Work

Gradient columns to measure the density of microplastics

Year: 2024

Type: article

Abstract: , a much wider range than reported in literature for this polymer. The densest environmental pellet was biologically attached to a stone-like particle. Otherwise, there was no evidence that environmental processing, in the form of biofilm growth or weathering, was driving variability in density. Most pellets with extremely high or low density were coloured, indicating that additives or impurities introduced during manufacturing altered the density of the virgin resin. Overall, density gradient columns show great promise for improving our knowledge of microplastic density. They represent an accurate and efficient high-throughput method, which can measure the density of ∼40 microplastics simultaneously over relatively short time periods.

Source: The Science of The Total Environment

DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.176176

Authors: Jessica L. Stead, Luan de Souza Leite, Tom Bond

Institutions: University of Surrey, Universidade de São Paulo

Language: English

Topic: Microplastics and Plastic Pollution

Subfield: Pollution

Field: Environmental Science

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDG: Responsible consumption and production

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $3,990