TY - JOUR A1 - Altmann, Korinna A1 - Goedecke, Caroline A1 - Bannick, C.-G. A1 - Abusafia, A. A1 - Scheid, C. A1 - Steinmetz, H. A1 - Paul, Andrea A1 - Beleites, C. A1 - Braun, U. T1 - Identification of microplastic pathways within a typical European urban wastewater system N2 - In recent years, thermoextraction/desorption-gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (TED-GC/MS) has been developed as a rapid detection method for the determination of microplastics (MP) mass contents in numerous environmentally relevant matrices and, in particular, for the measurement of polymers in water samples without time-consuming sample preparation. The TED-GC/MS method was applied to investigate a typical European municipal wastewater system for possible MP masses. Such investigations are important in view of the recent revision of the Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive. Four different representative sampling sites were selected: greywater (domestic wastewater without toilet), combined sewer, and influent and effluent of a wastewater treatment plant (WWTP). All samples were collected by fractional filtration. Filtration was carried out over mesh sizes of 500, 100, 50, and in some cases, 5 µm. Polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), and polystyrene (PS) were detected in all samples, with the PE fraction dominating in all cases. Styrene-butadiene rubber which serves as an indication of tire abrasion, was only found in the influent of the WWTP. The highest MP mass contents were found in the combined sewer, so MP can become a source of pollution during heavy rain events when the capacity limits of the effluent are reached, and the polluted effluent is released uncontrolled into the environment. Based on the studies, MP retention from the WWTP could be estimated to be approximately 96%. Few trends in polymer type or mass contents were detected within the different fractions of the samples or when comparing samples to each other. KW - Microplastics KW - Microplastic analysis KW - TED-GC/MS KW - Microplastic pathways KW - Mass contents PY - 2023 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-568289 DO - https://doi.org/doi.org/10.1002/appl.202200078 SP - 1 EP - 10 PB - Wiley-VCH CY - Weinheim AN - OPUS4-56828 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Oksal-Kilinc, Sefine A1 - Altmann, Korinna A1 - Seiwert, Bettina A1 - Reemtsma, Thorsten A1 - Ruess, Liliane T1 - Grinding method and oxidative aging modulate the impact of tire wear microplastics on the reproduction of the nematode C. elegans N2 - Rationale Tire abrasion is one of the largest sources of microplastic in aquatic and terrestrial environments. Despite this fact, research on tire wear microplastic (TWP) and its effects on soil ecosystems is scarce, especially regarding natural weathering processes. This leaves a large knowledge gap on the interactions of TWP with soil biota. Methodology Cryo-milled tire tread (CMTT) and diamond-ground tire tread (DGTT) were artificially weathered through dry ozone treatment and heat exposure. Particles were analyzed via scanning electron microscopy, particle size distribution, and shape characterization. TWP leachate composition was examined using liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry. The impact on the reproduction of the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, a widely used toxicological model, was tested for leachate concentration, exposure duration and TWP aging status, using offspring per adult as the endpoint. Results The comminution method significantly influenced TWP particle size distribution, with diamond grinding yielding smaller particles and a more structured surface morphology than cryo-milling. Aging with ozone (180 min) and heat (20 min at 100 °C) reduced DGTT particle sizes by 27-58%, but not in CMTT. Additionally, aging increased carboxylic functional groups and led to a brittle structure in both TWP types. Leachate composition varied with comminution method and aging. Benzothiazole, N-Cyclo-N-phenylurea, and aniline were more abundant in pristine and aged CMTT and aged DGTT. Diphenylguanidine had the highest concentration in all leachates. Aged TWP leachates, regardless of comminution, had significant toxic effects on C. elegans. Leachate from pristine CMTT was more toxic than from pristine DGTT. Nematode offspring correlated negatively with ozone exposure duration in aged DGTT. Tests with aged CMTT leachate showed even short-term exposure reduced offspring numbers. Discussion The results underscore the importance of oxidative and mechanical weathering in TWP toxicity and challenge the use of pristine particles in toxicological assays for risk assessment in the natural environment. KW - Microplastics KW - Tire abrasion KW - Environment PY - 2025 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-654672 DO - https://doi.org/10.1071/EN25051 SN - 1448-2517 VL - 23 IS - 2 SP - 1 EP - 16 PB - CSIRO Publishing AN - OPUS4-65467 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Tannenberg, Robert A1 - Paul, Martin A1 - Röder, Bettina A1 - Gande, S. L. A1 - Sreeramulu, S. A1 - Saxena, K. A1 - Richter, C. A1 - Schwalbe, H. A1 - Swart, C. A1 - Weller, Michael G. T1 - Chemiluminescence biosensor for the determination of cardiac troponin I (cTnI) N2 - Cardiac troponin I (cTnI) is a crucial biomarker for diagnosing cardiac vascular diseases, including acute myocardial infarction (AMI). This study presents a proof-of-concept chemiluminescence-based immunosensor for rapid and accurate measurement of cTnI, with the potential for online monitoring. The immunosensor incorporates a flow cell design and a sensitive complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) camera for optical readout. A microfluidic setup was established to enable selective and quasi-online determination of cTnI within ten minutes. The sensor was tested with recombinant cTnI in phosphate buffer, demonstrating measurements in the concentration range of 2–25 µg/L, with a limit of detection (LoD) of 0.6 µg/L (23 pmol/L) achieved using the optimized system. The immunosensor exhibited high selectivity, as no cross-reactivity was observed with other recombinant proteins such as cTnT and cTnC at a concentration of 16 µg/L. Measurements with diluted blood plasma and serum yielded an LoD of 60 µg/L (2.4 nmol/L) and 70 µg/L (2.9 nmol/L), respectively. This biosensor offers a promising approach for the rapid and sensitive detection of cTnI, contributing to the diagnosis and management of acute myocardial infarction and other cardiac vascular diseases. N2 - Das kardiale Troponin I (cTnI) ist ein wichtiger Biomarker für die Diagnose von Herz-Kreislauf-Erkrankungen, einschließlich des akuten Myokardinfarkts (AMI). In dieser Studie wird ein auf Chemilumineszenz basierender Immunsensor für die schnelle und genaue Messung von cTnI vorgestellt, der das Potenzial für eine Online-Überwachung hat. Der Immunsensor besteht aus einer Durchflusszelle und einer empfindlichen CMOS-Kamera (Complementary Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor) zur optischen Detektion. Es wurde ein mikrofluidischer Aufbau entwickelt, der eine selektive und quasi Online-Bestimmung von cTnI innerhalb von zehn Minuten ermöglicht. Der Sensor wurde mit rekombinantem cTnI in Phosphatpuffer getestet und zeigte einen Messbereich von 2-25 µg/L, wobei mit dem optimierten System eine Nachweisgrenze (LoD) von 0,6 µg/L (23 pmol/L) erreicht wurde. Der Immunsensor zeigte eine hohe Selektivität, da keine Kreuzreaktivität mit anderen rekombinanten Proteinen wie cTnT und cTnC bei einer Konzentration von 16 µg/L beobachtet wurde. Messungen mit verdünntem Blutplasma und Serum ergaben einen LoD von 60 µg/L (2,4 nmol/L) bzw. 70 µg/L (2,9 nmol/L). Dieser Biosensor bietet einen vielversprechenden Ansatz für den schnellen und empfindlichen Nachweis von cTnI, der zur Diagnose und Behandlung des akuten Myokardinfarkts und anderer kardialer Gefäßerkrankungen beitragen kann. KW - Acute myocardial infarction KW - Heart attack KW - Emergency KW - Diagnosis KW - Cardiac troponin KW - Biomarker KW - Immunosensor KW - Biosensor KW - Chemiluminescence KW - Luminol KW - Peroxidase KW - Monoclonal antibodies KW - Flow injection immunoassay KW - Immunometric assay KW - Immunometric biosensor KW - Microfluidic system KW - Monolithic column KW - Online biosensor PY - 2023 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-575471 DO - https://doi.org/10.3390/bios13040455 SN - 2079-6374 VL - 13 IS - 4 SP - 1 EP - 20 PB - MDPI CY - Basel AN - OPUS4-57547 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Altmann, Korinna A1 - Portela, Raquel A1 - Barbero, Francesco A1 - Breuninger, Esther A1 - Camassa, Laura Maria Azzurra A1 - Velickovic, Tanja Cirkovic A1 - Charitidis, Costas A1 - Costa, Anna A1 - Fadda, Marta A1 - Fengler, Petra A1 - Fenoglio, Ivana A1 - Giovannozzi, Andrea M. A1 - Haugen, Øyvind Pernell A1 - Kainourgios, Panagiotis A1 - von der Kammer, Frank A1 - Kirchner, Markus J. A1 - Lomax-Vogt, Madeleine A1 - Lujic, Tamara A1 - Milczewski, Frank A1 - Moussawi, Mhamad Aly A1 - Ortelli, Simona A1 - Parac-Vogt, Tatjana N. A1 - Potthoff, Annegret A1 - Reinosa, Julian J. A1 - Röschter, Sophie A1 - Sacco, Alessio A1 - Wimmer, Lukas A1 - Zanoni, Ilaria A1 - Dailey, Lea Ann T1 - Characterizing nanoplastic suspensions of increasing complexity: Inter-laboratory comparison of size measurements using dynamic light scattering N2 - Understanding the potential human health risks associated with micro- and nanoplastic exposure is currently a priority research area. Nanoplastic toxicity studies are complicated by the lack of available, well-characterized test and reference materials. Further, many nanoplastic test materials are inherently more polydisperse and heterogenous in shape compared to polystyrene beads, making accurate and representative size distribution measurements particularly challenging. The aim of this study was to conduct an inter-laboratory comparison of dynamic light scattering measurements, the most commonly used particle sizing method for nanomaterials. Using a published standard operating procedure, size measurements in water and a standardized cell culture medium (CCM) were generated for spherical, carboxy-functionalized polystyrene nanoparticles (PS-COOH; 50 nm; benchmark material), and for increasingly complex in-house produced spherical poly(ethylene terephthalate) (nanoPET) and irregular shaped polypropylene (nanoPP) test materials. The weighted mean of hydrodynamic diameters of PS-COOH dispersed in water (55 ± 5 nm) showed moderate variation between labs (coefficient of variation, CV = 8.2%) and were similar to literature reports. Measurements of nanoPET (82 ± 6 nm) and nanoPP (182 ± 12 nm) in water exhibited similar CV values (nanoPET: 7.3% and nanoPP; 6.8%). Dispersion of PS-COOH and nanoPET in CCM increased the CV to 15.1 and 14.2%, respectively, which is lower than literature reports (CV = 30%). We conclude with a series of practical recommendations for robust size measurements of nanoplastics in both water and complex media highlighting that strict adherence to a standard operating procedure is required to prevent particle agglomeration in CCM KW - Nanoplastics KW - Reference materials KW - Polypropylene PY - 2025 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-644571 DO - https://doi.org/10.1039/d5en00645g SN - 2051-8153 SP - 1 EP - 15 PB - Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) CY - Cambridge AN - OPUS4-64457 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - 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 - JOUR A1 - Putzu, Mara A1 - Barbaresi, Marta A1 - Fadda, Marta A1 - Sacco, Alessio A1 - Piergiovanni, Maurizio A1 - Masino, Matteo A1 - Bianchi, Federica A1 - Altmann, Korinna A1 - Benismail, Nizar A1 - Coïc, Laureen A1 - Fenoglio, Ivana A1 - Mattarozzi, Monica A1 - Rossi, Andrea Mario A1 - Careri, Maria A1 - Giovannozzi, Andrea Mario T1 - Accuracy assessment of a micro-Raman spectroscopy method for small microplastic particles in infant milk formula N2 - The presence of microplastics (MPs) in the food chain is increasingly documented, raising concerns over potential risks to human health. Despite growing efforts, standardized methods for MPs detection in food matrices remain limited. This study presents an interlaboratory comparison (ILC) aimed at assessing the accuracy and comparability of an analytical approach for the identification and quantification of small MPs (5–100 μm) in infant milk powder using μ-Raman spectroscopy and a representative polyethylene terephthalate (PET) reference material (RM). The RM, formulated as water-soluble tablets, was designed to replicate the morphology, size distribution, and polymer composition of environmentally relevant MPs, and was previously assessed for homogeneity and stability for mass fraction and particle numbers. The approach was assessed using two PET RM batches with different MPs particle numbers (high load batch: 1759 ± 141 MPs; low load batch: 160 ± 22 MPs), subjected to an enzymatic–chemical digestion, followed by μ-Raman analysis performed independently in two laboratories with different instruments and operators. Results are reported as absolute particle counts per analyzed sample and demonstrated excellent recovery across all size classes, including the smallest particles (down to 5 μm), with recovery rates ranging from 82 % to 88 %, in good agreement with the RM reference values. The analytical approach proved to be robust, reproducible, and suitable for low-level MPs quantification in complex food matrices, supporting ongoing efforts toward method harmonization and standardization for reliable MPs monitoring in the food sector. KW - Microplastics KW - Milk KW - Raman microspectroscopy PY - 2025 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-646239 DO - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.talo.2025.100586 SN - 2666-8319 VL - 12 SP - 1 EP - 8 PB - Elsevier B.V. AN - OPUS4-64623 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 - Visileanu, Emilia A1 - Altmann, Korinna A1 - Stepa, Raluca A1 - Haiducu, Maria A1 - Miclea, Paul Tiberiu A1 - Vladu, Alina A1 - Dondea, Felicia A1 - Grosu, Marian Catalin A1 - Scarlat, Razvan T1 - Comparative Analysis of Airborne Particle Concentrations in Textile Industry Environments Throughout the Workday N2 - This paper addresses the growing concern surrounding microplastic pollution, particularly within the textile industry, and the associated potential health risks linked to the inhalation and ingestion of microplastic particles. Microplastics, defined as plastic particles smaller than five millimeters, are increasingly found not only in aquatic environments, but also in soils, air, and food. Although research on the health impacts of microplastics is still emerging, early studies indicate that these particles could contribute to health issues, including oxidative stress, inflammation, and cardiovascular diseases. Notably, individuals with higher concentrations of plastics in arterial plaques are more susceptible to heart attacks and strokes. In the textile industry, synthetic fibers such as polyester, nylon, and acrylic release microplastics into the air during production. The paper discusses a study conducted in a textile company that processes polyester yarns, where airborne microplastic concentrations were measured at various locations throughout the day. Particle sizes ranging from 0.3 nm to 10 nm were analyzed, revealing the presence of polyester polymers in the particulate matter. These findings underscore the widespread nature of microplastic pollution, particularly in industrial settings, and raise concerns about the health risks associated with prolonged exposure to airborne microplastics. While further research is necessary to fully understand the extent of these health impacts, preliminary data suggest a troubling link between microplastic inhalation and cardiovascular conditions. KW - Microplastics KW - Textiles KW - Airborne particles PY - 2025 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-635269 DO - https://doi.org/10.3390/microplastics4020034 SN - 2673-8929 VL - 4 IS - 2 SP - 1 EP - 17 PB - MDPI AG AN - OPUS4-63526 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Fink, Friedrich A1 - Stawski, Tomasz M. A1 - Emmerling, Franziska A1 - Falkenhagen, Jana T1 - A novel machine-learning approach to unlock technical lignin classification by NIR spectroscopy - bench to handheld N2 - In this research, the utilization of near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy in conjunction with advanced machine learning methods is investigated for categorizing technical lignins obtained from different biomass sources and industrial procedures. Technical lignins, such as kraft, organosolv and lignosulfonates, have different chemical compositions, which continue to make uniform characterization and application in sustainable sectors extremely difficult. Fast, universally accessible analytics combined with data analysis is still an open question. For the first time three distinct NIR spectrometers—a high-performance benchtop system, a mid-priced compact device, and an economical handheld unit—were utilized to record NIR spectra of 31 unique lignin samples. The spectra underwent pre-processing through standard normal variate (SNV) transformation and Savitzky-Golay derivatives to amplify spectral features and decrease noise. Principal component analysis (PCA) was employed to reduce data complexity and extract crucial characteristics for classification purposes. Subsequently, four machine learning algorithms—Support Vector Machines (SVM), Gaussian Naive Bayes (GNB), Gaussian Process Classification (GPC), and Decision Tree Classification (DTC)—were implemented for the classification of the lignin samples. The DTC model exhibited the highest accuracy among them across different spectrometers. Although the benchtop spectrometer produced the most precise outcomes, the compact NeoSpectra system also displayed potential as a cost-efficient option. Nonetheless, the restricted spectral coverage of the handheld NIRONE spectrometer resulted in reduced classification accuracy. Our discoveries highlight the capability of NIR spectroscopy, combined with robust data analysis techniques, for the swift and non-destructive classification of technical lignins, facilitating their improved utilization in sustainable fields. KW - Technical lignins KW - NIR spectroscopy KW - Classification KW - Machine-learning KW - PCA PY - 2025 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-634518 DO - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemolab.2025.105467 SN - 0169-7439 VL - 264 SP - 1 EP - 10 PB - Elsevier B.V. CY - Amsterdam AN - OPUS4-63451 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Wiesner, Yosri A1 - Bednarz, Marius A1 - Braun, Ulrike A1 - Bannick, Claus Gerhard A1 - Ricking, Mathias A1 - Altmann, Korinna T1 - A promising approach to monitor microplastic masses in composts N2 - Inputs of plastic impurities into the environment via the application of fertilizers are regulated in Germany and the EU by means of ordinances. Robust and fast analytical methods are the basis of legal regulations. Currently, only macro- and large microplastic contents (>1 mm) are measured. Microplastics (1–1,000 µm), are not yet monitored. Thermal analytical methods are suitable for this purpose, which can determine the mass content and can also be operated fully automatically in routine mode. Thermal extraction desorption-gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (TED-GC/MS) allows the identification of polymers and the determination of mass contents in solid samples from natural environments. In accordance with the German or European Commission (EC) Fertiliser Ordinance, composting plants should be monitored for microplastic particles with this method in the future. In this context a compost plant was sampled. At the end of the rotting process, the compost was sieved and separated in a coarse (>1 mm) and a fine fraction (<1 mm). The fine fraction was processed using density separation comparing NaCl and NaI as possible salt alternative and screened for microplastic masses by TED-GC/MS with additional validation and quality assurance experiments. With TED-GC/MS total microplastics mass contents of 1.1–3.0 μg/mg in finished compost could be detected with polyethylene mainly. What differs much to the total mass of plastics in the coarse fraction with up to 60 μg/mg, which were visually searched, identified via ATR-FTIR and gravimetrically weighted. KW - Microplastics KW - TED-GC/MS KW - Compost KW - Monitoring KW - Soil PY - 2023 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-586688 DO - https://doi.org/10.3389/fenvc.2023.1281558 SN - 2673-4486 VL - 4 SP - 1 EP - 12 PB - Frontiers Media CY - Lausanne AN - OPUS4-58668 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Müller, Axel A1 - Altmann, Korinna A1 - Kocher, B. A1 - Braun, U. T1 - Determination of tire wear markers in soil samples and their distribution in a roadside soil N2 - Tire wear (TW) constitutes a significant source of microplastic in terrestrial ecosystems. It is known that particles emitted by roads can have an effect up to 100 m into adjacent areas. Here, we apply for the first-time thermal extraction desorption gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (TED-GC/MS) to determine TW in soil samples by detection of thermal decomposition products of styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR), without additional enrichment. Additionally, zinc contents were determined as an elemental marker for TW. Mixed soil samples were taken along three transects along a German motorway in 0.3, 2.0, and 5.0 m distance from the road. Sampling depths were 0–2, 2–5, 5–10, and 10–20 cm. Four fine fractions, 1 000–500, 500–100, 100–50, and <50 μm, were analyzed. TW contents based on SBR ranged from 155 to 15 898 mg kg−1. TW contents based on zinc were between 413 and 44 812 mg kg−1. Comparison of individual values of SBR and zinc reveals SBR as a more specific marker. Results confirm that most TW ends up in the topsoil within a 2 m distance. The sampling strategy resulted in representative data for a larger area. Standard deviations of quadruple TED-GC/MS determination of SBR were <10% for all grain size fractions. TED-GC/MS is a suitable analytical tool for determining TW in soil samples without the use of toxic chemicals, enrichment, or special sample preparation. KW - Microplastic KW - TED-GC/MS KW - Tire wear PY - 2022 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-543344 DO - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.133653 VL - 294 SP - 1 EP - 8 PB - Elsevier Ltd. AN - OPUS4-54334 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Senges, Gene A1 - de Oliveira Guilherme Buzanich, Ana A1 - Lindič, Tilen A1 - Gully, Tyler A. A1 - Winter, Marlon A1 - Radtke, Martin A1 - Röder, Bettina A1 - Steinhauer, Simon A1 - Paulus, Beate A1 - Emmerling, Franziska A1 - Riedel, Sebastian T1 - Unravelling highly oxidized nickel centers in the anodic black film formed during the Simons process by in situ X-ray absorption near edge structure spectroscopy N2 - The electrofluorination after Simons has been used for the last century to produce everyday life materials. An in situ XANES investigation of the controversially debated black film apparent in the Simons process revealed high-valent nickel centers. KW - Synchrotron KW - BAMline KW - XANES PY - 2024 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-608366 DO - https://doi.org/10.1039/d3sc06081k SN - 2041-6520 VL - 15 IS - 12 SP - 4504 EP - 4509 PB - Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) AN - OPUS4-60836 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Monikh, Fazel A. A1 - Materić, Dušan A1 - Valsami-Jones, Eugenia A1 - Grossart, Hans-Peter A1 - Altmann, Korinna A1 - Holzinger, Rupert A1 - Lynch, Iseult A1 - Stubenrauch, Jessica A1 - Peijnenburg, Willie T1 - Challenges in studying microplastics in human brain N2 - Human exposure to microplastics and nanoplastics (MNPs) is an emerging concern with potential implications for health. As awareness of this issue grows, it has prompted increasing scientific attention toward understanding if, and how, MNPs accumulate in human tissues. In a recent study, Nihart et al.1 used the analytical technique of pyrolysis gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (Py-GC–MS) to detect MNPs in human liver, kidney and brain, reporting the highest concentrations in the brain, with polyethylene as the predominant polymer. The study as reported appears to face methodological challenges, such as limited contamination controls and lack of validation steps, which May affect the reliability of the reported concentrations. In this Matters Arising, we highlight methodological limitations that have General relevance for advancing robust and reproducible MNP detection in human biomonitoring studies. KW - Microplastics KW - Nanoplastics KW - Py-GC-MS PY - 2025 DO - https://doi.org/10.1038/s41591-025-04045-3 SN - 1078-8956 VL - 31 IS - 12 SP - 1 EP - 3 PB - Springer Science and Business Media LLC AN - OPUS4-64698 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Béalu, Zoé A1 - Walther, Johanna A1 - Abusafia, Attaallah A1 - Altmann, Korinna A1 - Meurer, Maren A1 - Gretzschel, Oliver A1 - Schäfer, Michael A1 - Steinmetz, Heidrun T1 - Removal of Organic Micropollutants and Microplastics via Ozonation Followed by Granular Activated Carbon Filtration N2 - Discharge from Wastewater Treatment Plants (WWTPs) can result in the emission of organic micropollutants (OMPs) and microplastics (MPs) into the aquatic environment. To prevent this harmful release, a pilot plant consisting of an ozonation followed by a granular activated carbon (GAC) filter was operated at a WWTP in Germany, and its side-effects on the concentrations of nitrogen (N) and phosphorous (P) compounds were measured. Over 80% of OMPs and transformation products were removed during the operating time (around 6000 bed volumes) no matter the ozone dose (from around 0.1 to 0.5 mgO3/mgDOC), except for Diatrizoic acid, whose breakthrough appeared at 3500 BV. Formation of the oxidation by-product, NDMA, increased with higher ozone doses, but the concentration remained below 100 ng/L. Bromate was formed at a higher ozone dose (0.4 mgO3/mgDOC) but at a low concentration—below 10 µg/L. The MP particles detected in the inflow (PE, SBR, PP, and PS) were effectively eliminated to a high degree, with a removal rate of at least 92%. Carbon parameters (COD, DOC, and SAC254) were removed further by the pilot plant, but to different extents. As expected, nitrate was formed during ozonation, while nitrite’s concentration decreased. Further, nitrite decreased and nitrate increased within the GAC filter, while ammonium was eliminated by at least 90%. Total P concentration decreased after the pilot, but the concentration of PO4-P increased. KW - Microplastics KW - TED-GC/MS KW - Granular Activated Carbon Filtration KW - Removal of Organic Micropollutants KW - Wastewater treatment plant PY - 2024 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-615209 DO - https://doi.org/10.3390/environments11110241 VL - 11 IS - 11 SP - 1 EP - 38 PB - MDPI AG AN - OPUS4-61520 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Fadda, Marta A1 - Sacco, Alessio A1 - Altmann, Korinna A1 - Ciornii, Dmitri A1 - Milczewski, Frank A1 - Bañares, Miguel A. A1 - Portela, Raquel A1 - Giovannozzi, Andrea Mario A1 - Rossi, Andrea Mario T1 - Tracking nanoplastics in drinking water: a new frontier with the combination of dielectrophoresis and Raman spectroscopy N2 - Detection of micro- (MPs) and nanoplastics (NPs) in food and environmental matrices has been gaining relevance due to their potential toxicological effects on human health. While MPs have been detected in a wide range of complex matrices, suitable methods for the characterization and chemical identification of NPs are still lacking, primarily due to significant methodological challenges associated with their nano-specific physiochemical properties, including size distribution (1 nm – 1 µm), dynamic surface chemical changes, and carbon-based composition, which complicate their detection compared to engineered nanomaterials. To overcome the traditional limitations of spectroscopic techniques in terms of spatial resolution and sensitivity at the sub-micrometer level, a novel label-free methodology is presented for specifically identifying the chemical composition of NPs directly in suspension by combining Raman spectroscopy with dielectrophoresis (DEP). Using a custom-built device, small volumes of NPs are injected into a dielectrophoretic cell and locally trapped by DEP forces to fill the Raman confocal volume, facilitating their detection and identification, and providing high signal-to-noise ratio Raman spectra for more reliable analysis. This approach was successfully applied to both Milli-Q water and a commercial brand of drinking water, enabling the rapid identification of various types of NPs with different sizes and polymer compositions at concentrations as low as 20 µg/mL. These included certified reference polystyrene beads ranging from 800 to 60 nm in diameter, as well as polydisperse NPs, more representative of real samples in terms of size distribution and polymer type, such as polyethylene (450 nm), polypropylene (180 nm), and polyethylene terephthalate (100 nm). Moreover, the chemical fingerprint of each NPs was thoroughly investigated and compared with the corresponding bulk polymers, highlighting possible changes in the Raman bands due to surface oxidation or nanometer-scale effect. Therefore, this innovative method can be considered a valuable approach for addressing gaps in the detection and identification of NPs, as well as for monitoring their dynamic phisiochemical changes in real matrices. KW - Nanoplastics KW - Water contaminants KW - Raman microspectroscopy KW - Dielectrophoresis PY - 2025 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-633658 DO - https://doi.org/10.1186/s43591-025-00131-y SN - 2662-4966 VL - 5 IS - 1 SP - 1 EP - 11 PB - Springer Science and Business Media LLC AN - OPUS4-63365 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Bartczak, Dorota A1 - Sikora, Aneta A1 - Goenaga-Infante, Heidi A1 - Altmann, Korinna A1 - Drexel, Roland A1 - Meier, Florian A1 - Alasonati, Enrica A1 - Lelong, Marc A1 - Cado, Florence A1 - Chivas-Joly, Carine A1 - Fadda, Marta A1 - Sacco, Alessio A1 - Rossi, Andrea Mario A1 - Pröfrock, Daniel A1 - Wippermann, Dominik A1 - Barbero, Francesco A1 - Fenoglio, Ivana A1 - Booth, Andy M. A1 - Sørensen, Lisbet A1 - Igartua, Amaia A1 - Wouters, Charlotte A1 - Mast, Jan A1 - Barbaresi, Marta A1 - Rossi, Francesca A1 - Piergiovanni, Maurizio A1 - Mattarozzi, Monica A1 - Careri, Maria A1 - Caebergs, Thierry A1 - Piette, Anne-Sophie A1 - Parot, Jeremie A1 - Giovannozzi, Andrea Mario T1 - Multiparameter characterisation of a nano-polypropylene representative test material with fractionation, light scattering, high-resolution microscopy, spectroscopy, and spectrometry methods N2 - Reference and quality control materials with comparable physicochemical properties to nanoplastic contaminants present in environmental and food nanoplastics are currently lacking. Here we report a nanoplastic polypropylene material prepared using a top-down approach involving mechanical fragmentation of larger plastics. The material was found to be homogeneous and stable in suspension and has been characterised for average particle size, size distribution range, particle number concentration, polypropylene mass fraction and inorganic impurity Content using a wide range of analytical methods, including AF4, cFFF, PTA, (MA)DLS, MALS, SEM, AFM, TEM, STEM, EDS,Raman, ICP-MS and pyGC-MS. The material was found to have a broad size distribution, ranging from 50 nm to over 200 nm, with the average particle size value dependent on the technique used to determine it. Particle number concentration ranged from 1.7–2.4 × 1010 g−1 , according to PTA. Spectroscopy techniques confirmed that the material was polypropylene, with evidence of aging due to an increased level of oxidation. The measured mass fraction was found to depend on the marker used and ranged between 3 and 5 μg g−1 . Inorganic impurities such as Si, Al, Mg, K, Na, S, Fe, Cl and Ca were also identified at ng g−1 levels. Comparability and complementarity across the measurement methods and techniques is also discussed. KW - Polypropylene KW - Nanoplastics KW - Analytics KW - Reference material KW - Scattering methods PY - 2026 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-654680 DO - https://doi.org/10.1039/D5EN00917K SN - 2051-8153 SP - 1 EP - 15 PB - Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) AN - OPUS4-65468 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Ponader, Marco A1 - Röder, Bettina A1 - Paul, Martin A1 - Weller, Michael G. T1 - Sintered glass monoliths as supports for affinity columns N2 - A novel stationary phase for affinity separations is presented. This material is based on sintered borosilicate glass readily available as semi-finished filter plates with defined porosity and surface area. The material shows fast binding kinetics and excellent long-term stability under real application conditions due to lacking macropores and high mechanical rigidity. The glass surface can be easily modified with standard organosilane chemistry to immobilize selective binders or other molecules used for biointeraction. In this paper, the manufacturing of the columns and their respective column holders by 3D printing is shown in detail. The model system protein A/IgG was chosen as an example to examine the properties of such monolithic columns under realistic application conditions. Several specifications, such as (dynamic) IgG capacity, pressure stability, long-term performance, productivity, non-specific binding, and peak shape, are presented. It could be shown that due to the very high separation speed, 250 mg antibody per hour and column can be collected, which surpasses the productivity of most standard columns of the same size. The total IgG capacity of the shown columns is around 4 mg (5.5 mg/mL), which is sufficient for most tasks in research laboratories. The cycle time of an IgG separation can be less than 1 min. Due to the glass material’s excellent pressure resistance, these columns are compatible with standard HPLC systems. This is usually not the case with standard affinity columns, limited to manual use or application in low-pressure systems. The use of a standard HPLC system also improves the ability for automation, which enables the purification of hundreds of cell supernatants in one day. The sharp peak shape of the elution leads to an enrichment effect, which might increase the concentration of IgG by a factor of 3. The final concentration of IgG can be around 7.5 mg/mL without the need for an additional nano-filtration step. The purity of the IgG was > 95% in one step and nearly 99% with a second polishing run. KW - Affinity Chromatography KW - Affinity Extraction KW - Affinity Separation KW - Protein Purification KW - Down Stream Processing KW - Antibody Purification KW - Diagnostic Antibodies KW - Therapeutic Antibodies KW - Automated Purification KW - HPLC KW - FPLC KW - IgG determination KW - Concentration step KW - Monoclonal Antibodies KW - Polyclonal Antibodies KW - Human Plasma KW - Glass Support KW - Borosilicate Glass KW - Monolith KW - Sintered Material KW - Additive Manufacturing KW - Column holder KW - Construction KW - Open Science KW - Citizen Science KW - Protein A KW - Regeneration KW - High-Speed Separations KW - Robustness PY - 2021 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-527581 DO - https://doi.org/10.3390/separations8050056 SN - 2297-8739 N1 - Geburtsname von Ponader, Marco: Wilke, M. - Birth name of Ponader, Marco: Wilke, M. VL - 8 IS - 5 SP - 1 EP - 16 PB - MDPI CY - Basel AN - OPUS4-52758 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Hoque, Maroof Arshadul A1 - Sommerfeld, Thomas A1 - Lisec, Jan A1 - Das, Prasenjit A1 - Prinz, Carsten A1 - Heinekamp, Christian A1 - Stolar, Tomislav A1 - Etter, Martin A1 - Rosenberger, David A1 - George, Janine A1 - Bhattacharya, Biswajit A1 - Emmerling, Franziska T1 - Mechanochemically Synthesized Covalent Organic Framework Effectively Captures PFAS Contaminants N2 - Per‐ and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are persistent environmental contaminants that pose significant health risks, prompting urgent efforts to develop effective removal methods and adsorbers. Covalent organic frameworks (COFs) are metal‐free adsorbers with high stability and tunable porosity. A highly crystalline COF is synthesised mechanochemically using 1,3,5‐tris(4‐aminophenyl)benzene (TAPB) and 1,3,5‐triformylbenzene (TFB). The formation dynamics are monitored in real time with time‐resolved in situ synchrotron X‐ray diffraction. The TAPB‐TFB COF demonstrates good efficiency in eliminating PFAS from water. Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) are effectively extracted, and most of the adsorption occurred within the first 10 min. Additionally, X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and DFT calculations are employed to elucidate the molecular interactions between PFAS and the COF framework. The rapid and efficient removal of PFAS makes TAPB‐TFB COF a promising material for water treatment applications. KW - COFs KW - Ball-milling KW - PFAS PY - 2025 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-648712 DO - https://doi.org/10.1002/smll.202509275 SN - 1613-6810 VL - 21 IS - 44 SP - 1 EP - 8 PB - Wiley CY - Weinheim AN - OPUS4-64871 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - de Oliveira Guilherme Buzanich, Ana A1 - Radtke, Martin A1 - Yusenko, Kirill A1 - Stawski, Tomasz A1 - Kulow, Anicó A1 - Cakir, Cafer Tufan A1 - Röder, Bettina A1 - Naese, Christoph A1 - Britzke, Ralf A1 - Sintschuk, Michael A1 - Emmerling, Franziska T1 - BAMline - A real-life sample materials research beamline N2 - With increasing demand and environmental concerns, researchers are exploring new materials that can perform as well or better than traditional materials while reducing environmental impact. The BAMline, a real-life sample materials research beamline, provides unique insights into materials’ electronic and chemical structure at different time and length scales. The beamline specializes in x-ray absorption spectroscopy, x-ray fluorescence spectroscopy, and tomography experiments. This enables real-time optimization of material properties and performance for various applications, such as energy transfer, energy storage, catalysis, and corrosion resistance. This paper gives an overview of the analytical methods and sample environments of the BAMline, which cover non-destructive testing experiments in materials science, chemistry, biology, medicine, and cultural heritage. We also present our own synthesis methods, processes, and equipment developed specifically for the BAMline, and we give examples of synthesized materials and their potential applications. Finally, this article discusses the future perspectives of the BAMline and its potential for further advances in sustainable materials research. KW - Extended X-ray absorption fine structure KW - Energy storage KW - Environmental impacts KW - Nondestructive testing techniques KW - X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy KW - Corrosion KW - Near edge X-ray absorption fine structure spectroscopy KW - X-ray absorption spectroscopy PY - 2023 DO - https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0157194 VL - 158 IS - 24 SP - 1 EP - 22 PB - AIP Publishing AN - OPUS4-57824 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER -