Microplastics detection in some cosmetic samples by accelerated solvent extraction and Micro-FTIR

Worldwide attention is focused on microplastics environmental pollution, primarily for its potential negative effects on biota and human health. It is of great importance to identify standardized analytical methods to have an objective feedback about this concern. The recent regulation regarding the intentionally added microplastics content and the attention for the unintentional microplastics release are the basis of this work, whose topic is the development of an analytical method for microbeads (spheres) and microparticles (fragments) determination in certain cosmetic samples, in particular creamy samples. The method is based on Accelerated Solvent Extraction technique to remove all the sample matrix ingredients. The final suspension was then filtered on silicon membrane, for the following quali-quantitative micro-FTIR analysis, and on glass fibre membranes, for the gravimetric analysis. The method was developed for a theoretical microplastics concentration of 0.025 % (w/w) and allows a good recovery percentage. Working both by gravimetric evaluation and by micro-FTIR analysis gives more confident results and guaranties a proper identification and characterization of the filtered materials.