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Determination of polyurethanes within microplastics in complex environmental samples by analytical pyrolysis

Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry 2023 20 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.

Isabel Goßmann, Isabel Goßmann, Isabel Goßmann, Isabel Goßmann, Isabel Goßmann, Isabel Goßmann, Isabel Goßmann, Irene Coralli, Irene Coralli, Irene Coralli, Irene Coralli, Barbara M. Scholz‐Böttcher Daniele Fabbri, Isabel Goßmann, Isabel Goßmann, Isabel Goßmann, Isabel Goßmann, Isabel Goßmann, Isabel Goßmann, Isabel Goßmann, Isabel Goßmann, Daniele Fabbri, Isabel Goßmann, Barbara M. Scholz‐Böttcher Isabel Goßmann, Barbara M. Scholz‐Böttcher Barbara M. Scholz‐Böttcher Isabel Goßmann, Isabel Goßmann, Daniele Fabbri, Barbara M. Scholz‐Böttcher Isabel Goßmann, Isabel Goßmann, Barbara M. Scholz‐Böttcher Barbara M. Scholz‐Böttcher Barbara M. Scholz‐Böttcher Barbara M. Scholz‐Böttcher Barbara M. Scholz‐Böttcher Barbara M. Scholz‐Böttcher Barbara M. Scholz‐Böttcher Barbara M. Scholz‐Böttcher Barbara M. Scholz‐Böttcher Barbara M. Scholz‐Böttcher Barbara M. Scholz‐Böttcher Barbara M. Scholz‐Böttcher Barbara M. Scholz‐Böttcher Daniele Fabbri, Irene Coralli, Barbara M. Scholz‐Böttcher Barbara M. Scholz‐Böttcher Barbara M. Scholz‐Böttcher Barbara M. Scholz‐Böttcher Barbara M. Scholz‐Böttcher Daniele Fabbri, Barbara M. Scholz‐Böttcher Barbara M. Scholz‐Böttcher Barbara M. Scholz‐Böttcher Daniele Fabbri, Barbara M. Scholz‐Böttcher Barbara M. Scholz‐Böttcher Daniele Fabbri, Barbara M. Scholz‐Böttcher Barbara M. Scholz‐Böttcher Barbara M. Scholz‐Böttcher Barbara M. Scholz‐Böttcher Daniele Fabbri, Barbara M. Scholz‐Böttcher Daniele Fabbri, Barbara M. Scholz‐Böttcher Barbara M. Scholz‐Böttcher Barbara M. Scholz‐Böttcher Barbara M. Scholz‐Böttcher Irene Coralli, Daniele Fabbri, Barbara M. Scholz‐Böttcher Barbara M. Scholz‐Böttcher Barbara M. Scholz‐Böttcher Barbara M. Scholz‐Böttcher Barbara M. Scholz‐Böttcher Barbara M. Scholz‐Böttcher Barbara M. Scholz‐Böttcher Barbara M. Scholz‐Böttcher Barbara M. Scholz‐Böttcher Barbara M. Scholz‐Böttcher Barbara M. Scholz‐Böttcher Barbara M. Scholz‐Böttcher Daniele Fabbri, Irene Coralli, Barbara M. Scholz‐Böttcher

Summary

Researchers developed analytical pyrolysis methods to detect and quantify polyurethane microplastics in complex environmental samples, addressing a gap in microplastic monitoring given the highly variable chemical structure of polyurethanes which makes their identification especially challenging.

Polyurethanes (PUR) are a group of polymers synthesized from different diisocyanate and polyol monomers resulting in a countless number of possible structures. However, the large market demand, and the variety of application fields justify the inclusion of PUR in microplastic (MP) investigation. This study aimed at providing comprehensive information on PUR within MP analysis by pyrolysis-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry to clarify whether (i) it is possible to make a reliable statement on the PUR content of environmental samples based on a few pyrolysis products and (ii) which restrictions are required in this context. PUR were managed as subclasses defined by the diisocyanates employed for polymer synthesis. Methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (MDI)- and toluene diisocyanate (TDI)-based PUR were selected as subclasses of greatest relevance. Different PUR were pyrolyzed directly and under thermochemolytic conditions with tetramethylammonium hydroxide (TMAH). Distinct pyrolytic indicators were identified. The study supported that the use of TMAH greatly reduced the interactions of pyrolytic MP analytes with the remaining organic matrix of environmental samples and the associated negative effects on analytical results. Improvements of chromatographic behavior of PUR was evidenced. Regressions (1-20 µg) showed good correlations and parallelism tests underlined that quantitation behavior of different MDI-PUR could be represented by the calibration of just one representative with sufficient accuracy, entailing a good estimation of the entire subclass if thermochemolysis were used. The method was exemplary applied to road dusts and spider webs sampled around a plastic processing plant to evaluate the environmental spread of PUR in an urban context. The environmental occurrence of MDI-PUR as MP was highly influenced by the proximity to a potential source, while TDI markers were not observed.

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