Analyzing plastics using thermal desorption/pyrolysis-direct analysis in real time mass spectrometry
Session: 46. - Plastics in the Great Lakes: Characterizing the Problem and Finding Solutions
Xianming Zhang, Brock University / Ontario Ministry of the Environment and Climate Changes, [email protected]
Alicia Mell, Ontario MOECC, [email protected]
Ian Brindle, Brock University , [email protected]
Paul Helm, Ontario Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change, [email protected]
Karl Jobst, ON Ministry of the Environment, [email protected]
Eric Reiner, Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, [email protected]
Abstract
Microplastics are ubiquitous in aquatic environment and cause potential risks. Environmental risk assessment and regulations of microplastics requires effective analytical methods that yield sufficient diagnostic information for identification of sources and characterization of additives, leachable substances, and degradation products. In this study, we developed an approach for rapid fingerprinting plastics and screening additives by coupling a novel thermal desorption/pyrolysis unit (IonRocket), a Direct Analysis in Real Time (DART) ion source and a high-resolution mass spectrometer. We analyzed 20 samples including pallets from plastic manufactures, microbeads from personal care products, microplastics from aquatic environment, and synthetic fibers. Plastic samples are heated from ambient temperature to 600 oC in ten minutes, during which plastic additives (e.g. plasticizers, UV stabilizers, anti-oxidants) released from thermal desorption and chemicals generated via polymer pyrolysis can be identified and used to probe sources of the plastics. Multivariate statistics were applied to analyze fingerprints from raw mass spectra and chemical classes assigned based on accurate masses. Visualization approaches widely used in petromics were applied to differentiate chemical natures of plastics. The promising analytical method demonstrated in this study may help further elucidate possible sources of plastics and perhaps eventually to the analysis of bulk environmental samples for plastics.
1. Keyword
microplastics
2. Keyword
mass spectrometry
3. Keyword
measuring instruments
4. Additional Keyword
microbeads
5. Additional Keyword
synthetic fibers
6. Additional Keyword
plasticizers