Article ? AI-assigned paper type based on the abstract. Classification may not be perfect — flag errors using the feedback button. Tier 2 ? Original research — experimental, observational, or case-control study. Direct primary evidence. Detection Methods Sign in to save

Investigating the correlation between morphological features of microplastics (5–500 µm) and their analytical recovery

Microplastics and Nanoplastics 2023 21 citations ? Citation count from OpenAlex, updated daily. May differ slightly from the publisher's own count. Score: 45 ? 0–100 AI score estimating relevance to the microplastics field. Papers below 30 are filtered from public browse.

Gaël, Le Roux Jeroen E., Sonke, Jeroen E., Sonke, Hagelskjær, Oskar, Jeroen E., Sonke, Jeroen E., Sonke, Jeroen E., Sonke, Hagelskjær, Oskar, Hagelskjær, Oskar, Jeroen E., Sonke, Jeroen E., Sonke, Hagelskjær, Oskar, Hagelskjær, Oskar, Hagelskjær, Oskar, Hagelskjær, Oskar, Jeroen E., Sonke, Hagelskjær, Oskar, Hagelskjær, Oskar, Hagelskjær, Oskar, Hagelskjær, Oskar, Hagelskjær, Oskar, Hagelskjær, Oskar, Hagelskjær, Oskar, Gaël, Le Roux Jeroen E., Sonke, Alexia Crézé, Gaël, Le Roux Gaël, Le Roux Gaël, Le Roux Jeroen E., Sonke, Hagelskjær, Oskar, Jeroen E., Sonke, Hagelskjær, Oskar, Gaël, Le Roux Jeroen E., Sonke, Alexia Crézé, Alexia Crézé, Alexia Crézé, Gaël, Le Roux Jeroen E., Sonke, Hagelskjær, Oskar, Hagelskjær, Oskar, Jeroen E., Sonke, Jeroen E., Sonke, Jeroen E., Sonke, Gaël, Le Roux Gaël, Le Roux Gaël, Le Roux Gaël, Le Roux Jeroen E., Sonke, Gaël, Le Roux Hagelskjær, Oskar, Hagelskjær, Oskar, Gaël, Le Roux Jeroen E., Sonke, Hagelskjær, Oskar, Gaël, Le Roux Hagelskjær, Oskar, Jeroen E., Sonke, Gaël, Le Roux Jeroen E., Sonke, Gaël, Le Roux Hagelskjær, Oskar, Jeroen E., Sonke, Jeroen E., Sonke, Hagelskjær, Oskar, Jeroen E., Sonke, Gaël, Le Roux Gaël, Le Roux Gaël, Le Roux Gaël, Le Roux Jeroen E., Sonke, Jeroen E., Sonke, Gaël, Le Roux Gaël, Le Roux Gaël, Le Roux Jeroen E., Sonke, Jeroen E., Sonke, Gaël, Le Roux Gaël, Le Roux Gaël, Le Roux Gaël, Le Roux Gaël, Le Roux Jeroen E., Sonke, Jeroen E., Sonke, Jeroen E., Sonke, Jeroen E., Sonke, Jeroen E., Sonke, Gaël, Le Roux Gaël, Le Roux Jeroen E., Sonke, Jeroen E., Sonke, Hagelskjær, Oskar, Jeroen E., Sonke, Gaël, Le Roux Gaël, Le Roux Gaël, Le Roux Gaël, Le Roux Jeroen E., Sonke, Jeroen E., Sonke, Gaël, Le Roux

Summary

Researchers investigated how microplastic particles of different sizes are lost during laboratory sample processing and found that filter crowding (too many particles on a filter) was a bigger cause of loss than particle size alone. They recommend keeping particle coverage below 5% on filters and developed a spiking method using colored microplastics to more accurately measure recovery rates, especially for the smallest particles.

Abstract As a direct result of laboratory sample manipulation required to identify microplastics (MPs) within a given matrix, some MPs are inevitably lost. The extent of this loss can be quite significant and varies greatly depending on the sample matrix, choice of protocol and target MPs in question. Defining analytical MP recovery is therefore a critical component in ensuring the quality of MP protocols. The potential relationship between particle size and recovery rate has been widely discussed but remains uncertain. To determine whether MP loss correlated with particle size, three aliquots of polyethylene fragments in the 5–50 µm size range and three aliquots of polypropylene fragments in the 50–500 µm size range, were consecutively transferred back and forth from filter to liquid. After each individual transfer the analytical recovery within specified size groups, was evaluated by applying high-resolution darkfield microscopy. Average recovery across the entire size range was estimated at 80% with a standard deviation (std. dev.) of 26%. Notably, particle coverage on filters (A%) showed a more significant impact on recovery than particle size. Maintaining A% below 5% on filters for microscopic analysis is advised to prevent excessive loss due to particle agglomeration. To determine whether the use of red polyethylene fragments in the 5–50 µm size range in combination with darkfield microscopy could potentially improve MP recovery evaluation in environmental samples, three aliquots of 0.5 g of dry brown trout muscle tissue were spiked and treated according to a relevant protocol. This size-discriminating approach accurately determined average recovery at 52% with a std. dev. of 4% and demonstrated the potential for correction of the concentration enhancement of smaller MPs resulting from particle breakup during sample pre-treatment, which would otherwise lead to overestimation of smaller size fractions.

Read via DOI Download PDF

Share this paper

Post Share Share Pin Email