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Discrete Entity Analysis via Microwave-Induced Nitrogen Plasma−Mass Spectrometry in Single-Event Mode
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Scientists developed a new method to detect and measure tiny particles like nanoparticles and microplastics using nitrogen gas instead of the usual argon gas. This technique can spot extremely small amounts of metals like iron and selenium, and even identify microplastics as small as 2-3 micrometers. This advancement could help researchers better track how these tiny particles move through our environment and food chain, potentially improving our understanding of their health effects.
In this work, single-event microwave-induced nitrogen plasma−mass spectrometry (single-event MINP-MS) was evaluated for the first time for the analysis of discrete entities such as nanoparticles, biological cells, and microplastics. Nitrogen (N2) effectively overcomes Ar-based polyatomic interferences, enabling (ultra)trace element determination of Fe and Se using their most abundant isotopes, 56Fe (91.66%) and 80Se (49.82%). Iron oxide nanoparticles (Fe2O3 NPs) ranging from 20 to 70 nm were accurately characterized, with excellent agreement with established sizing techniques, such as transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and dynamic light scattering (DLS). A limit of detection (LoD) of 8.6 ag for Fe (equivalent to an LoDsize of 19 nm for Fe2O3) was achieved, which is significantly lower than recent values reported for high-end quadrupole-based ICP-MS. Selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) of 150 and 250 nm were also accurately characterized, without the N2-based plasma experiencing issues handling relatively large metallic NPs (linearity, R2 = 0.9994). Se-enriched yeast cells (SELM-1 certified reference material) were successfully analyzed via single-cell MINP-MS using external calibration based on SeNPs and a transport efficiency-independent approach. In addition, 2−3 μm polystyrene (PS) and polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) were accurately sized by monitoring 12C+, confirming the method’s suitability for handling micrometer-sized polymeric materials (microplastics). The average duration of individual events (680 ± 160 μs) suggests that the digestion of individual entities in N2-based plasmas is comparable to that in Ar-based plasmas. These results open new avenues for this instrumentation as an alternative to ICP ionization sources, also in the context of discrete entity analysis.
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Discrete Entity Analysis via Microwave-Induced Nitrogen Plasma−Mass Spectrometry in Single-Event Mode
AI summary Read the abstract
Scientists developed a new method to detect and measure extremely tiny particles like microplastics, nanoparticles, and individual cells using a special type of plasma technology. This technique can find particles as small as 19 nanometers (thousands of times smaller than the width of human hair) and accurately measure microplastics that are 2-3 micrometers in size. This advance could help researchers better detect microplastics in food and water, as well as track how nanoparticles move through the human body, which is important for understanding potential health risks.
Discrete EntityAnalysis via Microwave-Induced NitrogenPlasma–Mass Spectrometry in Single-Event Mode
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers evaluated single-event microwave-induced nitrogen plasma mass spectrometry (MINP-MS) for the first time to analyse discrete entities including iron oxide nanoparticles (20-70 nm), selenium nanoparticles, biological cells, and 2-3 µm polystyrene and PTFE microplastics. The nitrogen-based plasma overcame argon polyatomic interferences, achieved an iron detection limit of 8.6 ag (equivalent to 19 nm particle size), and successfully characterised multiple particle types in a single analytical framework.
Discrete Entity Analysis via Microwave-Induced Nitrogen Plasma–Mass Spectrometry in Single-Event Mode
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers evaluated single-event microwave-induced nitrogen plasma-mass spectrometry (single-event MINP-MS) for characterizing nanoparticles, biological cells, and microplastics, achieving a detection limit of 8.6 ag for iron equivalent to a 19 nm Fe2O3 particle size limit. The nitrogen plasma effectively overcame argon-based polyatomic interferences for iron and selenium, and polystyrene and PTFE microplastics of 2-3 µm were successfully sized via carbon-12 monitoring.
Simultaneous Determination of Small Microplastics' Size, Type, Charge, Number and Mass Concentration by Machine-Learning Driven Single-Particle Sensing
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Scientists developed a new method that can identify and measure tiny plastic particles (microplastics) in the environment much more precisely than before, determining their size, type, and amount all at once. This breakthrough could help us better understand how these plastic pollutants move through our environment and potentially affect human health. The technology represents a major step forward in tracking microplastic contamination, which is increasingly found in our food, water, and air.
Developing Single Particle Icp-ms as a Technique to Advance Microplastics Analysis Capabilities
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Scientists improved a specialized lab technique that can detect and precisely count tiny plastic particles as small as a few millionths of a meter—smaller than what most current methods can reliably measure. This matters because before we can understand how microplastics affect our health, researchers need trustworthy, standardized ways to detect and measure them in things like water, food, or even human tissue, and this study is a step toward making those measurements more accurate and comparable across labs.
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