Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Analytical Chemistry Of Plastic Debris: Sampling, Methods, And Instrumentation, Robert C. Hale, Meredith E. Seeley, Ashley E. King, Lehuan H. Yu

VIMS Books and Book Chapters

Approaches for the collection and analysis of plastic debris in environmental matrices are rapidly evolving. Such plastics span a continuum of sizes, encompassing large (macro-), medium (micro-, typically defined as particles between 1 μm and 5 mm), and smaller (nano-) plastics. All are of environmental relevance. Particle sizes are dynamic. Large plastics may fragment over time, while smaller particles may agglomerate in the field. The diverse morphologies (fragment, fiber, sphere) and chemical compositions of microplastics further complicate their characterization. Fibers are of growing interest and present particular analytical challenges due to their narrow profiles. Compositional classes of emerging concern include …