Microplastic
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The presence and effects of microplastics (MPs) have drawn more and more attention among current environmental issues. MPs are defined1 as synthetic polymers 1-1000 µm, whereas large microplastics are defined as 1-5 mm. MPs are generated either from production of plastic particles or through various degradation mechanisms in the environment.
It is difficult to give an exact figure of the amount of MPs that are released into nature. The sources are numerous and the uncertainties are large. Among the biggest sources, road traffic has been pointed out together with artificial turfs, boats, building facades, plastic production and waste water treatment plants.
See product data sheet for information about matrises, sampling and ordering details (pdf)
New Method! Qualitative and quantitative analysis of 10 synthetic polymers2 + rubber components from tire wear
| Synthetic polymers | Rubber components | Reporting (mass concentration) |
| PE Polyethylene PP Polypropylene PS Polystyrene ABS Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene PMMA Polymethyl methacrylate PC Polycarbonate PVC Polyvinyl chloride PET Polyethylene terephthalate PA-6 Polyamide-6/Nylon-6 PA-66 Polyamide-66/Nylon-66 |
NR/PIP Natural rubber/polyisoprene BR/PBD Butadien rubber/Polybutadiene SBR Styrene-butadiene rubber |
µg/L og µg/kg of individual polymer types and as a sum of MPs µg/L or µg/kg of rubber components Comment regarding qualitative identification of rubber |
Analytical methods
MPs present in liquid samples can easily be isolated on filters using vacuum assistance. By using Pyrolysis-Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry3 (pyr-GC/MS) one can find the mass concentration and identify synthetic polymers. During pyrolysis, the whole sample is heated which evaporates the sample to gas, and this way pyr-GC/MS proves that it is a robust method that provides coherent results in shorter time. For samples where the amount of particulate and contaminants other than MPs are present, sample preparation steps using chemical digestion and density separation are needed.
For regulatory purposes, the mass determination by pyr-GC/MS is fit for purpose for environmental samples and is expected to become the most relevant analytical technology for quantifying MPs. Using pyr-GC/MS for microplastic analysis has a great advantage over particle-counting and surface identification tools such as µ-FTIR and µ-Raman, as more environmentally realistic matrices contains more particles that can hide the presence of MPs Pyr-GC/MS technology also offers the possibility to quantify rubber particles4 for calculation of tire and road wear particles (TRWP). Rubber from tires are made of a combination of natural and synthetic rubber in addition to additives added to improve mechanical and chemical properties.
| Drinking water (MX130) Water for human consumption: drinking water, tap water, other clean water |
Clean water (MX131) Liquid matrices with low amounts of particulate: drinking water, clean water, sea water, clean process water |
| Waste water (MX141) Liquid matrices with high amounts of particulate: waste water, process water, seawater |
Sediment (MX541) Marine sediments, sand, other inorganic matrices |
| Salts (MX530, MX531) Raw salt, table salt, sugar, other water-soluble solids |
Fish fillet (MX561) Fish fillets, analysis of other food products are available on demand |
| Polymer screening (MX550) Tires, rubber, other polymer containing matrices |
Custom requests We are flexible on requests, with filters of 0.2, 1.6, 10 and 27 µm pore size. If there are any specifications or special requests, we are happy to collaborate. |
See product data sheet for information about matrises, sampling and ordering details (pdf)
1https://www.iso.org/obp/ui/#iso:std:iso:tr:21960:ed-1:v1:en
2https://www.frontier-lab.com/products/multi-functional-pyrolysis-system/194709/
3Marten Fischer and Barbara M. Scholz-Böttcher Environmental Science & Technology 2017 51 (9), 5052-5060 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.6b06362
4 Tomasz Lachowicz, Janina Zięba-Palus & Paweł Kościelniak (2013) Chromatographic Analysis of Tire Rubber Samples as the Basis of Their Differentiation and Classification for Forensic Purposes, Analytical Letters, 46:15, 2332-2344, DOI: 10.1080/00032719.2013.800536