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Developing a systematic method for extraction of microplastics in soils. | LitMetric

Developing a systematic method for extraction of microplastics in soils.

Anal Methods

Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences, University of Southampton, Highfield Campus, University Road, Southampton SO17 1BJ, UK.

Published: April 2021

AI Article Synopsis

  • - Microplastics are a significant global environmental issue, especially in soil, but understanding their contamination in terrestrial environments is currently limited due to the lack of standardized detection methods.
  • - This study compares various microplastic extraction methods from soils, assessing the efficiency of organic matter removal with different reagents and testing density separation techniques.
  • - The results indicate that hydrogen peroxide is the best for organic removal, while canola oil proves to be the most effective for density separation, demonstrating the need for tailored approaches in future microplastic research.

Article Abstract

Microplastics are an environmental issue of global concern. Although they have been found in a range of environments worldwide, their contamination in the terrestrial environment is poorly understood. The lack of standardised methods for their detection and quantification is a major obstacle for determining the risk they pose to soil environments. Here we present a systematic comparison of microplastic extraction methods from soils, taking into account the characteristics of the soil medium to determine the best methods for quantification. The efficiency of organic matter removal using hydrogen peroxide, potassium hydroxide and Fenton's reagent was measured. Soils with a range of particle size distribution and organic matter content were spiked with a variety of microplastic types. Density separation methods using sodium chloride, zinc chloride and canola oil were tested. Recovery efficiencies were calculated and the impact of the reagents on the microplastics was quantified using Attenuated Total Reflectance (ATR) Fourier Transform-Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The optimal organic removal method was found to be hydrogen peroxide. The recovery efficiency of microplastics was variable across polymer types. Overall, canola oil was shown to be the optimal method for density separation, however, efficiency was dependent on the amount of organic matter in the soil. This outcome highlights the importance of including matrix-specific calibration in future studies considering a wide range of microplastic types, to avoid underestimation of microplastic contamination. We show here that methods for extracting microplastics from soils can be simple, cost-effective and widely applicable, which will enable the advancement of microplastic research in terrestrial environments.

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Source
http://dx.doi.org/10.1039/d0ay02086aDOI Listing

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