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A new elemental analytical approach for microplastic sum parameter analysis—ETV/ICP-MS with CO2
Summary
Researchers developed a novel electrothermal vaporization (ETV) coupled to ICP-MS method for detecting microplastics as a sum parameter using carbon-13 signals, calibrated against carbon dioxide gas. The technique achieved size-independent detection across polymer types with a limit of detection equivalent to a single ~70 µm polyethylene sphere, offering a fast, traceable analytical tool for complex environmental samples.
Microplastics (MPs) are pervasive environmental pollutants and are considered one of the main challenges of our time. However, a fast and comprehensive analytical approach for MP analysis in complex matrices traceable to SI units is still lacking. In this context, we report a fast screening tool for the sum parameter analysis of MPs using electrothermal vaporization (ETV) coupled to inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). In our proof-of-concept study, we observed size-independent detection of MPs as peaks above the 13C+ signal background in the nano- to micrometer range without limitations regarding the polymer type. Quantification of the 13C+ MP signals was accomplished via an external gas calibration utilizing dynamic dilution of carbon dioxide with argon, yielding recovery rates of 80-96% for MP reference material (RM) of polymer types commonly found in the environment. The applicability to a soil sample was demonstrated through spiking experiments with a polyethylene (PE) MP RM in soil. The limit of detection (LOD) was estimated to be 0.13 µg C, equaling the detection of a single spherical low-density-PE particle of about 70 µm, and a limit of quantification (LOQ) of 0.42 µg C.