TY - JOUR A1 - Putzu, Mara A1 - Wiesner, Yosri A1 - Weimann, Christiane A1 - Hodoroaba, Vasile-Dan A1 - Muniategui Lorenzo, Soledad A1 - Fernández-Gonzáles, Verónica A1 - Booth, Andy M. A1 - Igartua, Amaia A1 - Benismail, Nizar A1 - Coïc, Laureen A1 - Chivas-Joly, Carine A1 - Fenoglio, Ivana A1 - Rossi, Andrea Mario A1 - Giovannozzi, Andrea Mario A1 - Altmann, Korinna T1 - Optimization of tablet processing as a reference material for microplastic detection methods N2 - Reference materials (RMs) are essential and highly demanded tools for the development and validation of methods for microplastic (MP) quantification in complex matrices, to ensure comparable and harmonized approaches aligned with EU commission criteria for monitoring MPs (e.g., Drinking Water Directive and Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive). This study investigates different approaches for optimizing the production of polypropylene (PP) RMs in the form of water-soluble tablets, which were carefully evaluated for their homogeneity and stability according to ISO Guide 30, ISO 33401, and ISO 33405. PP particles (1–100 μm) were produced by cryomilling and embedded in a lactose/PEG matrix, then pressed into tablets (18 µg theoretical PP mass). The production process was optimized by varying (i) the size distribution of the matrix components and (ii) the mixer instrument. The materials obtained were characterized by thermogravimetric analysis to assess the homogeneity distribution of MPs with respect to PP mass in the individual tablets and their stability over a 4-month period. The most promising approach, with a homogenous mass of 19 μg (standard deviation of 4 μg), relative standard deviation of 19%, was further investigated for homogeneity by comparison with thermo-analytical mass determination methods, such as TED-GC/MS (thermal extraction desorption-gas chromatography/mass spectrometry) and Py-GC/MS (pyrolysis-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry), and for number-based characterization using micro-Raman spectroscopy. Material characterization was also examined using laser diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and ATR-FTIR. Based on the results, the optimized processing protocol yields a PP RM suitable for quality control and method performance studies supporting standardization. KW - Microplastics KW - TED-GC/MS KW - Reference materials KW - Polypropylene PY - 2025 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-653290 DO - https://doi.org/10.1007/s00216-025-06271-7 SN - 1618-2642 SP - 1 EP - 14 PB - Springer Science and Business Media LLC AN - OPUS4-65329 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Drago, C A1 - Wiesner, Yosri A1 - Braun, U A1 - Giovannozi, A A1 - Fadda, M A1 - Putzu, Mara A1 - Lorenzo, S A1 - Moscoso-Pérez, C A1 - Benismail, N A1 - Palma, C A1 - Almeida, J A1 - Mattarozzi, M A1 - Barbaresi, M A1 - Piergiovanni, M A1 - Masino, M A1 - Bianchi, F A1 - Careri, M A1 - v Bavel, B A1 - Maltseva, A A1 - Sillanpää, M A1 - Pröfrock, D A1 - Wippermann, D A1 - Altmann, Korinna T1 - Harmonisation of sample preparation for microplastic analysis: Recovery rates of tablets containing microplastics as reference material for food and environmental matrix N2 - Microplastic are found ubiquitarians in the environment and food products. Up to now, their impact of risks on health and environment is still controversially discussed, but based on the precautionary principle alone, their presence should be monitored and emission should be reduced (see here also the status of existing EU regulations ). The crucial point is not only the reduction of microplastics pollution but also the introduction of legally binding, standardized procedures for their analysis. The limited availability of certified reference material as well as absence of standard operating procedures to identify, characterize and quantify microplastics according to number and mass have generated lack of comparability between different analytical methods and laboratories; but also, the need of time-consuming development of own protocols for each laboratory. Further on, harmonisation and standardisation of microplastics analysis requires specific reference materials that are used to validate the measurement and to ensure the comparability of results. In the first step, we developed tablets of a water-soluble matrix, containing defined numbers of microplastic particles or mass contents. These can be solved in water and can be handled as reference materials in bottled drinking water without additional sample preparation. These samples can be measured, using mass-based methods as thermo-analytical methods like thermal desorption-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (TED-GC/MS) or pyrolysis–gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (Py-GC/MS) and using umber-based methods as vibrational spectroscopy like Infrared and Raman directly after filtration. The aim of this work was to delevop standard operating procedure to measure microplastics in more complex matrices and to harmonise and compare different detection and characterization methods. In fact, these matrices require different additional treatments to allow a reliable quantification and identification of microplastics. T2 - SETAC Europe 2025 CY - Vienna, Austria DA - 11.05.2025 KW - Microplastics KW - Nanoplastics PY - 2025 AN - OPUS4-63366 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER -