Microplastic extraction from agricultural soils using canola oil and unsaturated sodium chloride solution

Abstract Environmental pollution by microplastics (MPs) has become a global problem, but little is known about MPs in soils. This is because MP extraction methods from soils have not yet been standardized. In this study, we tried to establish a simple and economical method to extract soil MPs using the buoyancy of canola oil and the density separation process using sodium chloride (NaCl). First, the ability and suitability of seven different oils to extract MP from soil were investigated and canola oil was selected. Then, the spiking and recovery test was performed with canola oil and NaCl solution for low-density polyethylene (LDPE), polypropylene (PP), and polyvinylchloride (PVC) as follows: 1) soil and MP mixtures were prepared, 2) 5 g L − 1 NaCl and canola oil were added and shaken thoroughly, 3) the oil phase containing MPs were separated after sedimentation, 4) the extracted MPs were rinsed with 99.5% ethanol, and 5) the organic adherents to the extracted MPs were digested with hydrogen peroxide. After drying and incineration, the substantial recovery rates were calculated. In the spiking and recovery test for MP particles (< 1 mm) from five typical Japanese agricultural soils, the recoveries of LDPE, PP, and PVC were 95.2–98.3%, 95.2.7–98.7%, and 76.0-80.5%, respectively, higher than those obtained by the density separation using saturated NaCl solution. In conclusion, the method is effective for extracting MPs, especially LDPE and PP, from soils and is less sensitive to soil type, texture, and physicochemical properties.