Zitieren Sie bitte immer diesen URN: urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-646418
A new elemental analytical approach for microplastic sum parameter analysis—ETV/ICP-MS with CO2
- Microplastics (MPs) are pervasive environmental pollutants and are considered one of the main challenges of our time. However, a fast and comprehensive analytical approach for MP analysis in complex matrices traceable to SI units is still lacking. In this context, we report a fast screening tool for the sum parameter analysis of MPs using electrothermal vaporization (ETV) coupled to inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). In our proof-of-concept study, we observed size-independent detection of MPs as peaks above the 13C+ signal background in the nano- to micrometer range without limitations regarding the polymer type. Quantification of the 13C+ MP signals was accomplished via an external gas calibration utilizing dynamic dilution of carbon dioxide with argon, yielding recovery rates of 80–96% for MP reference material (RM) of polymer types commonly found in the environment. The applicability to a soil sample was demonstrated through spiking experiments with aMicroplastics (MPs) are pervasive environmental pollutants and are considered one of the main challenges of our time. However, a fast and comprehensive analytical approach for MP analysis in complex matrices traceable to SI units is still lacking. In this context, we report a fast screening tool for the sum parameter analysis of MPs using electrothermal vaporization (ETV) coupled to inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). In our proof-of-concept study, we observed size-independent detection of MPs as peaks above the 13C+ signal background in the nano- to micrometer range without limitations regarding the polymer type. Quantification of the 13C+ MP signals was accomplished via an external gas calibration utilizing dynamic dilution of carbon dioxide with argon, yielding recovery rates of 80–96% for MP reference material (RM) of polymer types commonly found in the environment. The applicability to a soil sample was demonstrated through spiking experiments with a polyethylene (PE) MP RM in soil. The limit of detection (LOD) was estimated to be 0.13 µg C, equaling the detection of a single spherical low-density-PE particle of about 70 µm, and a limit of quantification (LOQ) of 0.42 µg C.…


| Autor*innen: | Vera M. Scharek, Tommy Kröger, Karin Keil, Heike Traub, Björn MeermannORCiD |
|---|---|
| Dokumenttyp: | Zeitschriftenartikel |
| Veröffentlichungsform: | Verlagsliteratur |
| Sprache: | Englisch |
| Titel des übergeordneten Werkes (Englisch): | Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry |
| Jahr der Erstveröffentlichung: | 2025 |
| Organisationseinheit der BAM: | 1 Analytische Chemie; Referenzmaterialien |
| 1 Analytische Chemie; Referenzmaterialien / 1.1 Anorganische Spurenanalytik | |
| Veröffentlichende Institution: | Bundesanstalt für Materialforschung und -prüfung (BAM) |
| Verlag: | Springer |
| Verlagsort: | Berlin ; Heidelberg |
| Erste Seite: | 1 |
| Letzte Seite: | 10 |
| DDC-Klassifikation: | Technik, Medizin, angewandte Wissenschaften / Ingenieurwissenschaften / Sanitär- und Kommunaltechnik; Umwelttechnik |
| Freie Schlagwörter: | ETV/ICP-MS; Mikroplastik; Summenparameter |
| Themenfelder/Aktivitätsfelder der BAM: | Umwelt |
| Umwelt / Umwelt-Material-Interaktionen | |
| DOI: | 10.1007/s00216-025-06146-x |
| URN: | urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-646418 |
| ISSN: | 1618-2642 |
| Verfügbarkeit des Dokuments: | Datei für die Öffentlichkeit verfügbar ("Open Access") |
| Lizenz (Deutsch): | Creative Commons - CC BY - Namensnennung 4.0 International |
| Datum der Freischaltung: | 12.11.2025 |
| Referierte Publikation: | Ja |
| Datum der Eintragung als referierte Publikation: | 12.11.2025 |
| Schriftenreihen ohne Nummerierung: | Wissenschaftliche Artikel der BAM |


