Microplastic particles (µPp 5mm &lt; ø &gt;1µm) entering our environment at an increasing rate are a major problem in especially the aquatic environment where they cause health issues and mortality to living creatures, and pose a threat to human life. The µPp either contain or erode to smaller nPp (ø &lt; 1µm). To date there are no means to recover nPp or the smaller region µPp (ø = 1 - 2 µm) from the environment for analysis as the proposed methods for recovery are based on different filtration and elutriation techniques suited only for the larger region of the µPp (ø &gt; 30 µm). This creates a methodological gap in the recovery and analysis of the colloidal region plastic particles. Combinations of different laboratory techniques for nanoparticle analytics have been suggested, however, the environmental samples are problematic for these methods. Due to limited methods very little is known about nPp type, amounts, and fate in the environment.<br/>Our work addresses the problem of capturing and analysing the colloidal sized nPp by utilizing the inherent hygroscopicity and interaction of cellulose nanofibril (CNF) networks. We show that the CNF hydrogels and films are efficient in capturing the colloidal particles via electrostatic interactions and by the capillary flow induced by the hygroscopicity of the network. We demonstrate the potential of surface sensitive analytical tools to fill in the methodological gap in the analysis of the colloidal plastic particles. This we do by coupling quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation (QCM-D) monitoring, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), image analysis, and random sequential adsorption (RSA) model fitting. This combinatorial method allows quantitative assessment of particle adsorption and kinetic assessment of the adsorption process.

Capturing colloidal microplastics with nanocellulose networks

ACS Spring Meeting 2021

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.