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Analysis of microplastics in theory and in practice
Summary
This paper evaluated the theoretical and practical requirements for microplastic analysis in environmental samples, highlighting limitations of FTIR and Raman spectroscopy for regulatory compliance testing and proposing TED-GC-MS as a faster, more quantitative alternative. Developing standardized, metrologically traceable analysis methods is essential for regulatory monitoring of microplastic pollution.
Due to the favorable properties of polymers, their production and thus their input into the environment has increased significantly in recent decades. Currently, FTIR or Raman spectroscopy are mainly applied for the analysis of microplastic particles (MP) in environmental samples. However, these methods have great difficulties in determining metrologically traceable MP values, especially with regard to the limiting values, as preferred in regulation. Therefore, we developed a systematic and fast thermoanalytical method called TED-GC-MS (thermal extraction desorption gas chromatography mass spectrometry), which determines mass contents. Now the current goal is the determination of its process parameters. This poster illustrates the theoretical requirements for MP analysis (left side) and contrast them with the current state of research (right side).Unexpected practical problems are presented and the relatively new method is discussed concerning the quality requirements of well-established methods such as LC-or GC-MS.