A major issue with the sampling of microplastics is their unique behavior in the environment. Microplastics occur as a heterogenous mixture comprised of particulates and fibers of various polymeric materials with variable sizes and densities. Count-based identification methods using spectroscopy require rigorous preparation techniques to separate polymers from other organic and inorganic materials in most environmental samples, such as water with high levels of suspended solids. Gravimetric methods, most notably Pyrolysis-GC/MS, enable users to achieve polymer identification and mass quantitation directly from samples with minimal particle separation. The resulting robust and repeatable mass/mass or mass/volume measurements from Py-GCMS are applicable to samples from multiple environmental matrices including water, soils, sediments, and air. In addition, gravimetric analysis provides much better comparability to estimation of other types of pollutants. Gravimetric measurements are useful for applications such as mean or median pollutant estimation, trend analysis, univariate and multivariate inferential statistics, and regression modeling. This talk will present insights into the development of appropriate microplastic sample planning with emphasis on recent efforts in development of ASTM standards for sample collection, preparation and analysis as well as prospective data interpretation.

Sample collection and analytical considerations for environmental microplastics studies: The path forward using new ASTM standards

ACS Spring Meeting 2021

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