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Europium-labelled nanopolystyrene as model nanoplastics for environmental fate investigations: Synthesis and optimisation
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Researchers developed a method to track nanoplastics in the environment by embedding the rare-earth element europium into polystyrene nanoparticles, enabling precise detection using single-particle mass spectrometry even at very low concentrations. The europium label stayed locked inside the particles for over a week in both fresh and salt water, making this a reliable tool for studying how nanoplastics move and persist in ecosystems.
Nanoplastics (NPLs) have emerged as pervasive environmental contaminants, reaching remote regions and even crossing biological barriers such as the human blood-brain barrier. Their biomolecule-like composition, primarily composed of carbon and hydrogen, complicates detection using conventional analytical methods. To overcome this challenge, a tracer-doped plastic matrix was developed to enable rapid and precise detection, tracking, and analysis of NPLs. In this study, europium, a rare-earth metal, was used to label polystyrene-based NPLs, chosen for their abundance in environmental samples. The NPLs were synthesised through a two-step dispersion polymerisation process involving styrene (monomer), potassium persulfate (initiator), sodium dodecyl sulfate (surfactant), and europium (dopant). Response Surface Methodology with Central Composite Design (RSM-CCD) was employed to optimise the synthesis parameters, and ANOVA confirmed the model’s significance and robustness. The suitability of the labelling technique was confirmed by measuring the Eu-doped NPLs using single-particle inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (SP-ICP-MS). The results demonstrated a strong linear relationship between the concentration of Eu dopant, the total mass of the Eu-doped NPLs, and the number of individual Eu-doped NPL particles. Under optimised conditions the NPLs achieved a hydrodynamic size of 121.47 ± 0.89 nm and a dopant concentration of 0.12 wt%. Leaching tests conducted over seven days in deionised water (DIW) and artificial seawater (ASW) showed less than 0.5% dopant loss, indicating robust encapsulation of europium within the polymer matrix. This labelling approach provides a reliable method for the quantitative analysis of NPLs, enabling more accurate assessments of their behaviour and toxicity in various environmental contexts. • Europium (Eu) labelling enabled precise tracking of polystyrene nanoplastics (NPLs). • RSM-CCD optimized NPL size & Eu doping; ANOVA confirmed model robustness. • SP-ICP-MS showed strong Eu correlation with NPL mass/count, suggesting uniform doping. • Leaching tests in DIW & ASW showed <0.5% Eu loss over seven days. • Method improves NPL fate studies by enhancing detection & quantification accuracy.
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