TY - JOUR A1 - Müller, Axel A1 - Goedecke, Caroline A1 - Eisentraut, Paul A1 - Piechotta, Christian A1 - Braun, Ulrike T1 - Microplastic analysis using chemical extraction followed by LC‑UV analysis: a straightforward approach to determine PET content in environmental samples N2 - Background: The ubiquitous occurrence of microplastic particles in marine and aquatic ecosystems was intensively investigated in the past decade. However, we know less about the presence, fate, and input paths of microplastic in terrestrial ecosystems. A possible entry path for microplastic into terrestrial ecosystems is the agricultural application of sewage sludge and solid bio-waste as fertilizers. Microplastic contained in sewage sludge also includes Polyethylene terephthalate (PET), which could originate as fiber from textile products or as a fragment from packaging products (foils, bottles, etc.). Information about microplastic content in such environmental samples is limited yet, as most of the used analytical methods are very time-consuming, regarding sample preparation and detection, require sophisticated analytical tools and eventually need high user knowledge. Results: Here, we present a simple, specific tool for the analysis of PET microplastic particles based on alkaline extraction of PET from the environmental matrix and subsequent determination of the monomers, terephthalic acid, using liquid chromatography with UV detection (LC-UV). The applicability of the method is shown for different types of PET in several soil-related, terrestrial environmental samples, e.g., soil, sediment, compost, fermentation residues, but also sewage sludge, suspended particles from urban water management systems, and indoor dust. Recoveries for model samples are between 94.5 and 107.1%. Limit of determination and limit of quantification are absolute masses of 0.031 and 0.121 mg PET, respectively. In order to verify the measured mass contents of the environmental samples, a method comparison with thermal extraction-desorption-gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (TED-GC/MS) was conducted. Both methods deliver similar results and corroborated each other. PET mass contents in environmental samples range from values below LOQ in agriculture soil up to 57,000 mg kg−1 in dust samples. Conclusions: We demonstrate the potential of an integral method based on chemical extraction for the Determination of PET mass contents in solid environmental samples. The method was successfully applied to various matrices and may serve as an analytical tool for further investigations of PET-based microplastic in terrestrial ecosystems. KW - Soil KW - Analysis KW - Microplastic KW - PET KW - LC-UV PY - 2020 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-509060 DO - https://doi.org/10.1186/s12302-020-00358-x IS - 32 SP - 85 PB - Springer Open CY - Berlin AN - OPUS4-50906 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Dittmann, Daniel A1 - Eisentraut, Paul A1 - Goedecke, Caroline A1 - Wiesner, Yosri A1 - Jekel, M A1 - Ruhl, A S A1 - Braun, Ulrike T1 - Specific adsorption sites and conditions derived by thermal decomposition of activated carbons and adsorbed carbamazepine N2 - The adsorption of organic micropollutants onto activated carbon is a favourable solution for the treatment of drinking water and wastewater. However, these adsorption processes are not sufficiently understood to allow for the appropriate prediction of removal processes. In this study, thermogravimetric analysis, alongside evolved gas analysis, is proposed for the characterisation of micropollutants adsorbed on activated carbon. Varying amounts of carbamazepine were adsorbed onto three different activated carbons, which were subsequently dried, and their thermal decomposition mechanisms examined. The discovery of 55 different pyrolysis products allowed differentiations to be made between specific adsorption sites and conditions. However, the same adsorption mechanisms were found for all samples, which were enhanced by inorganic constituents and oxygen containing surface groups. Furthermore, increasing the loadings led to the evolution of more hydrated decomposition products, whilst parts of the carbamazepine molecules were also integrated into the carbon structure. It was also found that the chemical composition, especially the degree of dehydration of the activated carbon, plays an important role in the adsorption of carbamazepine. Hence, it is thought that the adsorption sites may have a higher adsorption energy for specific adsorbates, when the activated carbon can then potentially increase its degree of graphitisation. KW - Aktivkohle KW - TED-GC/MS KW - Adsorption KW - Thermoanalytik PY - 2020 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-506946 DO - https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-63481-y VL - 10 IS - 1 SP - 6695 PB - Nature Publishing Group AN - OPUS4-50694 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Klöckner, P. A1 - Seiwert, B. A1 - Eisentraut, Paul A1 - Braun, Ulrike A1 - Reemtsma, T. A1 - Wagner, S. T1 - Characterization of tire and road wear particles from road runoffindicates highly dynamic particle properties N2 - Tire and road wear particles (TRWPs) are heteroagglomerates of tire rubber and other particles deposited on the road surface and one of the main contributors to non-exhaust emissions of automobile traffic. In this study, samples from road environments were analyzed for their TRWP contents and concentra- tions of eight organic tire constituents. TRWP concentrations were determined by quantifying Zn in the density fraction < 1.9 g/cm ³and by thermal extraction desorption-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (TED-GC/MS) and the concentrations ranged from 3.7 to 480 mg TRWP/g. Strong and statistically signif- icant correlations with TRWPs were found for 2-hydroxybenzothiazole and 2-aminobenzothiazole, indi- cating that these substances may be suitable markers of TRWPs. The mass distribution of TRWPs in road dust suggests that the main mass fraction formed on roads consists of coarse particles ( > 100 μm). Data for a sedimentation basin indicate that the fine fraction ( < 50 μm) is preferentially transported by road runoffinto receiving waters. The size distribution and density data of TRWP gathered by three different quantitation approaches also suggest that aging of TRWPs leads to changes in their particle density. An improved understanding of the dynamics of TRWP properties is essential to assess the distribution and dissipation of this contaminant of emerging concern in the environment. KW - Tire Wear KW - Density separation KW - Microplastic KW - Urban PY - 2020 DO - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2020.116262 VL - 185 SP - 116262 PB - Elsevier Ltd. AN - OPUS4-51256 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Goedecke, Caroline A1 - Dittmann, Daniel A1 - Eisentraut, Paul A1 - Wiesner, Yosri A1 - Schartel, Bernhard A1 - Klack, Patrick A1 - Braun, Ulrike T1 - Evaluation of thermoanalytical methods equipped with evolved gas analysis for the detection of microplastic in environmental samples N2 - Microplastic particles are currently detected in almost all environmental compartments. The results of detection vary widely, as a multitude of very different methods are used with very different requirements for analytical validity. In this work four thermoanalytical methods are compared and their advantages and limitations are discussed. One of them is thermal extraction-desorption gas chromatography mass spectrometry (TED-GC/MS), an analysis method for microplastic detection that has become established in recent years. In addition, thermogravimetric analysis coupled with Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (TGA-FTIR) and mass spectrometry (TGA-MS) were applied, two methods that are less common in this field but are still used in other research areas. Finally, microscale combustion calorimeter (MCC) was applied, a method not yet used for microplastic detection. The presented results are taken from a recently published interlaboratory comparison test by Becker et al. (2020). Here a reference material consisting of suspended matter and specified added polymer masses was examined, and only the results of the recoveries were presented. In the present paper, however, the results for the individual polymers are discussed in detail and individual perspectives for all instruments are shown. It was found that TED-GC/MS is the most suitable method for samples with unknown matrix and unknown, variable kinds and contents of microplastic. TGA-FTIR is a robust method for samples with known matrix and with defined kinds of microplastic. TGA-MS may offer a solution for the detection of PVC particles in the future. MCC can be used as a very fast and simple screening method for the identification of a potential microplastic load of standard polymers in unknown samples. KW - Microplastic KW - TED-GC/MS KW - TGA-MS KW - TGA-FTIR KW - MCC KW - Thermal analysis PY - 2020 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-516687 DO - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaap.2020.104961 VL - 152 SP - 104961 PB - Elsevier B.V. AN - OPUS4-51668 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Kittner, Maria A1 - Kerndorff, A. A1 - Ricking, M. A1 - Bednarz, M. A1 - Obermaier, N. A1 - Lukas, M. A1 - Asenova, M. A1 - Bordós, G. A1 - Eisentraut, Paul A1 - Hohenblum, P. A1 - Hudcova, H. A1 - Humer, F. A1 - István, T. G. A1 - Kirchner, M. A1 - Marushevska, O. A1 - Nemejcová, D. A1 - Oswald, P. A1 - Paunovic, M. A1 - Sengl, M. A1 - Slobodnik, J. A1 - Spanowsky, K. A1 - Tudorache, M. A1 - Wagensonner, H. A1 - Liska, I. A1 - Braun, U. A1 - Bannick, C. G. T1 - Microplastics in the Danube River Basin: A First Comprehensive Screening with a Harmonized Analytical Approach N2 - In this study, carried out within the Joint Danube Survey 4, a comprehensive microplastic screening in the water column within a large European river basin from its source to estuary, including major tributaries, was realized. The objective was to develop principles of a systematic and practicable microplastic monitoring strategy using sedimentation boxes for collection of suspended particulate matter followed by its subsequent analysis using thermal extraction desorption-gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. In total, 18 sampling sites in the Danube River Basin were investigated. The obtained suspended particulate matter samples were subdivided into the fractions of >100 μm and <100 μm and subsequently analyzed for microplastic mass contents. The results showed that microplastics were detected in all samples, with polyethylene being the predominant polymer with maximum contents of 22.24 μg/mg, 3.23 μg/mg for polystyrene, 1.03 μg/mg for styrene-butadiene-rubber, and 0.45 μg/mg for polypropylene. Further, polymers such as different sorts of polyester, polyacrylates, polylactide, and natural rubber were not detected or below the detection limit. Additional investigations on possible interference of polyethylene signals by algae-derived fatty acids were assessed. In the context of targeted monitoring, repeated measurements provide more certainty in the interpretation of the results for the individual sites. Nevertheless, it can be stated that the chosen approach using an integrative sampling and determination of total plastic content proved to be successful. KW - Thermal extraction desorption-gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (TED-GC/MS), monitoring KW - Microplastics KW - River KW - Suspended particulate matter (SPM) KW - Sedimentation box (SB) PY - 2022 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-551444 DO - https://doi.org/10.1021/acsestwater.1c00439 VL - 2 IS - 7 SP - 1174 EP - 1181 PB - ACS Publications AN - OPUS4-55144 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Kittner, Maria A1 - Eisentraut, Paul A1 - Dittmann, Daniel A1 - Braun, Ulrike T1 - Decomposability versus detectability: First validation of TED‐GC/MS for microplastic detection in different environmental matrices N2 - A fast method for microplastic detection is thermal extraction desorption‐gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (TED‐GC/MS), which uses polymer‐specific thermal decomposition products as marker compounds to determine polymer mass contents in environmental samples. So far, matrix impacts of different environmental matrices on TED‐GC/MS performance had not yet been assessed systematically. Therefore, three solid freshwater matrices representing different aquatic bodies with varying organic matter contents were spiked with a total of eight polymers. Additionally, for the first time, the two biodegradable polymers polybutylene adipate terephthalate (PBAT) and polylactide (PLA) were analysed using TED‐GC/MS. The methodological focus of this work was on detectability, quality of signal formation as well as realisation of quantification procedures and determination of the limit of detection (LOD) values. Overall, TED‐GC/MS allowed the unambiguous detection of the environmentally most relevant polymers analysed, even at low mass contents: 0.02 wt% for polystyrene (PS), 0.04 wt% for the tyre component styrene butadiene rubber (SBR) and 0.2 wt% for polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE) and PBAT. Further, all obtained LOD values were increased in all matrices compared to the neat polymer without matrix. The LOD of the standard polymers were increased similarly (PS: 0.21–0.34 μg, SBR: 0.27–0.38 μg, PP: 0.32–0.36 μg, PMMA: 0.64–1.30 μg, PET: 0.90–1.37 μg, PE: 3.80–6.99 μg) and their decompositions by radical scission processes were not significantly influenced by the matrices. In contrast, matrixspecific LOD increases of both biodegradable polymers PBAT (LOD: 1.41–7.18 μg) and PLA (0.84–20.46 μg) were observed, probably due to their hetero‐functional character and interactions with the matrices. In conclusion, the TED‐GC/MS performance is not solely determined by the type of the polymers but also by the composition of the matrix. KW - TED-GC/MS KW - Microplastic KW - Freshwater matrices KW - Gas chromatography KW - Mass spectrometry PY - 2023 DO - https://doi.org/10.1002/appl.202200089 SN - 2702-4288 VL - 2 IS - 3 SP - 1 EP - 12 PB - Wiley-VCH CY - Weinheim AN - OPUS4-57419 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Dümichen, Erik A1 - Eisentraut, Paul A1 - Bannick, Claus Gerhard A1 - Barthel, Anne-Kathrin A1 - Braun, Ulrike A1 - Senz, R. T1 - Fast identification of microplastics in complex environmental samples by a thermal degradation method N2 - n order to determine the relevance of microplastic particles in various environmental media, comprehensive investigations are needed. However, no analytical method exists for fast identification and quantification. At present, optical spectroscopy methods like IR and RAMAN imaging are used. Due to their time consuming procedures and uncertain extrapolation, reliable monitoring is difficult. For analyzing polymers Py-GC-MS is a standard method. However, due to a limited sample amount of about 0.5 mg it is not suited for analysis of complex sample mixtures like environmental samples. Therefore, we developed a new thermoanalytical method as a first step for identifying microplastics in environmental samples. A sample amount of about 20 mg, which assures the homogeneity of the sample, is subjected to complete thermal decomposition. The specific degradation products of the respective polymer are adsorbed on a solid-phase adsorber and subsequently analyzed by thermal desorption gas chromatography mass spectrometry. For certain identification, the specific degradation products for the respective polymer were selected first. Afterwards real environmental samples from the aquatic (three different rivers) and the terrestrial (bio gas plant) systems were screened for microplastics. Mainly polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE) and polystyrene (PS) were identified for the samples from the bio gas plant and PE and PS from the rivers. However, this was only the first step and quantification measurements will follow. KW - Thermal Degradation KW - Microplastic PY - 2017 DO - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2017.02.010 VL - 174 SP - 572 EP - 584 PB - Elsevier Ltd. AN - OPUS4-42143 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Dümichen, Erik A1 - Eisentraut, Paul A1 - Braun, Ulrike T1 - Polymere und Mikroplastik in der Umwelt N2 - Es wird ein neues und voll automatisiertes Verfahren vorgestellt für die Analyse von Mikroplastik in der Umwelt. KW - Mikroplastik KW - TED PY - 2017 SN - 0016-3538 VL - 61 IS - 9 SP - 24 EP - 27 PB - Wiley AN - OPUS4-42170 LA - deu AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Eisentraut, Paul A1 - Dümichen, Erik A1 - Ruhl, A. A1 - Jekel, M. A1 - Albrecht, M. A1 - Gehde, M. A1 - Braun, Ulrike T1 - Two Birds with One Stone-Fast and Simultaneous Analysis of Microplastics: Microparticles Derived from Thermoplastics and Tire Wear N2 - Analysis of microplastic particles (MP) in environmental samples needs sophisticated techniques and is time intensive due to sample preparation and detection. An alternative to the most common (micro ) spectroscopic techniques, FTIR or Raman spectroscopy, are the thermoanalytical methods, where specific decomposition products can be analyzed as marker compounds for different kind of plastics types and mass contents. Thermal extraction desorption gas chromatography mass spectrometry (TED-GC-MS) allows the fast identification and quantification of MP in environmental samples without sample preparation. Whereas up to now only the analysis of thermoplastic polymers was realized, this is the first time that even the analysis of tire wear (TW) content in environmental samples is possible. Various marker compounds for TW were identified. They include characteristic decomposition products of elastomers, antioxidants and vulcanization agents. Advantages and drawbacks of these marker substances were evaluated. Environmental samples from street run off were exemplarily investigated and presented. KW - TED-GC-MS KW - Microplastic KW - Tire wear PY - 2018 DO - https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.estlett.8b00446 VL - 5 IS - 10 SP - 608 EP - 613 PB - American Chemical Society AN - OPUS4-46460 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Braun, Ulrike A1 - Eisentraut, Paul A1 - Fuchs, S. A1 - Deglmann, P. T1 - Sulphurous additives for polystyrene: Influencing decomposition behavior in the condensed phase N2 - The thermal decomposition behaviour of polystyrene (PS) containing sulphur and phosphorus additives was investigated, using thermogravimetry coupled with Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (TGA-FTIR). It was found that the additives influence the decomposition process of the polymer in the condensed phase, resulting in a decrease in styrene monomer formation and an increase in styrene oligmer derivatives. Via reference measurements with binary mixtures it was found that the presence of sulphur additives influences the radicalic decomposition process of PS. In combination with quantum chemical calculations it was concluded that this is due to the formation of radicals that abstract hydrogen from the polymer matrix at lower temperatures, disfavouring the radicalic decomposition pathway leading to styrene. KW - Degradation KW - Theory and modeling KW - Thermogravimetric analysis KW - Polystyrene PY - 2015 DO - https://doi.org/10.1002/APP.41665 SN - 0021-8995 SN - 1097-4628 VL - 132 IS - 12 SP - 41665, 1 EP - 13 PB - Wiley InterScience CY - Hoboken, NJ AN - OPUS4-32380 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Dümichen, Erik A1 - Eisentraut, Paul A1 - Bannick, Claus Gerhard A1 - Barthel, Anne-Kathrin A1 - Senz, R. A1 - Braun, Ulrike T1 - Fast identification of microplastics in complex environmental samples by a thermal degradation method N2 - In order to determine the relevance of microplastic particles in various environmental media, comprehensive investigations are needed. However, no analytical method exists for fast identification and quantification. At present, optical spectroscopy methods like IR and RAMAN imaging are used. Due to their time consuming procedures and uncertain extrapolation, reliable monitoring is difficult. For analyzing polymers Py-GC-MS is a standard method. However, due to a limited sample amount of about 0.5 mg it is not suited for analysis of complex sample mixtures like environmental samples. Therefore, we developed a new thermoanalytical method as a first step for identifying microplastics in environmental samples. A sample amount of about 20 mg, which assures the homogeneity of the sample, is subjected to complete thermal decomposition. The specific degradation products of the respective polymer are adsorbed on a solid-Phase adsorber and subsequently analyzed by thermal Desorption gas chromatography mass spectrometry. For certain identification, the specific degradation products for the respective polymer were selected first. Afterwards real environmental samples from the aquatic (three different rivers) and the terrestrial (bio gas plant) systems were screened for microplastics. Mainly polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE) and polystyrene (PS) were identified for the samples from the bio gas plant and PE and PS from the rivers. However, this was only the first step and quantification measurements will follow. KW - Microplastics KW - Thermal desorption KW - Gas chromatography PY - 2017 DO - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2017.02.010 SN - 0045-6535 SN - 1879-1298 IS - 174 SP - 572 EP - 584 PB - Elsevier AN - OPUS4-40235 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Klöckner, P. A1 - Reemtsma, T. A1 - Eisentraut, Paul A1 - Braun, Ulrike A1 - Ruhl, A. S. A1 - Wagner, S. T1 - Tire and road wear particles in road environment e Quantification and assessment of particle dynamics by Zn determination after density separation N2 - In this study, a method for the determination of tire and road wear particle (TRWP) contents in particulate samples from road Environment was developed. Zn was identified as the most suitable elemental marker for TRWP, due to its high concentration in tire tread and the possibility of separation from other Zn sources. The mean concentration of 21 tire samples was 8.7 ± 2.0 mg Zn/g. Before quantification in samples from road environment, TRWP were separated from the particulate matrix by density separation. Method development was conducted using shredded tread particles (TP) as a surrogate for TRWP. Recovery of TP from spiked sediment was 95 ± 17% in a concentration range of 2 - 200 mg TP/g. TP determination was not affected by other Zn containing solids or spiked Zn-salts. By adjusting the density of the separation solution to 1.9 g/cm3, more than 90% of total TRWP were separated from the sample matrix. TRWP concentrations in particulate matter collected in two road runoff treatment Systems ranged from 0.38 to 150 mg TRWP/g. Differences in quantified TRWP contents of the two Systems indicate changes in particle dynamics due to ageing and aggregation processes. The developed method allows TRWP determination in road runoff and in environments that are influenced by road traffic. The validated separation procedure can also be applied for TRWP characterization in future studies. KW - Zinc analysis KW - Microplastics KW - Tire particles PY - 2019 VL - 222 SP - 714 EP - 721 PB - Elsevier AN - OPUS4-47433 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Dümichen, Erik A1 - Eisentraut, Paul A1 - Celina, M. A1 - Braun, Ulrike T1 - Automated thermal extraction-desorption gas chromatography mass spectrometry: A multifunctional tool for comprehensive characterization of polymers and their degradation products N2 - The TED-GC-MS analysis is a two-step method. A sample is first decomposed in a thermogravimetric analyzer (TGA) and the gaseous decomposition products are then trapped on a solid-phase adsorber. Subsequently, the solid-phase adsorber is analyzed with thermal desorption gas chromatography mass spectrometry (TDU-GC-MS). This method is ideally suited for the analysis of polymers and their degradation processes. Here, a new entirely automated System is introduced which enables high sample throughput and reproducible automated fractioned collection of decomposition products. Strengths and limitations of the system configuration are elaborated via three examples focused on practical challenges in materials analysis and identification: i) separate analysis of the components of a wood-plastic-composite material, ii) quantitative determination of weight concentration of the constituents of a polymer blend and iii) quantitative analysis of model samples of microplastics in suspended particulate matter. KW - Thermal extraction-desorption gas chromatography mass spectrometry KW - Analysis KW - Polymers KW - Microplastics KW - Automation PY - 2019 DO - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chroma.2019.01.033 VL - 1592 SP - 133 EP - 142 PB - Elsevier CY - Amsterdam AN - OPUS4-48287 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Wiesner, Yosri A1 - Eisentraut, Paul A1 - Altmann, Korinna T1 - One Year Observation of Microplastic Concentrations in the River Rhine N2 - In recent years, the quantification of microplastics (MP) in aquatic environments has gained increasing attention, particularly regarding their environmental distribution and potential exposure levels. Environmentally relevant exposure data are still essential for a realistic risk assessment of the harmful health potential of microplastics in freshwater systems. This study addresses a large data set of MP concentrations analyzed and processed under statistical aspects and provides mass concentrations as well as associated size fractions of the detected MP. Over a 12 month period, samples were collected at three locations and analyzed across three particle size fractions (100−500 μm, 50−100 μm, and 10−50 μm) using thermalextraction desorption-gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (TED-GC/MS). The most prevalent polymers identified were polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polystyrene (PS), styrene−butadiene rubber (SBR), and natural rubber (NR). Statistical analyses, including principal component and cluster analysis, revealed size-dependent patterns,minor seasonal variation and spatial variations. These findings are particularly significant for ecotoxicological research and regulatory development, especially regarding tire abrasion a rarely quantified but potentially harmful MP source. The study contributes aluable data for future environmental monitoring and supports EU directives on wastewater and drinking water quality KW - TED-GC/MS KW - Microplastics KW - Environment KW - Monitoring KW - Reference data PY - 2026 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-654669 DO - https://doi.org/10.1021/acsestwater.5c00530 SN - 2690-0637 SP - 1 EP - 10 PB - American Chemical Society (ACS) AN - OPUS4-65466 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Dittmar, Stefan A1 - Weyrauch, Steffen A1 - Reemtsma, Thorsten A1 - Eisentraut, Paul A1 - Altmann, Korinna A1 - Ruhl, Aki S. A1 - Jekel, Martin T1 - Settling Velocities of Tire and Road Wear Particles: Analyzing Finely Graded Density Fractions of Samples from a Road Simulator and a Highway Tunnel N2 - The terminal settling velocity is considered the most critical parameter determining the transport of tire and road wear particles (TRWP) in aquatic environments. Nonetheless, no respective empirical data has been reported so far. In this study, particle samples from a road simulator and a highway tunnel were investigated with a validated imaging method. Different density and size fractions of both samples were measured separately, acquiring sizes and settling velocities of more than 30,000 individual particles. In addition, tire marker polymers were analyzed for each fraction via thermal extraction desorption-gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. Finally, the acquired particle data was combined according to the fractions’ estimated tire contents in order to deduce detailed probability distributions of particle size and settling velocity for the actual TRWP from both samples. Weighted by TRWP-incorporated tire mass, median diameters of 54 and 44 μm as well as median settling velocities of 0.65 and 0.22 mm/s were found for TRWP from the road simulator and highway tunnel, respectively. This study thus provides the first ever empirical data on TRWP settling velocities in water, which can be highly valuable input for modeling the environmental transport of TRWP and for dimensioning TRWP retention systems. KW - Microplastics KW - TED-GC/MS KW - Sinking velocities KW - Transport PY - 2025 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-635449 DO - https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.5c04165 SN - 0013-936X VL - 59 IS - 26 SP - 13434 EP - 13446 PB - American Chemical Society (ACS) AN - OPUS4-63544 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Goedecke, C. A1 - Eisentraut, Paul A1 - Altmann, Korinna A1 - Elert, Anna Maria A1 - Bannick, C. G. A1 - Ricking, M. A1 - Obermaier, N. A1 - Barthel, A.-K. A1 - Schmitt, T. A1 - Jekel, M. A1 - Braun, U. T1 - Development of a routine screening method for the microplastic mass content in a wastewater treatment plant effluent N2 - An investigation of microplastic (MP) occurrence in a municipal wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) effluent with tertiary treatment was carried out. Representative sample volumes of 1 m3 were taken by applying a fractionated filtration method (500, 100, and 50 µm mesh sizes). The detection of MP mass fractions by thermal extraction desorption–gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (TED-GC/MS) was achieved without the previously required additional sample pretreatment for the first time. Different types of quantification methods for the evaluation of TED-GC/MS data were tested, and their accuracy and feasibility have been proven for real samples. Polyethylene, polystyrene, and polypropylene were identified in effluent samples. The polymer mass content varied significantly between 5 and 50 mg m−3. A correlation between the MP load and the quantity of suspended matter in the WWTP effluents, particle size distribution, particle type, and operation day (i.e., weekday, season, and capacity) was not found. It can be concluded that a meaningful assessment of WWTPs requires a comprehensive sampling campaign with varying operation conditions. KW - Microplastic KW - Waste water treatment KW - Thermoanalytics PY - 2022 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-550862 DO - https://doi.org/10.3389/fenvc.2022.844633 SN - 2673-4486 VL - 3 SP - 1 EP - 10 PB - Frontiers Media CY - Lausanne AN - OPUS4-55086 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Eisentraut, Paul A1 - Altmann, Korinna T1 - Repräsentative Mikroplastik-Detektion in Umweltproben - Weiterentwicklung der TED-GC/MS N2 - Die große Herausforderung in der Detektion von Mikroplastik (MP)‑Partikeln (1-1000 µm) besteht darin, sie neben Millionen von natürlichen Partikeln in Umweltproben nachzuweisen. Zum Aufspüren von Senken, Eintragspfaden und für Monitoring-Kampagnen ist ein schnelles, automatisiertes Verfahren unerlässlich. Ein solches Verfahren wurde an der Bundesanstalt für Materialforschung und -prüfung (BAM) mit der ThermoExtraktion/Desorption-Gaschromatographie-Massenspektrometrie (TED-GC/MS) in den letzten Jahren entwickelt. KW - Mikroplastik KW - TED-GC/MS PY - 2021 UR - https://analyticalscience.wiley.com/do/10.1002/was.0004000195 SN - 0016-3538 SP - 2 EP - 5 PB - Wiley-VCH CY - Weinheim AN - OPUS4-54266 LA - deu AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Braun, Ulrike A1 - Bannick, C.G. A1 - Szewzyk, R. A1 - Ricking, M. A1 - Schniegler, S. A1 - Obermaier, N. A1 - Barthel, A. K. A1 - Altmann, Korinna A1 - Eisentraut, Paul T1 - Development and testing of a fractionated filtration for sampling of microplastics in water N2 - A harmonization of sampling, sample preparation and detection is pivotal in order to obtain comparable data on microplastics (MP) in the environment. This paper develops and proposes a suitable sampling concept for waterbodies that considers different plastic specific properties and influencing factors in the environment. Both artificial water including defined MP fractions and the discharge of a wastewater treatment plant were used to verify the derived sampling procedure, sample preparation and the subsequent analysis of MP using thermal extraction-desorption gas chromatography - mass spectrometry (TED-GC-MS). A major finding of this paper is that an application of various particle size classes greatly improves the practical handling of the sampling equipment. Size classes also enable the TED-GC-MS to provide any data on the MP size distribution, a substantial sampling property affecting both the necessary sampling volume and the optimal sampling depth. In the artificial water with defined MP fractions, the recovery rates ranged from 80 to 110%, depending on the different MP types and MP size classes. In the treated wastewater, we found both Polyethylene and polystyrene in different size classes and quantities. KW - Microplastics KW - Sampling KW - Sampling techniques KW - Water PY - 2019 DO - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2018.10.045 SN - 0043-1354 VL - 149 SP - 650 EP - 658 PB - Elsevier AN - OPUS4-47200 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Elert, Anna Maria A1 - Becker, Roland A1 - Dümichen, Erik A1 - Eisentraut, Paul A1 - Falkenhagen, Jana A1 - Sturm, Heinz A1 - Braun, Ulrike T1 - Comparison of different methods for MP detection: What can we learn from them, and why asking the right question before measurments matters? N2 - In recent years, an increasing trend towards investigating and monitoring the contamination of the environment by microplastics (MP) (plastic pieces < 5 mm) has been observed worldwide. Nonetheless, a reliable methodology that would facilitate and automate the monitoring of MP is still lacking. With the goal of selecting practical and standardized methods, and considering the challenges in microplastics detection, we present here a critical evaluation of two vibrational spectroscopies, Raman and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, and two extraction methods: thermal extraction desorption gas chromatography mass spectrometry (TED-GC-MS) and liquid extraction with subsequent size exclusion chromatography (SEC) using a soil with known contents of PE, PP, PS and PET as reference material. The obtained results were compared in terms of measurement time, technique handling, detection limits and requirements for sample preparation. The results showed that in designing and selecting the right methodology, the scientific question that determines what needs to be understood is significant, and should be considered carefully prior to analysis. Depending on whether the object of interest is quantification of the MP particles in the sample, or merely a quick estimate of sample contamination with plastics, the appropriate method must be selected. To obtain overall information about MP in environmental samples, the combination of several parallel approaches should be considered. KW - Microplastics KW - FTIR imaging KW - Raman imaging KW - TED-GC-MS KW - SEC KW - Analysis and identification PY - 2017 DO - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2017.08.074 SN - 0269-7491 SN - 1873-6424 VL - 231 IS - 2 SP - 1256 EP - 1264 PB - Elsevier AN - OPUS4-42157 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER -