title: A Procedure for Measuring Microplastics using Pressurized Fluid Extraction.
abstract: A method based on pressurized fluid extraction (PFE) was developed for measuring microplastics in environmental samples. This method can address some limitations of the current microplastic methods and provide laboratories with a simple analytical method for quantifying common microplastics in a range of environmental samples. The method was initially developed by recovering 101% to 111% of spiked plastics on glass beads and was then applied to a composted municipal waste sample with spike recoveries ranging from 85% to 94%. The results from municipal waste samples and soil samples collected from an industrial area demonstrated that the method is a promising alternative for determining the concentration and identity of microplastics in environmental samples.
authors.affiliation: Environmental Forensics, Office of Environment and Heritage, Lidcombe, New South Wales 2141, Australia.
authors.forename: Stephen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fuller
authors.affiliation: Environmental Forensics, Office of Environment and Heritage, Lidcombe, New South Wales 2141, Australia.
authors.forename: Anil
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gautam
mesh_terms: D004777:Environment; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D010969:Plastics; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical
chemical_list: D010969:Plastics; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical