Spectro‐Microscopic Techniques for Studying Nanoplastics in the Environment and in Organisms. (24th November 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Mandemaker, Laurens D. B.; Meirer, Florian
• Is Part Of: Angewandte Chemie. Volume 135:Number 2(2023)
• Page Start: n/a
• Page End: n/a
• Publication Date: 2022-11-24
• Subjects: Detection -- Micro-Spectroscopy -- Microscopy -- Nanoplastics -- Spectroscopy; Chemistry -- Periodicals; 540
• DOI: 10.1002/ange.202210494
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0044-8249

Abstract

Abstract: Nanoplastics (NPs), small (<1 μm) polymer particles formed from bulk plastics, are a potential threat to human health and the environment. Orders of magnitude smaller than microplastics (MPs), they might behave differently due to their larger surface area and small size, which allows them to diffuse through organic barriers. However, detecting NPs in the environment and organic matrices has proven to be difficult, as their chemical nature is similar to these matrices. Furthermore, as their size is smaller than the (spatial) detection limit of common analytical tools, they are hard to find and quantify. We highlight different micro‐spectroscopic techniques utilized for NP detection and argue that an analysis procedure should involve both particle imaging and correlative or direct chemical characterization of the same particles or samples. Finally, we highlight methods that can do both simultaneously, but with the downside that large particle numbers and statistics cannot be obtained. Abstract : Nanoplastics (NPs) pose a threat to the environment and human health but are challenging to detect and characterize in environmental samples. This Minireview covers established imaging and characterization techniques, with a focus on micro‐spectroscopic techniques. More exotic advanced techniques to measure NP morphology and chemical fingerprints simultaneously are discussed, and challenges in detection of NPs using high‐resolution imaging are outlined.