Analysis of Microplastics in Roadside Debris by Py-GC-MS

User Benefits

- Pyrolysis-GC-MS and F-Search MPs 2.0 software enable qualitative and quantitative analysis of multiple microplastics in environmental samples individually. - Reduces operator workload by eliminating tedious pretreatment to sort out only microplastics from environmental samples.

Introduction

Small plastic particles with diameters up to 5 mm are known as microplastics (MPs). There are now concerns about the impact of such MPs on environmental pollution and human health. In recent years, identification and quantitation using pyrolysis-GC- MS (Py-GC-MS) have been considered to evaluate the chemical properties of MPs. Tire wear particles left on roads can cause marine pollution when they are carried by wind and rain into seas and air pollution when they float into the atmosphere. As a result, MPs are considered a major environmental pollutant. Because MPs are a mixture of multiple small particles, it is difficult to sort out only the MPs from environmental samples. In this article using Py-GC-MS and F-Search MPs 2.0 mass spectral search software (from Frontier Laboratories Ltd.), qualitative and quantitative analysis of MPs present in sand, soil, and other material that accumulates on the road shoulders were performed individually without pretreatment. F-Search MPs 2.0 supports easy identification and quantitation of unknown MPs in the environment.

February 17, 2023 GMT