Work

Europium-labelled nanopolystyrene as model nanoplastics for environmental fate investigations: Synthesis and optimisation

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Nanoplastics (NPLs) have emerged as pervasive environmental contaminants, reaching remote regions and even crossing biological barriers such as the human blood-brain barrier. Their biomolecule-like composition, primarily composed of carbon and hydrogen, complicates detection using conventional analytical methods. To overcome this challenge, a tracer-doped plastic matrix was developed to enable rapid and precise detection, tracking, and analysis of NPLs. In this study, europium, a rare-earth metal, was used to label polystyrene-based NPLs, chosen for their abundance in environmental samples. The NPLs were synthesised through a two-step dispersion polymerisation process involving styrene (monomer), potassium persulfate (initiator), sodium dodecyl sulfate (surfactant), and europium (dopant). Response Surface Methodology with Central Composite Design (RSM-CCD) was employed to optimise the synthesis parameters, and ANOVA confirmed the model’s significance and robustness. The suitability of the labelling technique was confirmed by measuring the Eu-doped NPLs using single-particle inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (SP-ICP-MS). The results demonstrated a strong linear relationship between the concentration of Eu dopant, the total mass of the Eu-doped NPLs, and the number of individual Eu-doped NPL particles. Under optimised conditions the NPLs achieved a hydrodynamic size of 121.47 ± 0.89 nm and a dopant concentration of 0.12 wt%. Leaching tests conducted over seven days in deionised water (DIW) and artificial seawater (ASW) showed less than 0.5% dopant loss, indicating robust encapsulation of europium within the polymer matrix. This labelling approach provides a reliable method for the quantitative analysis of NPLs, enabling more accurate assessments of their behaviour and toxicity in various environmental contexts.

Source: Polymer Testing

DOI: 10.1016/j.polymertesting.2025.108903

Authors: Rega Permana, Swati Sharma, Christopher Stark, David Price, Christian Pfrang, Eugenia Valsami-Jones

Institutions: University of Birmingham, Padjadjaran University, PerkinElmer (United Kingdom)

Language: English

Topic: Microplastics and Plastic Pollution

Subfield: Pollution

Field: Environmental Science

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDG: Responsible consumption and production

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $3,370