Development of Specialised Hyphenated Methodologies for Quantifying Halogenated Plastic Materials

Halogenated polymers, containing fluorine, chlorine, bromine, or iodine atoms, are enhanced for strength, stability, and durability, making them ideal for specialised applications. However, their widespread use leads to their presence in waste management systems, such as landfills and recycling facilities. Over time, this contributes to the accumulation of halogenated plastic particles in various environmental matrices. Despite this, the environmental impact of halogenated polymer-based microplastics remains largely unknown, with no published studies addressing the issue. One of the key challenges is the lack of adequate analytical methods for detecting and quantifying these persistent polymers in the environment. To bridge this knowledge gap, this study focuses on developing a PY-GC-MS (pyrolysis-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry) method for the characterisation and quantification of halogenated polymers and establishing a reliable analytical method to assess the prevalence of halogenated microplastics in the environment.

Please note, this is a Student Progress Review by Ruvini Weerasinghe