Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Characterization and quantitation of polyolefin microplastics in personal-care products using high-temperature gel-permeation chromatography

  • Note
  • Published:
Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

In recent years, the development of reliable methods for the quantitation of microplastics in different samples, including evaluating the particles’ adverse effects in the marine environment, has become a great concern. Because polyolefins are the most prevalent type of polymer in personal-care products containing microplastics, this study presents a novel approach for their quantitation. The method is suitable for aqueous and hydrocarbon-based products, and includes a rapid sample clean-up involving twofold density separation and a subsequent quantitation with high-temperature gel-permeation chromatography. In contrast with previous procedures, both errors caused by weighing after insufficient separation of plastics and matrix and time-consuming visual sorting are avoided. In addition to reliable quantitative results, in this investigation a comprehensive characterization of the polymer particles isolated from the product matrix, covering size, shape, molecular weight distribution and stabilization, is provided. Results for seven different personal-care products are presented. Recoveries of this method were in the range of 92–96 %.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Barnes DK, Galgani F, Thompson RC, Barlaz M (2009) Accumulation and fragmentation of plastic debris in global environments. Phil Trans R Soc B Biol Sci 364(1526):1985–1998

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Cole M, Lindeque P, Halsband C, Galloway TS (2011) Microplastics as contaminants in the marine environment: a review. Mar Pollut Bull 62(12):2588–2597

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Gregory MR (1996) Plastic ‘scrubbers’ in hand cleansers: a further (and minor) source for marine pollution identified. Mar Pollut Bull 32(12):867–871

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Fendall LS, Sewell MA (2009) Contributing to marine pollution by washing your face: microplastics in facial cleansers. Mar Pollut Bull 58(8):1225–1228

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Zitko V, Hanlon M (1991) Another source of pollution by plastics: skin cleaners with plastic scrubbers. Mar Pollut Bull 22(1):41–42

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Moore CJ (2008) Synthetic polymers in the marine environment: a rapidly increasing, long-term threat. Environ Res 108(2):131–139

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Teuten EL, Rowland SJ, Galloway TS, Thompson RC (2007) Potential for plastics to transport hydrophobic contaminants. Environ Sci Technol 41(22):7759–7764

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Hidalgo-Ruz V, Gutow L, Thompson RC, Thiel M (2012) Microplastics in the marine environment: a review of the methods used for identification and quantification. Environ Sci Technol 46(6):3060–3075

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Imhof HK, Schmid J, Niessner R, Ivleva NP, Laforsch C (2012) A novel, highly efficient method for the separation and quantification of plastic particles in sediments of aquatic environments. Limnol Oceanogr Methods 10:524–537

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Nuelle M, Dekiff JH, Remy D, Fries E (2014) A new analytical approach for monitoring microplastics in marine sediments. Environ Pollut 184:161–169

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Fries E, Dekiff JH, Willmeyer J, Nuelle M, Ebert M, Remy D (2013) Identification of polymer types and additives in marine microplastic particles using pyrolysis-GC/MS and scanning electron microscopy. Environ Sci Process Impacts 15(10):1949

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. International campaign against microbeads in cosmetics: beat the microbead. http://beatthemicrobead.org/

  13. Stiftinger M, Buchberger W, Klampfl CW (2013) Miniaturized method for the quantitation of stabilisers in microtome cuts of polymer materials by HPLC with UV, MS or MS2 detection. Anal Bioanal Chem 405(10):3177–3184

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Beißmann S, Stiftinger M, Grabmayer K, Wallner G, Nitsche D, Buchberger W (2013) Monitoring the degradation of stabilization systems in polypropylene during accelerated aging tests by liquid chromatography combined with atmospheric pressure chemical ionization mass spectrometry. Polym Degrad Stab 98(9):1655–1661

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Zweifel H, Maier RD, Schiller M (2008) Plastics additives handbook, 6th edn. Hanser, München

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Analytical Chemistry, Johannes Kepler University Linz, Altenberger Strasse 69, 4040, Linz, Austria

    Ingrid Hintersteiner, Markus Himmelsbach & Wolfgang W. Buchberger

Authors
  1. Ingrid Hintersteiner
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Markus Himmelsbach
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Wolfgang W. Buchberger
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ingrid Hintersteiner.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Hintersteiner, I., Himmelsbach, M. & Buchberger, W.W. Characterization and quantitation of polyolefin microplastics in personal-care products using high-temperature gel-permeation chromatography. Anal Bioanal Chem 407, 1253–1259 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00216-014-8318-2

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00216-014-8318-2

Keywords

Search

Navigation