Rapid fingerprinting of source and environmental microplastics using direct analysis in real time-high resolution mass spectrometry

Zhang, Xianming; Mell, Alicia; Li, Frederick; Thaysen, Clara; Musselman, Brian; Tice, Joseph; Vuković, Dragan; Rochman, Chelsea M.; Helm, Paul A.; Jobst, Karl J.

doi:10.1016/j.aca.2019.12.005

Cited by 37 publications

(31 citation statements)

References 43 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…A new method by Zhang et al, reports a new approach for rapid fingerprinting of MPs using Direct Analysis in Real Time (DART)-HRMS. 227 Approximately 10 000 peaks were observed following thermal desorption, yielding a specific fingerprint for several different types of plastics, due to their different additives released. This approach was sensitive and could be high throughput.…”

Section: ■ Microplasticsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Water Analysis: Emerging Contaminants and Current Issues

2021

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Section: ■ Microplasticsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Water Analysis: Emerging Contaminants and Current Issues

2021

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

“…In recent years, environmental contamination by plastics has become a major concern to the health of both human beings and wildlife. Zhang et al recently used DART‐HRMS for the detection of microplastics in lakewater 101 . After optimizing the technique for the analysis of 21 plastic samples, including synthetic fibers and microbeads from personal care products, the authors demonstrated a high‐throughput method that could be used to characterize plastics present in the environment and establish the type of plastics present in environmental samples.…”

Section: Applications Of Ambient Ionization Mass Spectrometrymentioning

confidence: 99%

Applications of ambient ionization mass spectrometry in 2020: An annual review

Rankin‐Turner

Heaney

2021

Analytical Science Advances

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Recent developments in mass spectrometry (MS) analyses have seen a concerted effort to reduce the complexity of analytical workflows through the simplification (or removal) of sample preparation and the shortening of run‐to‐run analysis times. Ambient ionization mass spectrometry (AIMS) is an exemplar MS‐based technology that has swiftly developed into a popular and powerful tool in analytical science. This increase in interest and demonstrable applications is down to its capacity to enable the rapid analysis of a diverse range of samples, typically in their native state or following a minimalistic sample preparation approach. The field of AIMS is constantly improving and expanding, with developments of powerful and novel techniques, improvements to existing instrumentation, and exciting new applications added with each year that passes. This annual review provides an overview of applications of AIMS techniques over the past year (2020), with a particular focus on the application of AIMS in a number of key fields of research including biomedical sciences, forensics and security, food sciences, the environment, and chemical synthesis. Novel ambient ionization techniques are introduced, including picolitre pressure‐probe electrospray ionization and fiber spray ionization, in addition to modifications and improvements to existing techniques such as hand‐held devices for ease of use, and USB‐powered ion sources for on‐site analysis. In all, the information provided in this review supports the view that AIMS has become a leading approach in MS‐based analyses and that improvements to existing methods, alongside the development of novel approaches, will continue across the foreseeable future.

show abstract

“…These may then be drawn into the inlet of a high-resolution MS, permitting exact mass measurements and subsequent constituent identification. Zhang et al (2020b) introduced selected microplastics into a thermal desorption/pyrolysis inlet connected to a DART ionization device interfaced with a Q Exactive TM hybrid quadrupole-orbitrap MS. They reported the detection of both additives (plasticizers, antioxidants, and cross-linking agents) and polymers (PE, PP, PET, PS, polyester, PA).…”

Section: Mass Spectrometry (Ms)mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Weight-based estimates were not possible using this approach. An alternative statistical approach can be found in Zhang et al (2020b). The complexity of these analyses was underscored by the shared pyrolysis products from multiple compounds (Fischer and Scholz-Böttcher 2017).…”

Section: Thermal Analysis Techniquesmentioning

confidence: 99%

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

Hale

Seeley

King

et al. 2021

Environmental Contamination Remediation and Management

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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.

show abstract

Rapid fingerprinting of source and environmental microplastics using direct analysis in real time-high resolution mass spectrometry

Cited by 37 publications

References 43 publications

Water Analysis: Emerging Contaminants and Current Issues

Water Analysis: Emerging Contaminants and Current Issues

Applications of ambient ionization mass spectrometry in 2020: An annual review

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

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About