Fast and easy quantification of semi-crystalline microplastics in exemplary environmental matrices by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC)

Bitter, Hajo; Lackner, Susanne

doi:10.1016/j.cej.2021.129941

Cited by 44 publications

(22 citation statements)

References 66 publications

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“…The strengths of each method are gathered, and several analysis instruments are used in combination to compensate for each of their shortcomings. Bulk samples can be analyzed by thermal analysis combined with GC-MS to provide total microplastic concentration data by weight [64]. TGA-FTIR-GC-MS monitors microplastics in real time and enables both qualitative and quantitative analyses, unlike the existing TGA-FTIR that monitors in real time and only allows qualitative analysis.…”

Section: Complementary Use Of Thermal Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Methods of Analyzing Microsized Plastics in the Environment

et al. 2021

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Microplastics are found in various environments with the increasing use of plastics worldwide. Several methods have been developed for the sampling, extraction, purification, identification, and quantification of microplastics in complex environmental matrices. This study intends to summarize recent research trends on the subject. Large microplastic particles can be sorted manually and identified through chemical analysis; however, sample preparation for small microplastic analysis is usually more difficult. Microplastics are identified by evaluating the physical and chemical properties of plastic particles separated through extraction and washing steps from a mixture of inorganic and organic particles. This identification has a high risk of producing false-positive and false-negative results in the analysis of small microplastics. Currently, a combination of physical (e.g., microscopy), chemical (e.g., spectroscopy), and thermal analyses is widely used. We aim to summarize the best strategies for microplastic analysis by comparing the strengths and limitations of each identification method.

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Section: Complementary Use Of Thermal Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, there are limitations due to overlapping peaks when DSC identifies microplastics with similar melting points [63]. It can only be used to identify certain primary microplastics, such as PE and PP [64].…”

Section: Differential Scanning Calorimetrymentioning

confidence: 99%

Methods of Analyzing Microsized Plastics in the Environment

et al. 2021

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“…This uses the calculation of area under the curve by means of the relationship between the heat of reaction and the plastic mass, known as the calibration constant [37,39], with the limitation that it only applies to semi-crystalline plastics with marked melting points. In case of the presence of amorphous plastics, the DSC will not identify these, however it will not affect the realization of the calculation [36,38]. This represents an advance for the quantification of microplastics by thermal analysis.…”

Section: Determination Of the Percentage Concentration Of The Identif...mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…These include classifying the sample only with the human eye, by means of the colors and size presented [29,30]; spectroscopic means, such as FT-IR, Raman or SEM-EDS, which allow for more precise identification and classification of microplastics, since they provide numbers and sizes of particles and, hence, information on the composition of the material [31][32][33]; using thermo-analytical products, such as DSC or Pyr-GC/MS, which enable identification through analysis of the thermal properties of the material and the decomposition gases generated; and generating data about the kind of polymer and its mass [2,5,24,34,35]. Different authors have presented methods to quantify the mass quantity of microplastics using DSC [36,37], such that the degradation of the microplastics contained in a sample is recognized, measured and determined using a single thermal study. This approach, however, is only applicable to semi-crystalline polymers and not amorphous plastics [38,39].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Identification and Quantification of Microplastics in Effluents of Wastewater Treatment Plant by Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC)

et al. 2022

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In this research, the presence of microplastics was detected through a differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) analysis of three wastewater treatment plants. One of these plants applied only a preliminary treatment stage while the others applied up to a secondary treatment stage to evaluate their effectiveness. The results showed the presence of polyethylene (PE), polystyrene (PS), polypropylene (PP) and polyethylene terephthalate (PET), which were classified as fragments, fibers or granules. During the evaluation of the plants, it was determined that the preliminary treatment did not remove more than 58% of the microplastics, while the plants applying up to a secondary treatment with activated sludge achieved microplastic removal effectiveness between 90% and 96.9%.

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“…Chemical characterization was performed using FTIR spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy and DSC [11,18,27,28]. For the FTIR analyses, eleven potassium bromide (KBr) pellets were prepared with the MP particles (KBr-MP) (labeled P1 to P11).…”

Section: Analysis Of Samplesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Morphology, Chemical Characterization and Sources of Microplastics in a Coastal City in the Equatorial Zone with Diverse Anthropogenic Activities (Fortaleza city, Brazil)

et al. 2022

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The aim of the present study was to perform morphological and chemical characterizations of microplastics (MPs) found in seawater samples from the coast of the city of Fortaleza (CE) using Fouriertransform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Sampling was performed using a neuston sampler. MPs were separated based on the difference in density. MPs with varied morphologies were found. Fibers and fragments were the most abundant (57% and 36.2%, respectively). FTIR, Raman spectroscopy and DSC con rmed the presence of polyurethane and alkyd resin, polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, polyamide blends, thermoplastic rubber and polyester bers. Many studies have chemically characterized plastic materials using FTIR, Raman spectroscopy and DSC and common MPs, such as polyethylene, polypropylene, polyamide and polyester, have been characterized. However, characterization becomes more complex when MPs are less common particles, weathered particles and blends of polymers and additives. There is also less information on these types of MPs in commercial polymer databases. Therefore, the MP spectra obtained in this study can serve as a database to compare and characterize common as well as less common, more complex MPs.

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Fast and easy quantification of semi-crystalline microplastics in exemplary environmental matrices by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC)

Cited by 44 publications

References 66 publications

Methods of Analyzing Microsized Plastics in the Environment

Methods of Analyzing Microsized Plastics in the Environment

Identification and Quantification of Microplastics in Effluents of Wastewater Treatment Plant by Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC)

Morphology, Chemical Characterization and Sources of Microplastics in a Coastal City in the Equatorial Zone with Diverse Anthropogenic Activities (Fortaleza city, Brazil)

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