Abstract
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 de termination 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.
Keywords
polyethylene terephthalate;polystyrene;polyvinyl chloride;polyethylene;polypropylene;gas chromatography;mass spectrometry;
Data
Language: |
English |
Year of publishing: |
2021 |
Typology: |
1.01 - Original Scientific Article |
Organization: |
UL ZF - University College of Health Studies |
UDC: |
543.51+543.544 |
COBISS: |
57399043
|
ISSN: |
1420-3049 |
Views: |
357 |
Downloads: |
142 |
Average score: |
0 (0 votes) |
Metadata: |
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Other data
Type (COBISS): |
Article |
Pages: |
str. 1-17 |
Volume: |
ǂVol. ǂ26 |
Issue: |
ǂiss. ǂ7 |
Chronology: |
2021 |
DOI: |
10.3390/molecules26071840 |
ID: |
12692808 |