 304 material of ordinary manufacturers. The average nickel content of 316 stainless steel is 12%. Nickel in metal materials can improve high-temperature durability, improve mechanical properties, and improve oxidation resistance. Therefore, Delu’s 316L metal hose has stronger acid, alkali and high temperature resistance than other manufacturers’ 304 metal hose.

During the production process of metal hoses, each stainless steel metal hose needs to go through complex processes. Including heat treatment, surface treatment, shaping process, stabilization treatment and other steps. It has better mechanical properties such as flexibility, stretchability, bending and resonance.

Metal mesh cover made of 316 material. The metal mesh cover of the metal hose adopts 316SS, and its performance is 30% higher than that of 304SS. In addition, we use class-leading 9 thick threads per share to weave. Under the same strength, the operation is lighter and the flexibility is stronger.

Every metal hose shipped by Orientflex has undergone appearance testing, water pressure testing, air pressure testing, bending testing and other inspections to ensure the user’s use.