Interlaboratory comparison reveals state of the art in microplastic detection and quantification methods

Ciornii, Dmitri; Hodoroaba, Vasile-Dan ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7901-6114; Benismail, Nizar; Maltseva, Alina; Ferrer, Juan F.; Wang, Jiamin; Parra, Raquel; Jézéquel, Ronan; Receveur, Justine; Gabriel, Dina; Scheitler, Andreas; van Oversteeg, Christa; Roosma, Jorg; van Renesse van Duivenbode, Alex; Bulters, Tim; Zanella, Michela; Perini, Alessandro; Benetti, Federico; Mehn, Dora ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3482-2996; Dierkes, Georg ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2561-1866; Soll, Michael; Ishimura, Takahisa; Bednarz, Marius; Peng, Guyu; Hildebrandt, Lars; Peters, Mathias; Kim, Seung-Kyu ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1602-3288; Türk, Jochen; Steinfeld, Felix ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7383-1858; Jung, Jaehak; Hong, Sanghee; Kim, Eun-Ju; Yu, Hye-Weon; Klockmann, Sven; Krafft, Christoph ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1049-0560; Süssmann, Julia; Zou, Shan ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2480-6821; ter Halle, Alexandra ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7065-2272; Giovannozzi, Andrea M.; Sacco, Alessio ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4421-840X; Fadda, Marta; Putzu, Mara; Im, Dong-Hoon; Nhlapo, Nontete ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5269-0769; Carrillo-Barragán, Priscilla ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2639-264X; Schmidt, Natascha; Herzke, Dorte ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9620-3053; Gomiero, Alessio ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6496-6857; Jaén-Gil, Adrián; Cabanes, Damien J. E.; Doedt, Martin; Cardoso, Vitor; Schmitz, Antje; Hawly, Moritz ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0000-5269-9421; Mo, Huajuan ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0002-4961-1972; Jacquin, Justine; Mechlinski, Andy; Adediran, Gbotemi A. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6657-3336; Andrade, Jose; Muniategui-Lorenzo, Soledad; Ramsperger, Anja; Löder, Martin G. J. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9056-8254; Laforsch, Christian; Cirkovic Velickovic, Tanja; Fabbri, Daniele; Coralli, Irene ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2099-1302; Federici, Stefania ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7118-8766; Scholz-Böttcher, Barbara M. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3287-4218; la Nasa, Jacopo; Biale, Greta; Rauert, Cassandra ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2543-9023; Okoffo, Elvis D. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8773-9761; Undas, Anna; An, Lihui; Wachtendorf, Volker ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9549-7416; Fengler, Petra; Altmann, Korinna. 2025 Interlaboratory comparison reveals state of the art in microplastic detection and quantification methods. Analytical Chemistry. 10, pp. 10.1021/acs.analchem.4c05403

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Official URL: https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.analchem.4c05403

Abstract/Summary

In this study, we investigate the current accuracy of widely used microplastic (MP) detection methods through an interlaboratory comparison (ILC) involving ISO-approved techniques. The ILC was organized under the prestandardization platform of VAMAS (Versailles Project on Advanced Materials and Standards) and gathered a large number (84) of analytical laboratories across the globe. The aim of this ILC was (i) to test and to compare two thermo-analytical and three spectroscopical methods with respect to their suitability to identify and quantify microplastics in a water-soluble matrix and (ii) to test the suitability of the microplastic test materials to be used in ILCs. Two reference materials (RMs), polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and polyethylene (PE) as powders with rough size ranges between 10 and 200 μm, were used to press tablets for the ILC. The following parameters had to be assessed: polymer identity, mass fraction, particle number concentration, and particle size distribution. The reproducibility, SR, in thermo-analytical experiments ranged from 62%–117% (for PE) and 45.9%–62% (for PET). In spectroscopical experiments, the SR varied between 121% and 129% (for PE) and 64% and 70% (for PET). Tablet dissolution turned out to be a very challenging step and should be optimized. Based on the knowledge gained, development of guidance for improved tablet filtration is in progress. Further, in this study, we discuss the main sources of uncertainties that need to be considered and minimized for preparation of standardized protocols for future measurements with higher accuracy.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	10.1021/acs.analchem.4c05403
UKCEH and CEH Sections/Science Areas:	Unaffiliated
ISSN:	0003-2700
Additional Information. Not used in RCUK Gateway to Research.:	Open Access paper - full text available via Official URL link.
Additional Keywords:	infrared spectroscopy, microparticles, polymer particles, polymers, spectroscopy
NORA Subject Terms:	Chemistry
Date made live:	25 Apr 2025 12:34 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/539324

Item Type:

Publication - Article

Digital Object Identifier (DOI):

10.1021/acs.analchem.4c05403

UKCEH and CEH Sections/Science Areas:

Unaffiliated

ISSN:

0003-2700

Additional Information. Not used in RCUK Gateway to Research.:

Open Access paper - full text available via Official URL link.

Additional Keywords:

infrared spectroscopy, microparticles, polymer particles, polymers, spectroscopy