CORROSIVENESS OF ALLYL ISOTHIOCYANATE TOWARDS METALS, RUBBERS AND PLASTICS AND ABILITY OF ALLYL ISOTHIOCYANATE VAPOR TO PERMEATE PLASTIC FILMS

Allyl isothiocyanate (AIT), the main flavoring component of wasabi and mustard, is reported to have strong antimicrobial activity. A study w as made of the corrosive effects of AIT vapor on various substances su ch as metals and rubbers, and of its ability to permeate food packagin g films. It was found that allyl isothiocyanate vapor had no corrosive effect at concentrations of less than 100 ppm. At the high concentrat ion of 3,000 ppm, however, corrosion was observed in neoprene rubber, and in all plastics except polyolefin reins, polyacetal, nylon and Tef lon. AIT was found to have a moderate ability to permeate food packagi ng films made of polyethylene and polypropylene, with permeability inv ersely proportional to film thickness.