Innovations in Microplastic Measurement: A Pyrolysis Approach for a Polyethylene Terephthalate Reference Material

  • In the framework of the PlasticTrace project, in which a reference material for PET microplastics will be proposed, a method using pyrolysis and gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry detection (Py-GC-MS) is developed to quantify the mass of PET microplastics (10-100 µm) in tablets at two different concentration levels. The overall aim of this project is to develop international metrological capacity that enables the traceable measurement and characterization of SMPs and NPs in environmental and food samples and the production of suitable reference materials, according to the metrological requirements (https://plastictrace.eu/). The proposed method consists of dissolving the tablet containing the PET microplastics in milli-Q water and filtering the solution using a glass microfiber membrane 13 mm filter size, 1.6 µm pore size. After filtering and several washes to ensure complete dissolution of the tablet and recovery of all PET microplastics, the filter is removed,In the framework of the PlasticTrace project, in which a reference material for PET microplastics will be proposed, a method using pyrolysis and gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry detection (Py-GC-MS) is developed to quantify the mass of PET microplastics (10-100 µm) in tablets at two different concentration levels. The overall aim of this project is to develop international metrological capacity that enables the traceable measurement and characterization of SMPs and NPs in environmental and food samples and the production of suitable reference materials, according to the metrological requirements (https://plastictrace.eu/). The proposed method consists of dissolving the tablet containing the PET microplastics in milli-Q water and filtering the solution using a glass microfiber membrane 13 mm filter size, 1.6 µm pore size. After filtering and several washes to ensure complete dissolution of the tablet and recovery of all PET microplastics, the filter is removed, folded, and placed in a capsule of the pyrolyzer for direct Py-GC/MS analysis. Two main markers were selected for PET quantification: vinyl benzoate and benzoic acid, with consistent concentrations found for both at high PET concentrations (≈400 µg) (24% RSD, n=17), but interferences with the matrix and vinyl benzoate were found at low concentrations (≈17 µg PET), with only benzoic acid being valid as a marker in this case (22% RSD, n=10). As an alternative to the quantification of PET microplastics in tablets at low concentrations, derivatization is proposed, for which tetramethylammonium hydroxide solution (TMAH) is added directly into the pyrolysis cap. The PET marker in this case is dimethyl terephthalate, with which good results have also been found (19.6% RSD, n=10 ). The proposed method is robust, simple, with high automation and very little sample handling and treatment, and allows the analysis of PET microplastics (>10 µm) in tablets with excellent accuracy and precision even at very low concentrations.zeige mehrzeige weniger

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Autor*innen:V. Fernández-González
Koautor*innen:C. M. Moscoso-Pérez, Yosri Wiesner, P. López-Mahía, Korinna AltmannORCiD, S. M. Lorenzo
Dokumenttyp:Posterpräsentation
Veröffentlichungsform:Präsentation
Sprache:Englisch
Jahr der Erstveröffentlichung:2025
Organisationseinheit der BAM:6 Materialchemie
6 Materialchemie / 6.5 Synthese und Streuverfahren nanostrukturierter Materialien
DDC-Klassifikation:Naturwissenschaften und Mathematik / Chemie / Analytische Chemie
Technik, Medizin, angewandte Wissenschaften / Ingenieurwissenschaften / Sanitär- und Kommunaltechnik; Umwelttechnik
Freie Schlagwörter:GC/MS; Microplastics; Nanoplastics
Themenfelder/Aktivitätsfelder der BAM:Chemie und Prozesstechnik
Chemie und Prozesstechnik / Chemische Charakterisierung und Spurenanalytik
Umwelt
Umwelt / Umwelt-Material-Interaktionen
Veranstaltung:SETAC Europe 2025
Veranstaltungsort:Vienna, Austria
Beginndatum der Veranstaltung:11.05.2025
Enddatum der Veranstaltung:15.05.2025
Verfügbarkeit des Dokuments:Datei im Netzwerk der BAM verfügbar ("Closed Access")
Datum der Freischaltung:16.06.2025
Referierte Publikation:Nein
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