Identification and characterisation of individual nanoplastics by scanning transmission X-ray microscopy (STXM).
Alexandra Foetisch, Montserrat Filella, Benjamin Watts, Laure-Hélène Vinot, Moritz Bigalke
Author Information
Alexandra Foetisch: Institute of Geography, University of Bern, Hallerstrasse 12, 3012 Bern, Switzerland.
Montserrat Filella: Department F.-A. Forel, University of Geneva, Boulevard Carl-Vogt 66, CH-1205 Geneva, Switzerland.
Benjamin Watts: Paul Scherrer Institute, Forschungsstrasse 111, 5232 Villigen, Switzerland.
Laure-Hélène Vinot: Institute of Geography, University of Bern, Hallerstrasse 12, 3012 Bern, Switzerland.
Moritz Bigalke: Institute of Geography, University of Bern, Hallerstrasse 12, 3012 Bern, Switzerland. Electronic address: moritz.bigalke@giub.unibe.ch.
Nanoplastics (NP) are of environmental and human health concern. We tested a novel NP extraction method and scanning transmission X-ray spectro-microscopy (STXM) in combination with near-edge X-ray absorption fine-structure spectroscopy (NEXAFS) to image and identify individual NP in environmental and food matrices. We (1) discussed the potential of STXM compared to other methods potentially suitable for NP analysis, (2) applied the method on NP suspensions of eight of the most common polymers, (3) analyzed environmental water and soil samples spiked with NP and (4) characterized NP in tea water infused in plastic teabags and unspiked soil samples. Here we show that STXM has methodological advantages and that polymers give characteristic spectra, which allows NP identification in environmental and food matrices. For soils we deliver a visual and spectroscopic characterization of NP, proving their presence and highlighting their diversity. Thus, STXM, can be used for the detection and characterisation of NP in different types of matrices.
