We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Water-soluble polymers: Emerging contaminants detected, separated and quantified by a novel GPC/MALDI-TOF method
AI summary Read the abstract
A new analytical method combining gel permeation chromatography with MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry was developed to detect, identify, and quantify water-soluble synthetic polymers — such as those used as industrial thickeners and personal care product additives — in environmental water samples. These polymers have been largely invisible to standard monitoring but are entering waterways at scale, and this technique could finally allow researchers to track their environmental fate and ecotoxicological risk.
Water-soluble polymers (WSPs) are additives used as thickeners, stabilisers and flocculants in industry and in household products, including personal care products. Given their widespread use, it is likely WSPs enter the environment, particularly through wastewaters. This is of concern as there is little ecotoxicological research on their fate and behaviour once in the environment, which means their risk to aquatic life is not understood. The lack of suitable analytical techniques to detect, characterise and quantify WSPs hinders research on the potential impact of these polymers. A novel method has been developed that identifies polymers within a sample and separates them using gel-permeation chromatography (GPC). This is coupled with matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionisation time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS), to quantify the polymer fractions using molecular weight information. This process has been carried out on a range of aqueous media. Polyethylene glycol (PEG) ingredients were successfully separated from non-polymeric material in a commercial shaving gel personal care product (PCP), before being quantified at 1.62 wt%. This method was applied to a spiked wastewater influent sample to demonstrate the extraction and separation of PEG from organic constituents such as dissolved organic matter (DOM). This highlighted the additional challenges of analysing WSPs in the environment, as factors such as sorption and biodegradation affected the total recovery of PEG, with an extraction efficiency of 53%. Overall, this method was applied for the extraction of PEG from a PCP with accurate quantification, before a proof-of-concept extraction from wastewater demonstrated the difficulties associated with WSP analysis in environmental samples. This method provides opportunities to use tandem GPC/MALDI-TOF MS to quantify WSPs in a broad array of environmental samples. Additional studies could include its application to wastewater or freshwater monitoring.
More Papers Like This
Making waves: Water-soluble polymers in the aquatic environment: An overlooked class of synthetic polymers?
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers argue that water-soluble polymers — a largely overlooked class of synthetic polymers — are released into the environment in significant quantities, and demonstrate a novel size-exclusion chromatography-mass spectrometry method capable of detecting polyethylene glycol in wastewater effluent and surface water.
Strategies for environmental polymer analysis: micro-/nanoplastics and water-soluble polymers
AI summary Read the abstract
A comprehensive review of analytical strategies for environmental polymer detection—covering mass spectrometry, infrared, Raman, and fluorescence spectroscopy—highlights the strengths and limitations of each method for quantifying micro- and nanoplastics as well as water-soluble polymers. Advancing robust, standardized analytical platforms is fundamental to accurately measuring microplastic contamination across environmental matrices and human health studies.
Emissions of water-soluble polymers from household products to the environment: a prioritization study
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers inventoried water-soluble polymers used in household cleaning and personal care products and estimated their emissions to the environment through wastewater. They found that unlike solid microplastics, these dissolved polymers are poorly understood in terms of environmental risk despite being widely used. The study identifies key data gaps and prioritizes which water-soluble polymers need the most urgent environmental assessment.
Monitoring Poly(methyl methacrylate) and Polyvinyl Dichloride Micro/Nanoplastics in Water by Direct Solid-Phase Microextraction Coupled to Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers developed a novel method for detecting and quantifying micro- and nanoplastics in water using solid-phase microextraction coupled with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The technique successfully identified poly(methyl methacrylate) and polyvinyl dichloride particles at low concentrations without requiring extensive sample preparation. The study offers a simpler, more sustainable, and more sensitive approach for monitoring plastic particle contamination in aqueous environments.
Identification and Quantification of Nanoplastics in Surface Water and Groundwater by Pyrolysis Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers developed a method combining ultrafiltration and pyrolysis gas chromatography-mass spectrometry to identify and quantify nanoplastics in surface water and groundwater. The study successfully detected six types of plastic polymers at the nanoscale in environmental water samples, providing much-needed quantitative data on nanoplastic pollution in real-world water sources.
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.