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EasyMP™: Diverse and environmentally relevant microplastic reference materials encompassing fragments and fibers
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Researchers developed a set of environmentally relevant microplastic reference materials -- branded as 'EasyMP' -- consisting of fragments (10-100 µm) and fibers (50-1000 µm) suspended in 95% ethanol at various concentrations, with relative standard deviations of 10% and 9% respectively. The study confirmed homogeneity and consistency of the materials across five samples each, addressing the critical gap in certified reference materials for standardized microplastic research.
The field of microplastic (MP) research has expanded significantly since the terminology’s inception in 2004. Despite the exponential increase in studies, the availability of environmentally relevant MP reference materials (RMs) remains limited, and no certified MP RMs exist. This study addresses the need for diverse RMs by presenting data on MP RMs of fragments (10-100 µm) and fibers (50-1000 µm), suspended in 95 vol.% ethanol solution at various concentrations. Five samples each of fragments and fibers, derived from four subsamples, were prepared and evaluated for repeatability, with relative standard deviation (RSD) determined at 10 and 9%, respectively. Novel size group-specific RSD evaluation was also conducted. The study confirms the homogeneity and distribution consistency of these RMs, demonstrating RSDs below 20% for fragments and within acceptable ranges for fibers. These RMs, branded as 'EasyMP™,' will be available for purchase, providing essential tools for accurate MP analysis and experiments, contributing to reproducible MP studies.
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EasyMP: Diverse and Environmentally Relevant Microplastic Reference Materials Encompassing Fragments and Fibers
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Researchers developed and validated a set of commercially available microplastic reference materials called EasyMP, including fragments (10–100 µm) and fibers (50–1000 µm) suspended in ethanol. Repeatability testing showed relative standard deviations of 9–10%, making these materials suitable for standardizing MP analysis across laboratories.
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