Plastic debris has become ubiquitous in terrestrial and marine environments, and its consequent degradation into microplastics (~5 mm in size) has the potential to be taken up by organisms, posing great concern. Although there are no standardized analytical methods, recent advancements have identified and quantified microplastics in environmental samples using Pyrolysis Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry (Pyr-GC/MS). To assess the reliability of Pyr-GC/MS for measuring microplastics in environmental samples, studies have used virgin polymer standards to correct for matrix effects and to select markers specific to the polymers investigated. However, little is known about how natural weathering processes could possibly impact inherent properties of microplastics, and consequently their quantitative analysis using techniques like Pyr-GC/MS for environmental samples. This project aims to add the understanding of weathered microplastic properties and how they could possibly cause variability in quantitation due to different properties in comparison to the original standards used for quantitation. Based on this, the objectives of this study were therefore to perform accelerated weathering of isotactic polypropylene microplastics of two different forms (i.e. beads (~5 mm) and irregular shaped particles (250-500 μm, 500-1000 μm)) via photo-oxidization using accelerated laboratory weathering, and examine whether this impacts their quantitative estimation using Pyr-GC/MS techniques. The weathering and degradation of the MPs was confirmed via techniques including Fourier-transform Infrared - Attenuated Total Reflection (FTIR-ATR) spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC).

Tania has recently completed her Honours with QAEHS.

 

Venue

PACE Building, 20 Cornwall Street, Woolloongabba
Room: 
Interaction space (Room 4002)