We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Evaluating the influence of polystyrene standards on quantification in environmental samples
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers tested how different types and molecular weights of polystyrene standards affect the accuracy of a common analytical method used to measure microplastics in environmental samples. They found that the choice of standard material can significantly over- or underestimate actual microplastic concentrations, with low-molecular-weight standards causing the most inaccurate readings. The study calls for greater standardization in analytical methods to ensure reliable microplastic measurements across studies.
Mismanagement of plastic waste has become an emerging concern as large plastic items fragment into microplastics and nanoplastics (MNPs) in the environment, which, in turn pose potential environmental and human health risks. Pyrolysis-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (Py-GC-MS) is an emerging analytical method for MNPs in environmental matrices, but there are uncertainties in the analysis as it is an indirect technique. To date, studies on the impact of molecular weight and tacticity on pyrolysis product formation of polystyrene (PS) using Py-GC-MS are scarce. To provide more insight on potential limitations with the analysis of PS, this study investigated eleven PS standards with a wide range of molecular weights (1,400–1,080,000 g/mol) and tacticities (isotactic, atactic, and syndiotactic) to evaluate how pyrolysis product formation varies and impacts quantification. Isotactic and syndiotactic polystyrene produced higher relative amounts of dimer and trimer compared to atactic polystyrene, irrespective of molecular weight. Additionally, five standards, covering a range of tacticities and molecular weights (1,400–476,000 g/mol), were used to quantify the PS concentrations of commercial products and assess their impact on quantifying the correct masses. Overestimations were mainly observed when atactic polystyrene with low molecular weight (1,400 g/mol) was used to calculate the concentration of PS, while the concentrations calculated using standards above 250,000 g/mol were similar regardless of tacticity. Assessment of the formation of the different pyrolysis products also provided the first indication that 3 consumer products were comprised of acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS), providing the opportunity for mis-identification as PS and the necessity of monitoring multiple PS pyrolysis products and their concentration ratios to assess for this. Therefore, it is critical to carefully select calibration standards and monitor pyrolysis products for the accurate quantification of PS in samples. ∙ Py-GC-MS analysis of polystyrene (PS) with different tacticity and Mw ∙ Eleven consumer products tested for reliability of reporting PS concentrations ∙ Significant overestimation when standard molecular weight < 250,000 g/mol ∙ Acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene products provide false positive of PS in samples
More Papers Like This
Quantitation of polystyrene by pyrolysis-GC-MS: The impact of polymer standards on micro and nanoplastic analysis
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers evaluated how the choice of polystyrene reference standard affects the accuracy of a key method (Pyrolysis-GC-MS) used to detect and measure microplastics and nanoplastics, finding that different standards with varying molecular structures produce substantially different results for the same sample. This highlights an urgent need for standardized reference materials to make microplastic measurement methods more reliable and comparable across labs.
Unravelling the particle size effect and standard selection on pyrolysis-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry quantification: A study of polystyrene
AI summary Read the abstract
Scientists rely on a common lab technique to measure how much plastic (specifically polystyrene, used in items like foam cups and food containers) is present in environmental and food samples, but this study found that the calibration method used can throw off results by 64-78%, meaning we might be over- or under-counting how much microplastic is actually there. Using a special reference chemical to correct for this error helped reduce the mistake, but didn't fully fix it—highlighting that as scientists work to understand how much plastic we're exposed to and what it means for our health, we need better, more standardized testing methods to get accurate answers.
Interlaboratory Comparison Reveals State of the Art in Microplastic Detection and Quantification Methods
AI summary Read the abstract
An 84-laboratory interlaboratory comparison tested the accuracy of five established microplastic detection methods using standardized reference materials, revealing significant variability in results across labs and methods. The study highlights that standardization and harmonization of analytical procedures are urgently needed before microplastic measurement can be reliably compared across research groups.
The use of reference material in microplastic research: general aspects
AI summary Read the abstract
This paper discussed general considerations for using certified reference materials in microplastic research, arguing that standardized reference materials are essential for ensuring that measurements are reproducible and comparable across different laboratories and studies. The lack of such standards remains a major limitation in the field.
Standardizing microplastics used for establishing recovery efficiency when assessing microplastics in environmental samples
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers evaluated recovery efficiency practices in microplastic environmental assessment studies published in 2020, finding appreciable variability in the density and size of microplastic particles used across investigations, which undermines the ability to compare results between studies. The authors call for standardized recovery efficiency protocols using realistic microplastic mixtures that better reflect environmental sample conditions.
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.