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Assessing the effectiveness of microplastic extraction methods on fishmeal with different properties
Chloe Way1, Malcolm D Hudson1, Ian D Williams2
1Faculty of Environmental and Life Sciences, University of Southampton, Highfield Campus, University Road, Southampton SO17 1BJ, UK. C.J.Way@soton.ac.uk.
Analytical Methods : Advancing Methods and Applications
|January 21, 2022
Summary
Microplastic contamination in fishmeal is a growing concern for food security. New, eco-friendly methods improve microplastic detection, revealing higher contamination levels than previously reported.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Food Science
- Analytical Chemistry
Background:
- Microplastic contamination in fishmeal is an emerging issue due to its entry into food chains.
- Fishmeal is crucial for global food security, but its complex composition affects microplastic analysis.
- Understanding microplastic presence in fishmeal requires robust and reliable detection methodologies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate existing and develop novel, cost-effective, and environmentally conscious methods for microplastic recovery from diverse fishmeal types.
- To compare the efficacy of different microplastic extraction techniques.
- To investigate the relationship between fishmeal properties and microplastic recovery rates.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of five fishmeal types (trimmings, sardine and anchovy, krill, tuna, salmon) from global sources.
- Comparison of microplastic recovery using sodium chloride overflows, potassium hydroxide digestions, and newly developed methods involving dispersants and calcium chloride density separations.
- Measurement of fishmeal properties including organics, carbonates, protein, and density.
Main Results:
- A combination of calcium chloride overflow with dispersant and potassium hydroxide digestion yielded the highest recovery rate (66.3%) in sardine and anchovy fishmeal.
- Positive correlation observed between microplastic recovery rates and fishmeal protein content.
- Negative correlation observed between microplastic recovery rates and fishmeal organic content.
Conclusions:
- Current microplastic detection methods may underestimate contamination levels in fishmeal.
- Fishmeal composition significantly influences microplastic recovery, necessitating method selection based on sample type.
- Development and standardization of environmentally conscious and affordable analytical methods are crucial for accurate microplastic assessment in complex matrices like fishmeal.
