Overview of Various Sample Preparation Approaches for Analysis of Microplastics in Environmental Samples

Analyzing Microplastics in the Environment
Oral Presentation

Prepared by W. Lipps
Shimadzu Scientific Instruments, 10330 Old Columbia Road, Columbia, MD, 21046, United States


Contact Information: [email protected]; 443-539-6216

ABSTRACT

There are several methods already standardized and several in development for the analysis of microplastics in environmental matrices, mainly water. These methods include but are not limited to techniques that use pyrolysis or thermal desorption GCMS, Raman and IR Microscopy, benchtop IR, dynamic imaging, and even simply separating and weighing. All these techniques require sample preparation to remove interferences, and perhaps preliminary sorting. This presentation covers the sample and sample preparation published by ASTM, discusses briefly the published methods and those in process, and then covers additional approaches to sample preparation not in the ASTM practice.