We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Screening for microplastics in agricultural soils: Applying green chemistry principles in extraction and analysis
Summary
Researchers developed an environmentally friendly method for extracting and analyzing microplastics in agricultural soils using green chemistry principles. The approach achieved recovery rates exceeding 69% for smaller particles and over 91% for larger ones while minimizing reagent use and waste, and detected both mesoplastics and microplastics predominantly composed of polyethylene and polypropylene in tested soil samples.
In recent years, microplastic (MP) pollution has garnered significant attention owing to its ability to permeate various ecosystems, including soil. These particles can infiltrate the environment, either directly or through the degradation of larger plastic items. Despite growing concerns, standardized methods for quantification are still lacking. This study aimed to screen for the presence of MPs in agricultural soils while incorporating green analytical principles in the methodology. A density separation followed by centrifugation was employed, based on the principles of the QuEChERS extraction method. This approach minimized sample quantities, reagent consumption, and waste production, ensuring efficient extraction and analysis. Recovery tests using certified soils spiked with pristine MPs, specifically polystyrene, polypropylene (PP), and ethylene-vinyl acetate for larger MPs (3-5 mm), and low-density polyethylene, polyamide 6, and tire wear particles for smaller MPs (15-300 μm), achieved recovery levels exceeding 69% for smaller MPs and over 91% for larger particles. Spectroscopic analysis revealed slight alterations in the Raman spectra of MPs after extraction. Transitioning to agricultural soil analysis has revealed challenges, including spectral interferences. Nine mesoplastics (5-20 mm) were detected, predominantly consisting of PP and polyethylene (PE), along with seven MPs, three of which were individually identified as PE-based, while the remainder were inconclusive, including one fiber. The evaluation of the method's sustainability using the Analytical Eco-Scale and Analytical Greenness Calculator Metric (AGREE), with scores of 82 out of 100 and 0.66 out of 1, respectively, demonstrated its potential as a reliable approach to MP analysis in soils. This study highlights the potential of integrating green analytical chemistry principles into MP extraction methodologies and emphasizes the value of the proposed QuEChERs-based approach for improving the sustainability and efficiency of MP monitoring in agricultural soils.
Sign in to start a discussion.
More Papers Like This
An efficient, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly protocol for extracting microplastics from soil samples
Researchers developed an efficient, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly protocol for extracting microplastics from soil samples, addressing the lack of standardized methods and evaluating extraction performance across different soil matrices.
Microplastics in soil: Current status and evaluation of the greenness of various analytical methods of identification
Researchers reviewed the current state of microplastic research in soils, finding some studies report up to 85,000 microplastic particles per kilogram of dry soil, while most existing lab methods for detecting them score poorly on environmental sustainability — calling for greener analytical approaches to match the scale of the problem.
Extraction of Polyethylene and Polypropylene Microplastic from Agriculture Soil
Researchers examined methods for extracting polyethylene and polypropylene microplastics from agricultural soil, investigating how microplastic concentrations affect soil properties and crop productivity while evaluating density separation and other extraction protocols to improve detection and quantification of plastic pollution in agroecosystems.
Advances in the analysis of relevant microplastic types in agricultural soils
Researchers developed an optimized soil purification protocol for extracting and identifying microplastic particles from agricultural soils, systematically testing and combining multiple extraction and purification steps to improve the accuracy of polymer identification across different soil types.
Advances in the analysis of relevant microplastic types in agricultural soils
Researchers developed and validated an improved soil purification protocol for extracting microplastics from agricultural soils, based on systematic testing across different soil types to efficiently isolate plastic particles for polymer identification. The method built on prior work by Moller et al. (2022) and addressed the challenge that soil remains one of the most difficult matrices for microplastic analysis.