Ceramic packaging for mineral waters: A preliminary study

The aim of this work is to present a preliminary study for the use of ceramic materials in packaging of natural mineral waters. Handmade ceramic bottles were produced from faience paste and tested for the influence of different glazing areas on the tightness of the ceramic bottles and in physic-chemical stability of bottled natural mineral water during storage (8 days, 15º C). Three ceramic bottles were totally glazed (TG) in both the inner and the outer surface, and other nine bottles were only partially glazed (PG) in the outer surface. Glass bottles were used as control (C). Results showed high losses of water through the PG ceramic containers (45.0 - 55.0%) relatively TG bottles (5.2 % - 6.0 %). Colour of the bottled natural mineral water was below the parametric value while turbidity was above the legal value established in Portuguese national legislation. Cd and Pb were not detected in the water samples. Conductivity increased significantly in water samples conditioned in ceramic packages, compared to initial and control (C) samples.

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