Polyvinyl chloride microplastic detection by single particle inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry for the characterization of model microplastics

Abad-Alvaro, Isabel (Universidad de Zaragoza) ; Lázaro-Fernández, Inés ; Bolea, Eduardo (Universidad de Zaragoza) ; Laborda, Francisco (Universidad de Zaragoza)

Resumen: Methodology based on the use of single particle inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (SP-ICPMS) for the detection and quantification of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) micro/nanoplastics was developed. The use of chlorine as an intrinsic element present in the composition of the polymer improved the performance of SP-ICP-MS reported in the literature, allowing the detection of PVC particles down to 0.35 mm, by monitoring the 35Cl isotope using a quadrupole-based instrument. A top-down protocol for preparation of microplastic suspensions based on cryogenic grinding of the raw plastic material in combination with fractionation by centrifugation was proposed, to be used as a model material in risk assessment studies. The model suspensions were characterized by SP-ICP-MS and dynamic image analysis (DIA). The size of the PVC particles was in the range of 0.4–5.7 mm, with a median equivalent
diameter of 1.0 mm, whereas the concentration of the suspensions was in the range of 109 L−1 , both determined by SP-ICP-MS. The particles showed an irregular shape confirmed by DIA, with a mean aspect ratio of 0.67 and circularity of 0.79. The SP-ICP-MS method developed was also applied as a proof of concept to the screening of PVC microplastics released from industrial products.

Idioma: Inglés

DOI: 10.1039/d5ja00455a

Año: 2026

Publicado en: Journal of Analytical Atomic Spectrometry (2026), [9 pp.]
ISSN: 0267-9477

Financiación: info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/ES/DGA/E29-23R
Financiación: info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/ES/MICINN/PID2021-123203OB-I00
Financiación: info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/ES/NextGenerationEU/MZ-240621

Tipo y forma: Article (Published version)

Área (Departamento): Área Química Analítica (Dpto. Química Analítica)