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Progresses in the quantitation of airborne micro- and nanoplastic using analytical pyrolysis with splitless injection

Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research) 2024
Marco Mattonai, William Pipkin, Leonardo Barlucchi, Greta Biale, Jacopo La Nasa, Jacopo La Nasa, Francesca Modugno, Francesca Modugno, Norio Teramae, Shogo Kumagai, Shogo Kumagai, Atsushi Watanabe, Atsushi Watanabe, Chuichi Watanabe, Chuichi Watanabe

Summary

Researchers advanced the quantitation of airborne micro- and nanoplastics using analytical pyrolysis with splitless injection, developing improved sensitivity and throughput for detecting particles in atmospheric samples where AMNPs represent a small but rapidly growing fraction of particulate matter. The study addressed fundamental unknowns about AMNP size distribution, physicochemical modifications, and behavior while airborne.

The presence of airborne micro- and nanoplastics (AMNPs) in the environment has been confirmed by recent studies. AMNPs currently account for a relatively small fraction of atmospheric particulate matter, but their content is rapidly changing. The distribution of size and shape of AMNPs, their physico-chemical modifications in time, their interaction with the environment and organisms, and their behaviour while suspended in the air column are all still poorly understood. Research in this field is still in its infancy, and there is very little information available on the mass of suspended AMNPs. While most studies on AMNPs have been conducted using spectroscopic techniques, analytical pyrolysis coupled with gas chromatography and mass spectrometry (Py-GC-MS) has also proven to be a powerful technique, providing fundamental mass-based data. Quantitation of AMNPs by Py-GC-MS presents complex challenges, related to the high variability and heterogeneity of the AMNPs and the non-plastic air particulates, the need to provide data on the distribution of AMNPs in different size fractions, and the high risk of sample contamination during transport and pretreatment. Therefore, quantitation of AMNPs by Py-GC-MS requires innovative approaches. This study explores these main challenges posed by the analysis of AMNPs using analytical pyrolysis, and progresses made to face such challenges. The goal of the research is to develop a method for the quantification of AMNPs according to the criteria of highly recognized international standards organization. The crucial points identified during the development of the method will be discussed, including the choice of sampling apparatus, the removal of interferents, and the use of new instrumentation that enhances the performance of analytical pyrolysis GC-MS through splitless injection. Preliminary results on case studies will also be presented. Also see: https://micro2024.sciencesconf.org/558558/document

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