A simple overflow density separation method that recovers >95% of dense microplastics from sediment
Density separation can isolate microplastics from environmental samples containing sediment. Typically, a solution added to sediment causes microplastics with lower densities to float. The solution of choice can influence the recovery of different particles since denser solutions can separate a grea...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2024-06-01
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| Series: | MethodsX |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S221501612400092X |
| _version_ | 1797289727728025600 |
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| author | Thomas W. Crutchett Katrina R. Bornt |
| author_facet | Thomas W. Crutchett Katrina R. Bornt |
| author_sort | Thomas W. Crutchett |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Density separation can isolate microplastics from environmental samples containing sediment. Typically, a solution added to sediment causes microplastics with lower densities to float. The solution of choice can influence the recovery of different particles since denser solutions can separate a greater range of microplastics. The equipment and procedural complexity further influence density separation protocols and microplastic recoveries. Zinc chloride (ZnCl2) is frequently used to isolate high-density polymers from environmental samples yet is rarely validated with simple, well-described protocols. A simple overflow method using ZnCl2 to isolate microplastics from sediment samples is described following a 3-step process: (1. Separation) ZnCl2 (1.7 g cm−3) solution is added to a sediment sample, agitated then settled; (2. Overflows) buoyant particles at the surface of the solution are overflowed twice; (3. Filtration) the overflowed solution is filtered. In a validation experiment with polyamide, rubber, polyvinyl chloride and polyethylene terephthalate/polyester, the mean recovery using this overflow method was 96 % ± 0.6 (standard error). This overflow density separation method proposes an accessible and reliable protocol to extract medium and high-density microplastics. • Microplastic separation with concentrated ZnCl2 solution • Simple overflow of buoyant particles • Reliable extraction of microplastics |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-07T19:09:09Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-3f71b1456a2340d0b43cd9042170ff30 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2215-0161 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-07T19:09:09Z |
| publishDate | 2024-06-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | MethodsX |
| spelling | doaj.art-3f71b1456a2340d0b43cd9042170ff302024-03-01T05:06:29ZengElsevierMethodsX2215-01612024-06-0112102638A simple overflow density separation method that recovers >95% of dense microplastics from sedimentThomas W. Crutchett0Katrina R. Bornt1School of Biological Sciences and the Oceans Institute, The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley, Western Australia 6009, AustraliaCorresponding author.; School of Biological Sciences and the Oceans Institute, The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley, Western Australia 6009, AustraliaDensity separation can isolate microplastics from environmental samples containing sediment. Typically, a solution added to sediment causes microplastics with lower densities to float. The solution of choice can influence the recovery of different particles since denser solutions can separate a greater range of microplastics. The equipment and procedural complexity further influence density separation protocols and microplastic recoveries. Zinc chloride (ZnCl2) is frequently used to isolate high-density polymers from environmental samples yet is rarely validated with simple, well-described protocols. A simple overflow method using ZnCl2 to isolate microplastics from sediment samples is described following a 3-step process: (1. Separation) ZnCl2 (1.7 g cm−3) solution is added to a sediment sample, agitated then settled; (2. Overflows) buoyant particles at the surface of the solution are overflowed twice; (3. Filtration) the overflowed solution is filtered. In a validation experiment with polyamide, rubber, polyvinyl chloride and polyethylene terephthalate/polyester, the mean recovery using this overflow method was 96 % ± 0.6 (standard error). This overflow density separation method proposes an accessible and reliable protocol to extract medium and high-density microplastics. • Microplastic separation with concentrated ZnCl2 solution • Simple overflow of buoyant particles • Reliable extraction of microplasticshttp://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S221501612400092XPlastic pollutionProtocol validationMicroplastic extractionEnvironmental contaminationZinc chloride |
| spellingShingle | Thomas W. Crutchett Katrina R. Bornt A simple overflow density separation method that recovers >95% of dense microplastics from sediment MethodsX Plastic pollution Protocol validation Microplastic extraction Environmental contamination Zinc chloride |
| title | A simple overflow density separation method that recovers >95% of dense microplastics from sediment |
| title_full | A simple overflow density separation method that recovers >95% of dense microplastics from sediment |
| title_fullStr | A simple overflow density separation method that recovers >95% of dense microplastics from sediment |
| title_full_unstemmed | A simple overflow density separation method that recovers >95% of dense microplastics from sediment |
| title_short | A simple overflow density separation method that recovers >95% of dense microplastics from sediment |
| title_sort | simple overflow density separation method that recovers 95 of dense microplastics from sediment |
| topic | Plastic pollution Protocol validation Microplastic extraction Environmental contamination Zinc chloride |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S221501612400092X |
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