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Method for extraction of nanoscale plastic debris from soil
Fazel Abdolahpur Monikh1, Nikki Doornhein, Stefan Romeijn
1Institute of Environmental Sciences (CML), Leiden University, P.O. Box 9518, 2300 RA Leiden, The Netherlands. f.a.monikh@cml.leidenuniv.nl.
Analytical Methods : Advancing Methods and Applications
|March 15, 2021
Summary
Researchers developed a new method to extract nanoscale plastic debris (NPD) from soil. This method efficiently recovers NPD, aiding in quantifying these tiny plastic particles in environmental samples.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Analytical Chemistry
- Materials Science
Background:
- Sample preparation is crucial for analyzing nanoscale plastic debris (NPD, < 1 μm).
- Extracting NPD from complex soil matrices presents significant challenges.
- Existing methods for microplastics and nanomaterials informed this NPD extraction approach.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and validate a sample preparation method for extracting NPD from soil.
- To evaluate the method's effectiveness based on size distribution, particle number recovery, and particle mass recovery.
- To establish a foundational method for quantifying NPD in soil environments.
Main Methods:
- Utilized europium-doped polystyrene nanoparticles (Eu-PS NPs) as traceable standards.
- Spiked standard LUFA soil and field soil with Eu-PS NPs and performed extraction.
- Assessed extraction efficiency by measuring particle size distribution, number, and mass recovery.
Main Results:
- The developed method did not significantly alter particle size distribution.
- No degradation of Eu-PS NPs was observed by the extraction agents.
- Achieved high mass recoveries (82% in LUFA soil, 77% in field soil) and number recoveries (81% in LUFA soil, 85% in field soil).
Conclusions:
- The developed method is effective for extracting NPD from soil matrices.
- This method serves as a building block for a generic NPD extraction protocol.
- Enables the development of workflows for quantifying NPD and understanding its fate in soil.
