We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
A practical method for mass quantification of microplastics in soil media using pyrolysis gas chromatography-mass spectrometry
Summary
Researchers developed and validated a pyrolysis gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (Py-GC/MS) method for quantifying polyethylene, polypropylene, and polystyrene microplastics in soil, achieving low detection limits (0.02-0.44 microgram), strong linearity, and recovery rates of 86-100% across three soil types. Cryomilling improved homogeneity and accuracy by 3.2%, and FTIR confirmed polymer identities with over 85% spectral match.
Microplastic (MP) contamination in soil media presents growing analytical challenges. We introduce a validated method for MP mass quantification using pyrolysis-gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (Py-GC/MS), targeting polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), and polystyrene (PS) in synthetic and environmental soils. The method achieved low limits of detection (0.02-0.44 µg), strong linearity (R² > 0.995), and high recovery rates-86.1% (sandy), 90.7 % (loamy), and 99.6 % (sandy-loam). Cryomilling improved sample homogeneity and quantification accuracy (+3.2 %). Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) was used to confirm polymer identity with >85% match. The protocol was successfully applied to environmental samples from urban and agricultural soils in Auckland, New Zealand, demonstrating its robustness and field applicability. This practical workflow offers a reproducible, high-sensitivity approach suitable for routine microplastics monitoring across diverse soil matrices. Py-GC/MS method achieved over 90 % accuracy for microplastic quantification. Extraction protocols demonstrated recovery efficiencies of up to 99.6 % FTIR complemented Py-GC/MS, confirming polymer identification with >85 % accuracy.
Sign in to start a discussion.
More Papers Like This
Determination of Polystyrene Microplastic in Soil by Pyrolysis – Gas Chromatography – Mass Spectrometry (pyr-GC-MS)
This study developed and validated a pyrolysis-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (Pyr-GC-MS) method for quantifying polystyrene microplastics in soil samples. The technique offers a sensitive analytical approach for detecting plastic contamination in terrestrial environments.
Pyr-GC-MS analysis of microplastics extracted from farmland soils
This study used pyrolysis-GC-MS to identify and quantify microplastics in farmland soils, finding multiple polymer types in agricultural fields. The work helps establish analytical methods for studying this growing but less-studied pathway of microplastic contamination.
Measuring micro- and nanoplastics in agricultural soils by py-GC/MS-IRMS
Researchers applied pyrolysis-GC/MS coupled with isotope ratio mass spectrometry (py-GC/MS-IRMS) to measure micro- and nanoplastics in agricultural soils, demonstrating that this technique can quantify nanoplastic concentrations below the detection limits of optical methods like micro-FTIR and micro-Raman spectroscopy.
Determination of microplastics in agricultural soil by double‐shot pyrolysis‐gas chromatography combined with two‐step extraction
Researchers developed a pyrolysis-gas chromatography method combining two-step solvent extraction to simultaneously measure five common microplastic polymer types (PC, PS, PP, PE, PET) in agricultural soil samples with good sensitivity and linearity. A reliable, validated method for quantifying microplastics in soil is essential for understanding how agricultural practices and plastic mulch use contribute to soil contamination and potential human dietary exposure.
Plastic Quantification and Polyethylene Overestimation in Agricultural Soil Using Large-Volume Pyrolysis and TD-GC-MS/MS
Researchers developed a method for quantifying microplastics in large soil samples using pyrolysis combined with thermal desorption gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. They found that organic matter in agricultural soils can cause significant overestimation of polyethylene concentrations, particularly when samples are not properly pre-treated. The study emphasizes the need for careful method validation to avoid false-positive microplastic measurements in complex environmental samples.