Simply Applicable Method for Microplastics Determination in Environmental Samples
Microplastics (MPs) have gained significant attention in the last two decades and have been widely researched in the marine environment. There are, however, less studies on their presence, routes of entry, and impacts on the biota in the soil environment. One of the main issues in the study of MPs i...
| Main Authors: | , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2021-03-01
|
| Series: | Molecules |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/26/7/1840 |
| _version_ | 1797540101094375424 |
|---|---|
| author | Urška Šunta Polonca Trebše Mojca Bavcon Kralj |
| author_facet | Urška Šunta Polonca Trebše Mojca Bavcon Kralj |
| author_sort | Urška Šunta |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Microplastics (MPs) have gained significant attention in the last two decades and have been widely researched in the marine environment. There are, however, less studies on their presence, routes of entry, and impacts on the biota in the soil environment. One of the main issues in the study of MPs is a lack of standardized methods for their identification in environmental samples. Currently the most commonly used techniques are thermal desorption gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) methods and pyrolysis followed by GC–MS. In this study, headspace-solid phase microextraction followed by GC–MS is proposed as a simple and widely applicable method for the determination of commonly present polymer MPs (polyethylene terephthalate, polystyrene, polyvinyl chloride, polyethylene, and polypropylene) in environmental samples, for analytical laboratories with basic equipment worldwide. The proposed method is based on the identification of compounds, which are formed during the well-controlled melting process of specific coarse (1–5 mm) and fine fraction (1 mm–100 μm) MPs. The method was upgraded for the identification of individual polymer type in blends and in complex environmental matrices (soil and algae biomass). The successful application of the method in complex matrices makes it especially suitable for widescale use. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T12:55:19Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-97f2b11c9a18461d9395ff1020e006d6 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1420-3049 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T12:55:19Z |
| publishDate | 2021-03-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Molecules |
| spelling | doaj.art-97f2b11c9a18461d9395ff1020e006d62023-11-21T11:57:09ZengMDPI AGMolecules1420-30492021-03-01267184010.3390/molecules26071840Simply Applicable Method for Microplastics Determination in Environmental SamplesUrška Šunta0Polonca Trebše1Mojca Bavcon Kralj2Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Ljubljana, Zdravstvena pot 5, 1000 Ljubljana, SloveniaFaculty of Health Sciences, University of Ljubljana, Zdravstvena pot 5, 1000 Ljubljana, SloveniaFaculty of Health Sciences, University of Ljubljana, Zdravstvena pot 5, 1000 Ljubljana, SloveniaMicroplastics (MPs) have gained significant attention in the last two decades and have been widely researched in the marine environment. There are, however, less studies on their presence, routes of entry, and impacts on the biota in the soil environment. One of the main issues in the study of MPs is a lack of standardized methods for their identification in environmental samples. Currently the most commonly used techniques are thermal desorption gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) methods and pyrolysis followed by GC–MS. In this study, headspace-solid phase microextraction followed by GC–MS is proposed as a simple and widely applicable method for the determination of commonly present polymer MPs (polyethylene terephthalate, polystyrene, polyvinyl chloride, polyethylene, and polypropylene) in environmental samples, for analytical laboratories with basic equipment worldwide. The proposed method is based on the identification of compounds, which are formed during the well-controlled melting process of specific coarse (1–5 mm) and fine fraction (1 mm–100 μm) MPs. The method was upgraded for the identification of individual polymer type in blends and in complex environmental matrices (soil and algae biomass). The successful application of the method in complex matrices makes it especially suitable for widescale use.https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/26/7/1840polyethylene terephthalatepolystyrenepolyvinyl chloridepolyethylenepolypropylenegas chromatography–mass spectrometry |
| spellingShingle | Urška Šunta Polonca Trebše Mojca Bavcon Kralj Simply Applicable Method for Microplastics Determination in Environmental Samples Molecules polyethylene terephthalate polystyrene polyvinyl chloride polyethylene polypropylene gas chromatography–mass spectrometry |
| title | Simply Applicable Method for Microplastics Determination in Environmental Samples |
| title_full | Simply Applicable Method for Microplastics Determination in Environmental Samples |
| title_fullStr | Simply Applicable Method for Microplastics Determination in Environmental Samples |
| title_full_unstemmed | Simply Applicable Method for Microplastics Determination in Environmental Samples |
| title_short | Simply Applicable Method for Microplastics Determination in Environmental Samples |
| title_sort | simply applicable method for microplastics determination in environmental samples |
| topic | polyethylene terephthalate polystyrene polyvinyl chloride polyethylene polypropylene gas chromatography–mass spectrometry |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/26/7/1840 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT urskasunta simplyapplicablemethodformicroplasticsdeterminationinenvironmentalsamples AT poloncatrebse simplyapplicablemethodformicroplasticsdeterminationinenvironmentalsamples AT mojcabavconkralj simplyapplicablemethodformicroplasticsdeterminationinenvironmentalsamples |