Atmospheric transport of micro and nanoplastics and fluorescence detection of particles < 20 µm

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Angelica Bianco ◽  
Fabrizio Sordello ◽  
Mikael Ehn ◽  
Davide Vittorio Vione ◽  
Monica Passananti
Keyword(s):  
Atmospheric Transport ◽  
Nile Red ◽  
Electromagnetic Spectrum ◽  
Plastic Pollution ◽  
Aeolian Transport ◽  
Transport Pathway ◽  
Current Limit ◽  
Ft Ir ◽  
New Methodologies ◽  
Organic Particles

&lt;p&gt;Atmospheric plastic pollution is now a global problem. Microplastics (MP) have been detected in urban atmospheres as well as in remote and pristine environments, showing that suspension, deposition and aeolian transport of MP should be included and considered as a major transport pathway in the plastic life cycle. Due to the limitations in sampling and instrumental methodology, little is known about MP and nanoplastics (NP) with sizes lower than 50 &amp;#181;m, which is the current limit for FT-IR and Raman microscopy. In our recent work [Bianco et al. 2020], we describe how NP could be transported for longer distances than MP, making them globally present and potentially more concentrated than MP. We highlight that it is crucial to explore new methodologies to collect and analyse NP.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Small MPs can be detected by fluorescence spectroscopy: for example, particles can be efficiently stained using Nile Red, as described by Erni-Cassola et al. [2017]. This hydrophobic dye shows fluorescence in green and yellow range of the electromagnetic spectrum and can be easily detected also at low concentration. We are developing a new method, based on this principle, to detect MPs in natural matrices. These are, for instance, surface and atmospheric waters, containing dissolved organic matter and suspended organic particles. Preliminary results on polyethylene, polystyrene and polyvinylchloride are promising for particles in the range 1-25 &amp;#181;m suspended in MilliQ water. We are currently testing the method on river water and snow.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&amp;#160;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Bianco, A.; Passananti, M. Atmospheric Micro and Nanoplastics: An Enormous Microscopic Problem. Sustainability 2020, 12, 7327.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Erni-Cassola, G.; Gibson, M.; Thompson, R.; Christie-Oleza, J. Lost, but Found with Nile Red: A Novel Method for Detecting and Quantifying Small Microplastics (1 mm to 20 &amp;#956;m) in Environmental Samples. Environ. Sci. Technol. 2017, 51, 23, 13641&amp;#8211;13648&lt;/p&gt;

scholarly journals Atmospheric Micro and Nanoplastics: An Enormous Microscopic Problem

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (18) ◽  
pp. 7327 ◽  
Author(s):  
Angelica Bianco ◽  
Monica Passananti
Keyword(s):  
New Technologies ◽  
Meteorological Factors ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Particle Analysis ◽  
Plastic Pollution ◽  
Aeolian Transport ◽  
Transport Pathway ◽  
Atmospheric Particle ◽  
Rural And Urban ◽  
New Methodologies

Atmospheric plastic pollution is now a global problem. Microplastics (MP) have been detected in urban atmospheres as well as in remote and pristine environments, showing that suspension, deposition and aeolian transport of MP should be included and considered as a major transport pathway in the plastic life cycle. This work reports an up to date review of the experimental estimation of deposition rate of MP in rural and urban environment, also analyzing the correlation with meteorological factors. Due to the limitations in sampling and instrumental methodology, little is known about MP and nanoplastics (NP) with sizes lower than 50 µm. In this review, we describe how NP could be transported for longer distances than MP, making them globally present and potentially more concentrated than MP. We highlight that it is crucial to explore new methodologies to collect and analyze NP. Future research should focus on the development of new technologies, combining the existent knowledge on nanomaterial and atmospheric particle analysis.

Investigation into the Vertical Migration of Microplastic in Agricultural Soil

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Linda Heerey ◽  
John O'Sullivan ◽  
Michael Bruen ◽  
Ian O'Connor ◽  
Anne Marie Mahon ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Wastewater Treatment ◽  
Vertical Migration ◽  
Treatment Plant ◽  
Polymeric Materials ◽  
Agricultural Field ◽  
Agricultural Lands ◽  
Plastic Pollution ◽  
Transport Pathway ◽  
Soil Matrix ◽  
Freshwater Systems

&lt;p&gt;The prevalence of microplastic (MP), typically characterised as polymeric materials of particle (1 &amp;#181;m - 5 mm) are an increasing concern in our marine and freshwater systems. International research efforts have mainly focused on the abundance, characteristics and implications of plastic pollution in marine settings, with the transport and fate of plastics in terrestrial and freshwater systems being less well understood. The pathway from land to sea is significant in the Irish context given the widespread use of MP rich biosolids for soil conditioning in agricultural lands.&amp;#160; Biosolids represent the treated sewage sludge produced in the wastewater treatment process, ~80% of which nationally is used in land treatment. Given the combined nature (storm and foul water conveyed and treated together) of the drainage network in many parts of Ireland, coupled with evidence that 90% of MPs in influent waters are retained in these sewage sludges, the application of sludges to agricultural lands represents a considerable MP input on these land systems. MPs can potentially be moved or transported from these terrestrial systems through atmospheric escape, and in hydrological pathways through the soil matrix and/ or in direct overland runoff.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Here we report on an experimental investigation exploring the transport potential of biosolid MPs through infiltration and percolation processes in agricultural fields.&amp;#160; A drainage experiment was initially undertaken in loosely packed vertical sand columns. Polymers of different type (PVC, PET and LDPE), size (&lt;150 &amp;#181;m, 150-300 &amp;#181;m) and in both virgin and weathered states were seeded on the surface of saturated sand columns and subjected to simulated rainfall of varying intensity for different durations (up to 20 hours). &amp;#160;Each test was conducted in triplicate with columns draining under gravity and water samples were collected from their base. The results indicate limited MP mobility given all seeded MPs were recovered in the surface layers (top 5 cm).&amp;#160; To confirm these findings, a further investigation involving the extraction of 2 m deep cores from a down-slope transect of an agricultural field was undertaken. This field had been treated with thermally dried wastewater treatment plant sludge annually for ~20 years. The dispersion and depth of MPs were observed through laboratory testing and through Itrax core scanning.&amp;#160; Results indicated that the majority of MPs (mostly fibers) were retained in the upper c. 30 cm (plough zone) of each core with penetration of biosolid MPs to depths below this being considerably more limited.&amp;#160; Concentrations of MPs found within the plough zone were lower than expected (0.14 to 0.03 MP per gram of soil), suggesting that vertical migration through the soil matrix of biosolid MPs is not a significant hydrological transport pathway.&lt;/p&gt;

scholarly journals Modification of a Nile Red Staining Method for Microplastics Analysis: A Nile Red Plate Method

Water ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (11) ◽  
pp. 3251
Author(s):  
Heejun Kang ◽  
Saerom Park ◽  
Bokjin Lee ◽  
Jaehwan Ahn ◽  
Seogku Kim
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Staining Method ◽  
Nile Red ◽  
Plate Method ◽  
Plastic Materials ◽  
Field Samples ◽  
Efficient Alternative ◽  
Ft Ir ◽  
Nile Red Staining ◽  
Better Than

Recently, environmental pollution from microplastics (MPs) has become a significant reason for increasing the number of studies to develop analysis methods. The Nile red staining method (NR-S), which is staining polymer particles with Nile red (NR) dye, has been widely used for the analysis of MPs in environmental samples. However, this method has several limitations, as it is difficult to stain MPs covered with organic matter residues. In this study, we modified the NR-S method into an NR plate method (NR-P), where the plate is coated with NR instead of staining MPs directly. The optimum concentration of NR solution was obtained (1000 mg/L), and the effectiveness of the NR-P method for the analysis of MPs was assessed using different types (polypropylene, polyethylene, polyethylene terephthalate, and polystyrene), sizes (100–1000 µm), and shapes (sphere, fiber, film, and flake) of plastic materials. The NR-P method demonstrated improved resolution in the overall types, shapes, and sizes of MPs and was better than the control (without NR plate method) and NR-S method. In particular, the NR-P method can effectively observe MPs covered with organic matter, which was a major limitation of the NR-S method. Finally, MPs in sewage field samples were analyzed by the NR-P method with an accuracy of 78% confirmed by FT-IR. We demonstrated that this method is a convenient and efficient alternative for identifying MPs, even for field samples.

Evaluation of FT-IR and Nile Red methods for microalgal lipid characterization and biomass composition determination

2013 ◽  
Vol 128 ◽  
pp. 107-112 ◽  
Author(s):  
Guo-Dong Feng ◽  
Fang Zhang ◽  
Li-Hua Cheng ◽  
Xin-Hua Xu ◽  
Lin Zhang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Nile Red ◽  
Biomass Composition ◽  
Composition Determination ◽  
Ft Ir ◽  
Lipid Characterization

scholarly journals From Street to Road: An Innovative Approach to Explore Discarded Chewing Gum as a Performance-Enhancing Modifier for Road Pavement Applications

Polymers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (12) ◽  
pp. 1963
Author(s):  
Nader Nciri ◽  
Namho Kim ◽  
Namjun Cho
Keyword(s):  
Fatigue Cracking ◽  
Superior Performance ◽  
Engineering Properties ◽  
Chewing Gum ◽  
Plastic Pollution ◽  
Scanning Calorimetry ◽  
Road Pavement ◽  
Ft Ir ◽  
Performance Enhancing ◽  
A Performance

To uncover the potential benefits of discarded chewing gum (DCG) as a performance-enhancing modifier for road pavement applications, its influence on the asphalt binder’s attributes was profoundly examined. The base AP-5 asphalt along with its specimens dosed with various fractions of DCG (e.g., 3, 6, and 9 wt%) were analyzed by Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), thin-layer chromatography-flame ionization detection (TLC-FID), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Brookfield viscometer, ring and ball softening point, needle penetration, and dynamic shear rheometer (DSR) tests were adopted to inspect the physical and rheological changes of asphalt cement after DCG incorporation. FT-IR disclosed that the asphalt-gum interaction was not chemical but physical in nature, whilst XRD demonstrated the existence of talc filler in DCG, which may confer the bituminous mixes with exceptional engineering properties. Iatroscan analysis evinced that the gum treatment particularly altered the aromatic and resin fractions; meanwhile, the content of saturates and asphaltenes remained relatively unchanged. SEM divulged that the DCG has a complete dissolution within the bitumen matrix, which becomes rougher due to higher dose administration. AFM revealed that the steady gum introduction amplified the size of bee-like structures, shrunk their peri-phase domains, and wiped out the para-phase domains entirely. TGA/DTGA/DSC data highlighted that the high-temperature-stable additive slightly affected the thermal properties of blends. DSR and empirical rheological tests showed that the waste gum made the bitumen less vulnerable to heat and tender, thereby boosting its resistance against fatigue cracking at intermediate service temperatures. On top of that, DCG widened the thermal window of bitumen performance grade (PG), and preserved its viscosity at standard temperatures, leading to maintaining an appropriate workability for asphalt mix. In brief, the use of discarded chewing gum as an asphalt modifier is feasible and could mitigate plastic pollution and provide durable roadways by delivering superior performance.

scholarly journals Validation of Spectrophotometric Methods to Determine the Concentrations of Alcohol, SO2, and Total Acids in Wine

Separations ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (10) ◽  
pp. 191
Author(s):  
Irene Dini ◽  
Ritamaria Di Lorenzo ◽  
Antonello Senatore ◽  
Daniele Coppola ◽  
Sonia Laneri
Keyword(s):  
Infrared Region ◽  
Wine Industry ◽  
Electromagnetic Spectrum ◽  
Total Acid ◽  
Laboratory Staff ◽  
Spectrophotometric Methods ◽  
New Methods ◽  
Ft Ir ◽  
Speed Of Analysis

The determination of alcohol, SO2, and total acids in wine through conventional laboratory techniques have some limitations related to the amount of the samples, analytical preparation of laboratory staff, and time to carry out the analysis. In recent years, spectroscopic and chromatographic methods have been proposed to determinate simultaneously multiple analytical parameters. The new methods claim the speed of analysis and easy execution. However, they need a validation process that guarantees the reliability of the results to be used in official determinations. This study aimed to evaluate the usefulness of FT-infrared reflectance (FT-IR) to quantify total acid, alcohol, and SO2 concentration in the wines. For this purpose, 156 DOC Italian wines were tested with IR technology, and results were compared to those obtained by official analysis methods. The comparison was performed using two non-parametric statistical methods: the Bland & Altman test and Passing & Bablok regression. Our results showed that the spectrophotometric methods make errors due to interfering contaminants in the sample that can be corrected by blank determination. Therefore, the spectrophotometric methods that use the infrared region of the electromagnetic spectrum can be used by the wine industry and regulators for the wine routine as an alternative to official methodologies.

scholarly journals Underwater optical environment in the coastal waters of British Columbia, Canada

FACETS ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 872-891 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eduardo Loos ◽  
Maycira Costa ◽  
Sophia Johannessen
Keyword(s):  
Green Light ◽  
Electromagnetic Spectrum ◽  
Visible Radiation ◽  
Strait Of Georgia ◽  
Inorganic Particles ◽  
Underwater Light Field ◽  
Turbid Waters ◽  
Organic Particles ◽  
Downwelling Irradiance ◽  
Average Cosine

We describe the underwater light field of the Strait of Georgia in spring and summer, using apparent optical properties (reflectance, attenuation coefficient of downwelling irradiance, the average cosine of downwelling irradiance, and the attenuation of scalar irradiance). Both the attenuation and reflectance of photosynthetically available radiation (PAR; 400–700 nm) are highest in the turbid waters of the Fraser River plume, due to scattering by mainly inorganic particles and absorption by coloured dissolved organic matter, phytoplankton, and other organic particles. Light is most diffuse in the surface waters of the plume and least diffuse at depth and away from the plume. Throughout the Strait, blue and red wavelengths are attenuated most rapidly resulting in a green peak of reflectance, the portion of the electromagnetic spectrum that penetrates the most deeply. PAR is attenuated to 1% of its surface intensity within 6–22 m in the spring and 4–23 m in the summer. For red and blue light, the depth of 1% penetration is never deeper than 9 m. All of the visible radiation, with the exception of some green light, is absorbed within the outflowing layer (15–30 m) that is exported from the Strait with the estuarine circulation. The rapid extinction of light helps to explain the very shallow distribution of phytoplankton.

scholarly journals Atmospheric Concentrations of Captan and Folpet in the Lower Fraser Valley Agricultural Region of Canada

2009 ◽  
Vol 2 ◽  
pp. ASWR.S2994 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Raina ◽  
Wayne Belzer ◽  
Keith Jones
Keyword(s):  
British Columbia ◽  
Gas Phase ◽  
Atmospheric Transport ◽  
Early Summer ◽  
Particle Phase ◽  
Transport Pathway ◽  
Agricultural Region ◽  
Lower Fraser Valley ◽  
Atmospheric Concentrations ◽  
Fraser Valley

Two N-trihalomethylthio fungicides were detected in the atmosphere in the Lower Fraser Valley agricultural region of Canada. Captan was detected in both the particle and gas phase with a dominant particle phase fraction observed in both 2005 and 2006 (only total captan atmospheric concentrations were available for 2004). This provides the first evidence of particle transport as a significant atmospheric transport pathway for captan in an agricultural region in Canada. Weekly captan air concentrations reached maximum levels of 13.2 ng m-3 in June 2006, while for folpet total atmospheric levels were lower with maximum reaching 1.7 ng m-3 in August 2004 and generally <1 ng m3 in 2005 and 2006. Folpet is detected in the atmosphere although not previously reported in usage inventories. In the three years examined (2004-2006) captan concentrations observed a seasonal maximum in atmospheric concentrations during spring to early summer coinciding with expected peak usage period on crops in the Lower Fraser Valley agricultural region located in British Columbia, Canada. No usage data is available in Canada beyond 2003 but these seasonal trends show that captan remains a dominant pesticide used in this agricultural region with no decline in atmospheric concentrations during 2004-2006.

Microplastics Differ Between Indoor and Outdoor Air Masses: Insights from Multiple Microscopy Methodologies

2020 ◽  
Vol 74 (9) ◽  
pp. 1079-1098 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emily Gaston ◽  
Mary Woo ◽  
Clare Steele ◽  
Suja Sukumaran ◽  
Sean Anderson
Keyword(s):  
Indoor Air ◽  
Fluorescent Microscopy ◽  
Inhalation Exposure ◽  
Nile Red ◽  
Outdoor Air ◽  
Air Masses ◽  
Ft Ir ◽  
Abundance And Distribution ◽  
Microscopy Techniques ◽  
Indoor And Outdoor

The abundance and distribution of microplastic (<5 mm) has become a growing concern, particularly over the past decade. Research to date has focused on water, soil, and organism matrices but generally disregarded air. We explored airborne microplastic inside and outside of buildings in coastal California by filtering known volumes of air through glass fiber filters, which were then subsequently characterized with a variety of microscopy techniques: gross traditional microscopy, fluorescent microscopy following staining with Nile red, micro-Raman spectroscopy, and micro-Fourier transform infrared (µFT-IR) spectroscopy. Microplastics permeated the air, with indoor (3.3 ± 2.9 fibers and 12.6 ± 8.0 fragments m–3; mean ± 1 SD) harboring twice as much as outdoor air (0.6 ± 0.6 fibers and 5.6 ± 3.2 fragments m–3). Microplastic fiber length did not differ significantly between indoor and outdoor air, but indoor microplastic fragments (58.6 ± 55 µm) were half the size of outdoor fragments (104.8 ± 64.9 µm). Micro-Raman and FT-IR painted slightly different pictures of airborne plastic compounds, with micro-Raman suggesting polyvinyl chloride dominates indoor air, followed by polyethylene (PE) and µFT-IR showing polystyrene dominates followed by PE and polyethylene terephthalate. The ubiquity of airborne microplastic points to significant new potential sources of plastic inputs to terrestrial and marine ecosystems and raises significant concerns about inhalation exposure to humans both indoors and outdoors.

scholarly journals A novel method for extraction, quantification, and identification of microplastics in CreamType of cosmetic products

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Soohyun Lee ◽  
Tai Gyu Lee
Keyword(s):  
Nile Red ◽  
Cosmetic Products ◽  
Digestion Method ◽  
Accurate Analysis ◽  
Sem Images ◽  
Cosmetic Ingredients ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Ft Ir ◽  
Novel Method ◽  
Ft Ir Spectroscopy

AbstractThe objective of this study was to develop an accessible and accurate analysis method for microplastics that have been unintentionally added to cream cosmetic products. An experiment was performed on three cleansing creams in rich and viscous formulations. A spiked sample was prepared by adding polyethylene (PE) microspheres to the cleansing creams. After removing cosmetic ingredients from the creams using chemical digestion, damage to the PE microspheres was identified using Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy. Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) images were obtained before and after digestion and used to characterize the morphology of the PE microspheres. The highest digestion efficiency was obtained using a chemical digestion method consisting of heating and stirring a sample in a 10 wt% KOH solution at 55 °C and 300 rpm for 5 days and did not damage the PE microspheres. The Nile red (9-diethylamino-5H-benzo[α]phenoxazine-5-one) staining method was effective in identifying small microplastics (< 106 μm). The optimal staining conditions are 5 μg/ml Nile red in n-hexane for green wavelengths.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document