Issue 96, 2021

Selective quantification of nanoplastics in environmental matrices by asymmetric flow field-flow fractionation with total organic carbon detection

Abstract

Nanoplastics are of rapidly emerging concern as ubiquitous environmental pollutants. However, fate and transport assessments are currently hindered by a need for new analytical methods that can selectively quantify nanoplastics in environmental matrices. This study presents the first proof of principle to hyphenate asymmetric flow field-flow fractionation (AF4) with total organic carbon (TOC) detection for nanoplastics analysis, as evaluated on mixtures of multimodal polystyrene nanoplastics in the presence of dissolved organic matter and clay colloids. The AF4-TOC method enables more robust, size-resolved quantification of nanoplastics over other AF4 detection modes, including UV-vis, refractive index, and fluorescence tagging. This method development can fill a critical gap in analytical methodology for environmental nanoplastics research.

Graphical abstract: Selective quantification of nanoplastics in environmental matrices by asymmetric flow field-flow fractionation with total organic carbon detection

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Communication
Submitted
30 Aug 2021
Accepted
29 Oct 2021
First published
29 Oct 2021

Chem. Commun., 2021,57, 12940-12943

Author version available

Selective quantification of nanoplastics in environmental matrices by asymmetric flow field-flow fractionation with total organic carbon detection

M. Mowla, S. Shakiba and S. M. Louie, Chem. Commun., 2021, 57, 12940 DOI: 10.1039/D1CC04852J

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