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Microplastic sample purification methods : Assessing detrimental effects of purification procedures on specific plastic types

Title data

Schrank, Isabella ; Möller, Julia N. ; Imhof, Hannes ; Hauenstein, Oliver ; Zielke, Franziska ; Agarwal, Seema ; Löder, Martin G. J. ; Greiner, Andreas ; Laforsch, Christian:
Microplastic sample purification methods : Assessing detrimental effects of purification procedures on specific plastic types.
In: Science of the Total Environment. Vol. 833 (2022) . - 154824.
ISSN 0048-9697
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.154824

Project information

Project title:
Project's official title
Project's id
SFB 1357 Mikroplastik
391977956
PLAWES – The Journey of Microplastics from the River Weser to the North Sea
BMBF Project PLAWES, grant 03F0789A
MiKoBo BWMK18007
BWMK18007

Project financing: Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung
Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft
Ministry for Environment, Climate Protection and Energy of Baden Württemberg

Abstract in another language

In search of effective, fast, and cheap methods to purify environmental samples for microplastic analysis, scientific literature provides various purification protocols. However, while most of these protocols effectively purify the samples, some may also degrade the targeted polymers. This study was conducted to systematically compare the effects of purification protocols based on acidic, alkaline, oxidative, and enzymatic digestion and extraction via density separation on eight of the most relevant plastic types. It offers insights into how specific purification protocols may compromise microplastic detection by documenting visible and gravimetric effects, analyzing potential surface degradation using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and bulk erosion on a molecular level using gel permeation chromatography (GPC). For example, protocols using strong acids and high temperatures are likely to completely dissolve or cause strong degradation to a wide range of polymers (PA, PC, PET, PS, PUR & PVC), while strong alkaline solutions may damage PC and PET. Contrarily, Fenton's reagent, multiple enzymatic digestion steps, as well as treatment with a zinc chloride solution frequently used for density-separation, do not degrade the eight polymers tested here. Therefore, their implementation in microplastic sample processing may be considered an essential stepping-stone towards a standardized protocol for future microplastics analyses.

Further data

Item Type: Article in a journal
Refereed: Yes
Institutions of the University: Faculties > Faculty of Biology, Chemistry and Earth Sciences > Department of Biology > Chair Animal Ecology I > Chair Animal Ecology I - Univ.-Prof. Dr. Christian Laforsch
Faculties > Faculty of Biology, Chemistry and Earth Sciences > Department of Chemistry > Chair Macromolecular Chemistry II
Faculties > Faculty of Biology, Chemistry and Earth Sciences > Department of Chemistry > Chair Macromolecular Chemistry II > Chair Macromolecular Chemistry II - Univ.-Prof. Dr. Andreas Greiner
Profile Fields > Advanced Fields > Polymer and Colloid Science
Research Institutions > Central research institutes > Bayreuth Center of Ecology and Environmental Research- BayCEER
Research Institutions > Collaborative Research Centers, Research Unit > SFB 1357 - MIKROPLASTIK
Faculties
Faculties > Faculty of Biology, Chemistry and Earth Sciences
Faculties > Faculty of Biology, Chemistry and Earth Sciences > Department of Biology
Faculties > Faculty of Biology, Chemistry and Earth Sciences > Department of Biology > Chair Animal Ecology I
Faculties > Faculty of Biology, Chemistry and Earth Sciences > Department of Chemistry
Profile Fields
Profile Fields > Advanced Fields
Research Institutions
Research Institutions > Central research institutes
Research Institutions > Collaborative Research Centers, Research Unit
Result of work at the UBT: Yes
DDC Subjects: 500 Science > 540 Chemistry
500 Science > 570 Life sciences, biology
500 Science > 590 Animals (Zoology)
Date Deposited: 21 Apr 2022 06:23
Last Modified: 13 Jul 2023 11:55
URI: https://eref.uni-bayreuth.de/id/eprint/69291