Development of an optimal filter substrate for the identification of small microplastic particles in food by micro-Raman spectroscopy

Oßmann B, Sarau G, Schmitt SW, Holtmannspoetter H, Christiansen SH, Dicke W (2017)

Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2017

Journal

Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry Springer

Book Volume: 409

Pages Range: 4099-4109

Journal Issue: 16

DOI: 10.1007/s00216-017-0358-y

Abstract

When analysing microplastics in food, due to toxicological reasons it is important to achieve clear identification of particles down to a size of at least 1~\textgreekmm. One reliable, optical analytical technique allowing this is micro-Raman spectroscopy. After isolation of particles via filtration, analysis is typically performed directly on the filter surface. In order to obtain high qualitative Raman spectra, the material of the membrane filters should not show any interference in terms of background and Raman signals during spectrum acquisition. To facilitate the usage of automatic particle detection, membrane filters should also show specific optical properties. In this work, beside eight different, commercially available membrane filters, three newly designed metal-coated polycarbonate membrane filters were tested to fulfil these requirements. We found that aluminium-coated polycarbonate membrane filters had ideal characteristics as a substrate for micro-Raman spectroscopy. Its spectrum shows no or minimal interference with particle spectra, depending on the laser wavelength. Furthermore, automatic particle detection can be applied when analysing the filter surface under dark-field illumination. With this new membrane filter, analytics free of interference of microplastics down to a size of 1~\textgreekmm becomes possible. Thus, an important size class of these contaminants can now be visualized and spectrally identified.

Authors with CRIS profile

Barbara Oßmann Lehrstuhl für Lebensmittelchemie (Henriette-Schmidt-Burkhardt Lehrstuhl)

Additional Organisation(s)

Exzellenz-Cluster Engineering of Advanced Materials

Involved external institutions

Max-Planck-Institut für die Physik des Lichts (MPL) / Max Planck Institute for the Science of Light DE Germany (DE) Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin für Materialien und Energie (HZB) DE Germany (DE) Bayerisches Landesamt für Gesundheit und Lebensmittelsicherheit (LGL) DE Germany (DE)

How to cite

APA:

Oßmann, B., Sarau, G., Schmitt, S.W., Holtmannspoetter, H., Christiansen, S.H., & Dicke, W. (2017). Development of an optimal filter substrate for the identification of small microplastic particles in food by micro-Raman spectroscopy. Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry, 409(16), 4099-4109. https://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00216-017-0358-y

MLA:

Oßmann, Barbara, et al. "Development of an optimal filter substrate for the identification of small microplastic particles in food by micro-Raman spectroscopy." Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry 409.16 (2017): 4099-4109.

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