A Tiered Quantification and Source Mapping Framework for Tire Wear Particle Analysis in Environmental Matrices

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Analytical Chemistry
• Materials Science

Background:

• Tire wear particles (TWPs) represent a significant source of microplastic pollution.
• Accurate quantification of TWPs is hindered by heterogeneous tread composition and varied analytical methods.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a novel, more accurate method for quantifying TWPs, especially with limited tread composition data.
• To establish an analytical framework for tracking TWPs in environmental samples and assessing their sources and fluxes.

Main Methods:

• Utilized pyrolysis gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (Py-GC-MS) with real tire treads to create precise quantitative curves.
• Quantified rubber content in three tread types using a broad range of pyrolysis monomers and derivatives.
• Developed a tiered approach to calculate worn tread mass, effectively managing interfering signals.

Main Results:

• The novel Py-GC-MS method demonstrated improved quantification accuracy (94-113%) compared to existing techniques, validated by tread cryogrinds.
• Successfully quantified rubber content in diverse tire treads for the first time.
• Proposed a comprehensive analytical framework for TWP source identification and flux quantification in environmental matrices.

Conclusions:

• The developed method significantly enhances the accuracy of TWP quantification, addressing challenges posed by tread variability.
• The proposed analytical framework provides a foundation for effective management and mitigation of TWP pollution.
• This research offers a pathway to better understand and control microplastic emissions from tire wear.