Adaptation of a laboratory protocol to quantity microplastics contamination in estuarine waters

Rodrigues, Sabrina M.; Almeida, C. Marisa R.; Ramos, Sandra

doi:10.1016/j.mex.2019.03.027

Cited by 19 publications

(15 citation statements)

References 8 publications

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“…Based on the above-mentioned considerations, and on expertise acquired by our research group on MPs extraction from estuarine waters [8] , this work considers the extraction of a broad spectrum of MPs, including PET, from other seawater compartments (sediment and biota). More in detail, a unique iterative procedure is proposed for the extraction of MPs from sediment independently of its characteristics (sandy or bed type).…”

Section: Methods Detailsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In our previous research, devoted to the development of an MPs extraction procedure from estuarine waters [8] , the volume of a 0.05 M Fe(II) solution and of a 30% H 2 O 2 solution to oxidize organic matter was deeply investigated, since the presence of iron activate the production of hydroxyl radicals (Fenton reaction [10] ). In the above mentioned work, one oxidation cycle, performed on a hot plate at 75 °C, adding two consequent aliquots of 20 mL of oxidation solution, was shown to be enough to remove the interfering organic matter.…”

Section: Extraction Protocol For Sedimentsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…As stated in the previous paragraph, after each oxidation cycle (20 mL 0.05 M Fe(II) + 20 mL + 20 mL 30% H 2 O 2 solutions, at 75 °C [8] ) a second overnight density separation is required, in particular because it is frequent that inorganic particles, such as silica sand, are still present in the samples. Therefore, once the oxidative reaction took place, exactly 18 g of NaCl (6 g for each 20 mL of solution, with 20 mL of 0.05 M Fe(II) + 20 ml + 20 mL 30% H 2 O 2 = 60 mL) were added and dissolved for 30 min in the samples (which was maintained at 75 °C), mixing the solution with a stirring magnet.…”

Section: Extraction Protocol For Sedimentsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Finally, after sedimentation time and before collecting MPs by means of the open flask filter already described in the previous paper [8] , the faucet was opened, discarding the first mL of the solution (in which interfering sand particles or NaCl crystals are present). Extracted MPs, finally collected on the filter, were washed carefully with deionised water, dried in the oven at 90 °C and counted by means of a stereomicroscope.…”

Section: Extraction Protocol For Sedimentsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Based on the highly effective oxidation results obtained for estuarine waters [8] and sediments (see previous section about MPs extraction from sediments), in this work the oxidation properties of the 0.05 M Fe(II) solution together with 30% H 2 O 2 were exploited, carefully tuning the volumes added.…”

Section: Extraction Protocol For Oystersmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Microplastic in marine environment: reworking and optimisation of two analytical protocols for the extraction of microplastics from sediments and oysters

et al. 2020

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Marine sediments and sessile biota (i.e. oysters) are nowadays recognised to be affected by microplastic (MP) pollution. NOAA proposes two distinct MP extraction protocols for sandy and bed sediments, which, however, were already demonstrated to suffer from many limitations. Conversely, to what concern oysters, works already published are usually time consuming, requiring a KOH 24–48 h oxidation step. The aim of this study is to show how iterative adaptation of the NOAA protocol allows to extract MPs, included PET, from marine sediments, regardless their characteristics. The method tested on PE-LD/PET/PA/PE-HD is based on density separation and oxidation treatments which were both carefully tuned, obtaining final recoveries higher than 85% for all the micropolymers (100% for PE and PA). Furthermore, a new protocol for the extraction of MPs from oysters was assessed, highlighting its efficacy (recoveries higher than 84% for all the plastics) and time-saving peculiarity. Finally, both protocols were successfully applied in the MPs extraction from real samples from Atlantic Ocean. The extraction of PE-LD/PET/PA/PE-HD was optimised in sediments (regardless their characteristics) and oysters. For sediments, density separation and oxidation procedures were carefully optimised. For oysters, oxidation times were reduced from 24 to 48 h to 1 h.

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Section: Methods Detailsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Extraction Protocol For Sedimentsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Extraction Protocol For Sedimentsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Extraction Protocol For Sedimentsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Extraction Protocol For Oystersmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Microplastic in marine environment: reworking and optimisation of two analytical protocols for the extraction of microplastics from sediments and oysters

et al. 2020

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Microplastics: A Review of Methodology for Sampling and Characterizing Environmental and Biological Samples

Shoopman

Pan

2021

Methods in Molecular Biology

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Analytical Chemistry of Plastic Debris: Sampling, Methods, and Instrumentation

Hale

Seeley

King

et al. 2021

Environmental Contamination Remediation and Management

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Approaches for the collection and analysis of plastic debris in environmental matrices are rapidly evolving. Such plastics span a continuum of sizes, encompassing large (macro-), medium (micro-, typically defined as particles between 1 μm and 5 mm), and smaller (nano-) plastics. All are of environmental relevance. Particle sizes are dynamic. Large plastics may fragment over time, while smaller particles may agglomerate in the field. The diverse morphologies (fragment, fiber, sphere) and chemical compositions of microplastics further complicate their characterization. Fibers are of growing interest and present particular analytical challenges due to their narrow profiles. Compositional classes of emerging concern include tire wear, paint chips, semisynthetics (e.g., rayon), and bioplastics. Plastics commonly contain chemical additives and fillers, which may alter their toxicological potency, behavior (e.g., buoyancy), or detector response (e.g., yield fluorescence) during analysis. Field sampling methods often focus on >20 μm and even >300 μm sized particles and will thus not capture smaller microplastics (which may be most abundant and bioavailable). Analysis of a limited subgroup (selected polymer types, particle sizes, or shapes) of microplastics, while often operationally necessary, can result in an underestimation of actual sample content. These shortcomings complicate calls for toxicological studies of microplastics to be based on “environmentally relevant concentrations.” Sample matrices of interest include water (including wastewater, ice, snow), sediment (soil, dust, wastewater sludge), air, and biota. Properties of the environment, and of the particles themselves, may concentrate plastic debris in select zones (e.g., gyres, shorelines, polar ice, wastewater sludge). Sampling designs should consider such patchy distributions. Episodic releases due to weather and anthropogenic discharges should also be considered. While water grab samples and sieving are commonplace, novel techniques for microplastic isolation, such as continuous flow centrifugation, show promise. The abundance of nonplastic particulates (e.g., clay, detritus, biological material) in samples interferes with microplastic detection and characterization. Their removal is typically accomplished using a combination of gravity separation and oxidative digestion (including strong bases, peroxide, enzymes); unfortunately, aggressive treatments may damage more labile plastics. Microscope-based infrared or Raman detection is often applied to provide polymer chemistry and morphological data for individual microplastic particles. However, the sheer number of particles in many samples presents logistical hurdles. In response, instruments have been developed that employ detector arrays and rapid scanning lasers. The addition of dyes to stain particulates may facilitate spectroscopic detection of some polymer types. Most researchers provide microplastic data in the form of the abundances of polymer types within particle size, polymer, and morphology classes. Polymer mass data in samples remain rare but are essential to elucidating fate. Rather than characterizing individual particles in samples, solvent extraction (following initial sample prep, such as sediment size class sorting), combined with techniques such as thermoanalysis (e.g., pyrolysis), has been used to generate microplastic mass data. However, this may obviate the acquisition of individual particle morphology and compositional information. Alternatively, some techniques (e.g., electron and atomic force microscopy and matrix-assisted laser desorption mass spectrometry) are adept at providing highly detailed data on the size, morphology, composition, and surface chemistry of select particles. Ultimately, the analyst must select the approach best suited for their study goals. Robust quality control elements are also critical to evaluate the accuracy and precision of the sampling and analysis techniques. Further, improved efforts are required to assess and control possible sample contamination due to the ubiquitous distribution of microplastics, especially in indoor environments where samples are processed.

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Adaptation of a laboratory protocol to quantity microplastics contamination in estuarine waters

Abstract: Graphical abstract

Cited by 19 publications

References 8 publications

Microplastic in marine environment: reworking and optimisation of two analytical protocols for the extraction of microplastics from sediments and oysters

Microplastic in marine environment: reworking and optimisation of two analytical protocols for the extraction of microplastics from sediments and oysters

Microplastics: A Review of Methodology for Sampling and Characterizing Environmental and Biological Samples

Analytical Chemistry of Plastic Debris: Sampling, Methods, and Instrumentation

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