“Examples and Challenges of Internal Standards for Quantitative Analysis of Micro/Nanoplastics Using Pyrolysis-GC/MS”
Microplastics Analysis: Challenges and Emerging Methods
Dr. Yukari Ishikawa, a Research Associate at Imperial College London, presents an in-depth overview of the analytical methods used to detect microplastics in environmental samples. Her research focuses on the development of techniques for analyzing these emerging contaminants in air, exhaust gases, waste, and biological samples. Dr. Ishikawa discusses the importance of filter selection and the use of pyrolysis-gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (Py-GC/MS) for identifying polymer fragments. She highlights the challenges in creating calibration curves due to the limited solubility of common microplastics like polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP). Her team is currently exploring alternative methods, such as mixing polymer powders with inert solids, to address these challenges. The presentation also covers the use of internal standards in microplastics analysis. Dr. Ishikawa discusses the pros and cons of using mimic chemicals versus labeled polymers and the importance of considering deuterium-hydrogen exchange when using deuterium-labeled standards. She emphasizes the need for careful consideration of how internal standards are prepared and added to samples to prevent recovery issues during filtration. Ishikawa concludes by emphasizing the importance of preliminary data on sample concentrations and the ongoing challenges in developing robust methods for preparing standards. Despite these challenges, her work and that of other emerging researchers will be crucial for understanding the prevalence and impacts of microplastics in the environment. This presentation was part of the Environmental Analysis Isotope Days seminar series, which aims to showcase globally relevant environmental testing programs and the applications of stable isotope-labeled compounds.
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