Microplastics (MPs) Analysis
Microplastics (MPs) are minute pieces of plastic with diameters ranging from 1 micrometer to 5 millimeters. Microplastics consist of solid polymer materials to which chemical additives may have been added. Natural polymers, such as cotton fibers, wool, proteins, and silk, are not included in the definition. Microplastics in the environment are generally derived from primary sources, which include microbeads manufactured for consumer or industrial purposes, or secondary sources, which result from the mechanical or chemical fragmentation of larger plastics products, such as water bottles, carpets, plastic bags, food containers, cigarette filters, and many other plastic products that are discarded into the environment.
Microplastics have a large surface area because of their small size. When in the environment, microplastics tend to adsorb chemical pollutants, concentrating them onto the surface. These pollutants may be released back into the environment, or worse, cause adverse health or ecological damage to organisms that ingest or inhale them. Additionally, the various sizes and shapes of microplastics, if ingested or inhaled, may result in toxic effects because of the physical or chemical properties of the plastic particle itself.
Because microplastics are widely distributed globally, and the health effects to humans and wildlife are largely unknown, it is important that microplastics be measured according to standardized methods using available instrumental resources to fully characterize the extent of microplastic contamination in the environment. Shimadzu is leading the effort to develop standard methods and is uniquely positioned to offer the broadest array of measuring equipment available to provide you with the most comprehensive approach for microplastics analysis.
For PC users, clicking on the instruments photos provides detailed information about each product.
Shimadzu’s Comprehensive Approach to Microplastics Analysis
Our approach integrates standardized sampling, preparation, and multi-method analysis to provide a complete picture of microplastic contamination in environmental samples.
Standardized Sampling and Preparation
- ASTM D8332 - Guides large-volume water column sampling, using sieves to separate particles into fractions (e.g., 500 µm, 300 µm, 212 µm, 100 µm, 20 µm)
- ASTM D8333 – Describes sequential digestion to remove organic and other interferences, leaving plastics suspended in methanol for analysis
Quantitative Imaging for Small Particles (<100 µm)
- ASTM D8489 – Standard for Dynamic Particle Image Analysis (DIA) using the iSpect DIA 10 system
- Measures total particle count, size distribution, and shape for particles <100 µm
- Offers rapid, high-throughput counting compared to infrared methods
- Data can be correlated with FTIR spectra for material identification
Qualitative and Quantitative Material Identification
- Infrared Microscopy – For particles < a few hundred µm, automatically counts and classifies by size/shape, then identifies material
- Benchtop FTIR – For particles > a few hundred µm, classifies and counts, then identifies material
- Pyrolysis GCMS (ASTM D8401) – Quantifies and identifies individual plastics by converting them to pyrolyzates for GC/MS analysis
Integration and Workflow
- Workflow:
- Sample collection (D8332)
- Preparation (D8333)
- Quantify small particles (<100 µm) via DIA/D8489
- Analyze particles > 20 µm by IRMicroscopy and particles greater than 212 µm by FTIR
- Use pyrolysis GCMS for detailed material quantification
- This multi-method approach ensures both the abundance and identity of microplastics are determined.
Benefits
- Rapid, standardized quantification of particle numbers and sizes.
- Comprehensive material identification across particle size ranges.
- Correlation of morphology and composition for origin tracing.
- High precision in particle counting and size distribution
In summary, Shimadzu’s approach combines ASTM-standardized sampling/preparation with complementary imaging and spectroscopic methods to deliver a complete, reproducible analysis of microplastics in environmental samples.
Related Applications
Related Products
Plastic Analyzer
The Plastic Analyzer method package includes an FTIR spectral library for plastics degraded by UV rays and heat. This library can be a good solution for the analysis of microplastics degraded in the environment.
STABLO-AP ( Static Electricity Remover)
Plastic particles are easily charged, making picking work with tweezers difficult. In this case, the ionizer (static electricity remover) is very effective.
Webinars
Pyrolysis-GCMS: The Power of Mass Spectrometry for Unveiling Plastic Contamination in the Environment
Recently, pyrolysis coupled with gas chromatography mass spectrometry (Py-GCMS) has been successfully applied for the identification and quantitation of various types of plastics. In this event, our two speakers will discuss the suitability of this technique for assessing the fate of microplastics in the environment. They will also present examples of how they have applied Py-GCMS for studying these contaminants in water, biosolids and seafood samples, among others.
Analysis of Recycled Plastics and Biodegradable Plastics with FTIR
The properties and structures of bioplastics and biodegradable plastics are very different from regular plastics. Material identification is important for proper handling and separation. In this webinar, we go over some interesting examples of materials made of biodegradable and recycled plastics, along with technical details on their identification and differentiation.
Microplastics analysis using FTIR and Infrared Microscope system
Microplastics are classified into primary microplastics and secondary microplastics. Primary microplastics are manufactured as materials for use in scrubs and industrial abrasives and are often made of polyethylene (PE) or polypropylene (PP). Secondary microplastics refer to plastics that have been broken down from larger debris into pieces with a diameter of 5 mm or less due to external factors such as ultraviolet radiation and the types of such plastics are various.