We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Combination of a cost-effective glass density separator followed by quantitative 1H-Nuclear Magnetic Resonance spectroscopy for the determination of microplastics in marine sediments
AI summary Read the abstract
Scientists developed a cheap, simple way to measure tiny plastic particles (microplastics) hiding in ocean sediment, using basic lab equipment instead of expensive machinery. Testing beach sediments in Spain, they found real amounts of common plastics like PET (used in bottles) and LDPE (used in bags) in the seafloor. This matters because it gives researchers an affordable tool to track how much plastic pollution is building up in our oceans—plastic that can enter the food chain and eventually end up on our plates through seafood.
This work presents a method for determining the presence of microplastics in marine sediments. The method comprises a portable and cost-effective setup for separating microplastics using the principle of density floatation, followed by solubilization and quantitative qNMR spectroscopy. This method has been tested with polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and low-density polyethylene (LDPE) microplastics. The separation was carried out by using a novel home-made three-part glass setup and a separating solution of zinc chloride with a density of 1.6 g/cm 3 . Following Fenton clean-up, the supernatants were solubilized in suitable deuterated solvents and quantified by qNMR spectroscopy. The methodology was validated by the analysis of artificially spiked sediments at two levels, achieving recoveries between 71% and 105%, with relative standard deviation (RSD) below 22%. Method limits of quantification (MQLs) range from 15 to 245 ng/g. As a proof-of-principle application, sediment samples from three locations along the Galician coast (Northwest Spain) were analysed using the developed methodology. The concentrations of MP found in the marine sediments ranged from 62 to 186 ng/g of PET and from 192 to 229 ng/g of LDPE, with RSD ≤26%, whereas PVC was below the MQLs. This method allows for the estimation of the three polymer distribution and abundance in marine sediments in a swift, accurate and inexpensive way.
More Papers Like This
Separation of microplastics from deep-sea sediment using an affordable, simple to use, and easily accessible density separation device
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers developed an affordable, simple, and accessible density separation device for extracting microplastics from deep-sea sediment, addressing the lack of accuracy and reproducibility in existing extraction methods. The study included spike-recovery experiments as positive controls to validate extraction performance across different sediment matrices.
Applicable and cost‐efficient microplastic analysis by quantitative 1 H‐NMR spectroscopy using benchtop NMR and NoD methods
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers demonstrated that low-cost benchtop NMR spectrometers can be used to quantify microplastics in solution, making the technique more accessible and affordable for routine environmental monitoring. This advance could help expand microplastic testing beyond well-funded research labs.
A new analytical technique for the extraction and quantification of microplastics in marine sediments focused on easy implementation and repeatability
AI summary Read the abstract
This paper describes a new analytical method for extracting and quantifying microplastics from sediment using common laboratory equipment and salt solutions, making microplastic analysis more accessible to laboratories without specialized instruments. Standardized, low-cost methods are essential for expanding the geographic and temporal coverage of microplastic monitoring.
Combination of oil-based separation and differential scanning calorimetry towards a methodological setup for microplastic analysis in sediments
AI summary Read the abstract
Scientists developed a new lab method that uses oil to separate tiny plastic particles from sediment (like sand or soil from rivers and oceans), then uses heat-based testing to identify and measure them. This matters because tracking microplastics in the environment is a key step toward understanding how much of this pollution ends up in water, soil, and ultimately the food chain — and this simpler, more efficient method could make widespread environmental monitoring more realistic, with potential to eventually detect even smaller nanoplastic particles too.
A new small device made of glass for separating microplastics from marine and freshwater sediments
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers developed a new compact glass device for extracting microplastics from marine and freshwater sediments via density separation, addressing shortcomings of existing apparatus such as poor recovery rates and time inefficiency.
Research digests by email
When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.