We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Elemental Analyzer/Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometry (EA/IRMS) as a Tool to Characterize Plastic Polymers in a Marine Environment
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers used elemental analyzer/isotope ratio mass spectrometry to characterize microplastics, demonstrating that stable isotope analysis can distinguish plastic types and track their environmental sources. The method offers a complementary tool to existing spectroscopic approaches for plastic identification and origin tracing.
In the last 60 years, plastic has become a widely used material due to its versatility and wide range of applications. This characteristic, together with its persistence, makes plastic waste a growing environmental problem, particularly in the marine ecosystems. The production of plant-derived biodegradable plastic polymers is assuming increasing importance. Here, we report the results of a first preliminary characterization of carbon stable isotopes (δ13C) of different plastic polymers (petroleum- and plant-derived) and a first experimental study aimed to determine carbon isotopic shift due to polymer degradation in an aquatic environment. The results showed that the δ13C values determined in different packaging for food uses reflect the plant origin for “BIO” materials and the petroleum-derived source for plastic materials. Considering degradation, δ13C values of both bio bags and HDPE bags showed a gradual decrease toward less negative values when kept immersed in seawater, recording a δ13C variation (Δδ13C) of 1.15 and 1.78‰, respectively. With respect to other analytical methods, the characterization of the plastic polymer composition by isotope ratio mass spectrometry is advantageous due to low cost and rapidity of analysis, small amount of sample required, high sensitivity, and the possibility of analyzing colored samples.
More Papers Like This
Mass Spectrometry Insight for Assessing the Destiny of Plastics in Seawater
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers evaluated isotope ratio mass spectrometry as a tool for identifying the origin of plastic materials in seawater and monitoring their chemical degradation, finding it effective for tracking compositional changes in marine plastic pollution.
Isotope ratio mass spectrometry and spectroscopic techniques for microplastics characterization
AI summary Read the abstract
This review assessed isotope ratio mass spectrometry and spectroscopic techniques for microplastic characterization, arguing that the lack of standard analytical methods hampers understanding of MP geographic origins, sources, and environmental distribution — and calling for methodological standardization.
Elemental composition of the pure Polyethylene (PE) microplastics, pure sediment, and admixture samples listed in Table S4, as measured by EA-IRMS.
AI summary Read the abstract
This supporting dataset provides elemental composition data measured by elemental analysis-isotope ratio mass spectrometry (EA-IRMS) for pure polyethylene (PE) microplastics, pure sediment, and their admixture samples, supporting investigation of how polyethylene contamination affects elemental and isotopic measurements.
From elements to isotopes: Fingerprinting consumer plastics.
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers fingerprinted 119 consumer plastic items spanning major polymer types using multi-element profiling and metal isotope ratios via ICP-MS and MC-ICP-MS, demonstrating that elemental concentrations spanning eight orders of magnitude and isotope signatures provide reproducible, complementary identifiers beyond polymer type alone.
Volatile organic compounds identification and specific stable isotopic analysis (δ13C) in microplastics by purge and trap gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry and combustion isotope ratio mass spectrometry (PT-GC-MS-C-IRMS)
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers developed an analytical method combining purge-and-trap gas chromatography with stable carbon isotope ratio mass spectrometry to identify volatile organic compounds in microplastics and trace their source origins. The technique enables both chemical characterization and isotopic fingerprinting of microplastics in complex environmental samples.
Research digests by email
When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.