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dc.contributor.authorMoura, Diana S.
dc.contributor.authorPestana, Carlos J.
dc.contributor.authorMoffat, Colin F.
dc.contributor.authorHui, Jianing
dc.contributor.authorIrvine, John T.S.
dc.contributor.authorLawton, Linda A.
dc.date.accessioned2023-05-03T16:30:01Z
dc.date.available2023-05-03T16:30:01Z
dc.date.issued2023-08-01
dc.identifier284327753
dc.identifier63cd8e4f-3de2-4cd9-971e-f73c9f00afe3
dc.identifier85153794571
dc.identifier.citationMoura , D S , Pestana , C J , Moffat , C F , Hui , J , Irvine , J T S & Lawton , L A 2023 , ' Characterisation of microplastics is key for reliable data interpretation ' , Chemosphere , vol. 331 , 138691 . https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.138691en
dc.identifier.issn0045-6535
dc.identifier.otherRIS: urn:51DCAD38C657277F9873CE4CA626BD73
dc.identifier.otherORCID: /0000-0002-8394-3359/work/133727426
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/10023/27501
dc.descriptionFunding: The authors would like to thank the Hydro Nation Scholar Programme funded by the Scottish Government through the Scottish Funding Council and managed by the Hydro Nation International Centre for funding this research. The authors would like to thank the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) [EP/P029280/1].en
dc.description.abstractMicroplastic research has gained attention due to the increased detection of microplastics (<5 mm size) in the aquatic environment. Most laboratory-based research of microplastics is performed using microparticles from specific suppliers with either superficial or no characterisation performed to confirm the physico-chemical information detailed by the supplier. The current study has selected 21 published adsorption studies to evaluate how the microplastics were characterised by the authors prior experimentation. Additionally, six microplastic types described as ‘small’ (10–25 μm) and ‘large’ (100 μm) were commercially acquired from a single supplier. A detailed characterisation was performed using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), x-ray diffraction, differential scanning calorimetry, scanning electron microscopy, particle size analysis, and N2-Brunauer, Emmett and Teller adsorption-desorption surface area analysis. The size and the polymer composition of some of the material provided by the supplier was inconsistent with the analytical data obtained. FT-IR spectra of small polypropylene particles indicated either oxidation of the particles or the presence of a grafting agent which was absent in the large particles. A wide range of sizes for the small particles was observed: polyethylene (0.2–549 μm), polyethylene terephthalate (7–91 μm) and polystyrene (1–79 μm). Small polyamide (D50 75 μm) showed a greater median particle size and similar size distribution when compared to large polyamide (D50 65 μm). Moreover, small polyamide was found to be semi-crystalline, while the large polyamide displayed an amorphous form. The type of microplastic and the size of the particles are a key factor in determining the adsorption of pollutants and subsequent ingestion by aquatic organisms. Acquiring uniform particle sizes is challenging, however based on this study, characterisation of any materials used in microplastic-related experiments is critical to ensure reliable interpretation of results, thereby providing a better understanding of the potential environmental consequences of the presence of microplastics in aquatic ecosystems.
dc.format.extent14
dc.format.extent10836797
dc.language.isoeng
dc.relation.ispartofChemosphereen
dc.subjectPlastic-pollutionen
dc.subjectPlastic characterisationen
dc.subjectPolymeren
dc.subjectPlastic particle sizeen
dc.subjectGrafting agenten
dc.subjectQD Chemistryen
dc.subjectNDASen
dc.subjectMCCen
dc.subject.lccQDen
dc.titleCharacterisation of microplastics is key for reliable data interpretationen
dc.typeJournal articleen
dc.contributor.sponsorEPSRCen
dc.contributor.institutionUniversity of St Andrews. School of Chemistryen
dc.contributor.institutionUniversity of St Andrews. Centre for Energy Ethicsen
dc.contributor.institutionUniversity of St Andrews. Centre for Designer Quantum Materialsen
dc.contributor.institutionUniversity of St Andrews. EaSTCHEMen
dc.identifier.doi10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.138691
dc.description.statusPeer revieweden
dc.identifier.grantnumberEP/P029280/1en


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