Screening for microplastics in agricultural soils: Applying green chemistry principles in extraction and analysis☆

Result code in IS VaVaI

<a href="https://www.isvavai.cz/riv?ss=detail&h=RIV%2F00216224%3A14310%2F25%3A00140793" target="_blank" >RIV/00216224:14310/25:00140793 - isvavai.cz</a>

Result on the web

<a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S026974912402267X?via%3Dihub" target="_blank" >https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S026974912402267X?via%3Dihub</a>

DOI - Digital Object Identifier

<a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2024.125550" target="_blank" >10.1016/j.envpol.2024.125550</a>

Result language

angličtina

Original language name

Screening for microplastics in agricultural soils: Applying green chemistry principles in extraction and analysis☆

Original language description

In recent years, microplastic (MP) pollution has garnered significant attention owing to its ability to permeate various ecosystems, including soil. These particles can infiltrate the environment, either directly or through the degradation of larger plastic items. Despite growing concerns, standardized methods for quantification are still lacking. This study aimed to screen for the presence of MPs in agricultural soils while incorporating green analytical principles in the methodology. A density separation followed by centrifugation was employed, based on the principles of the QuEChERS extraction method. This approach minimized sample quantities, reagent consumption, and waste production, ensuring efficient extraction and analysis. Recovery tests using certified soils spiked with pristine MPs, specifically polystyrene, polypropylene (PP), and ethylene-vinyl acetate for larger MPs (3-5 mm), and low-density polyethylene, polyamide 6, and tire wear particles for smaller MPs (15-300 mu m), achieved recovery levels exceeding 69% for smaller MPs and over 91% for larger particles. Spectroscopic analysis revealed slight alterations in the Raman spectra of MPs after extraction. Transitioning to agricultural soil analysis has revealed challenges, including spectral interferences. Nine mesoplastics (5-20 mm) were detected, predominantly consisting of PP and polyethylene (PE), along with seven MPs, three of which were individually identified as PE-based, while the remainder were inconclusive, including one fiber. The evaluation of the method's sustainability using the Analytical Eco-Scale and Analytical Greenness Calculator Metric (AGREE), with scores of 82 out of 100 and 0.66 out of 1, respectively, demonstrated its potential as a reliable approach to MP analysis in soils. This study highlights the potential of integrating green analytical chemistry principles into MP extraction methodologies and emphasizes the value of the proposed QuEChERs-based approach for improving the sustainability and efficiency of MP monitoring in agricultural soils.

Czech name

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Czech description

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Type

J_imp - Article in a specialist periodical, which is included in the Web of Science database

CEP classification

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OECD FORD branch

10511 - Environmental sciences (social aspects to be 5.7)

Project

—

Continuities

I - Institucionalni podpora na dlouhodoby koncepcni rozvoj vyzkumne organizace

Publication year

2025

Confidentiality

S - Úplné a pravdivé údaje o projektu nepodléhají ochraně podle zvláštních právních předpisů

Name of the periodical

Environmental Pollution

ISSN

0269-7491

e-ISSN

—

Volume of the periodical

367

Issue of the periodical within the volume

February 2025

Country of publishing house

GB - UNITED KINGDOM

Number of pages

11

Pages from-to

1-11

UT code for WoS article

001400243400001

EID of the result in the Scopus database

2-s2.0-85212923559