A team of researchers from McGill University has developed profitable and high speed technology to detect nanoplastics and microplastics in the environment.
These particles are omnipresent, posing health and environmental risks, but detecting them on a nanometric scale have been difficult. The Holdi-MS testing platform printed in 3D overcomes the limits of traditional mass spectrometry by allowing direct analysis of samples without requiring a complex samples. Researchers say that it will also work for the detection of water -of -water plastic particles. Holdi-MS means Mass spectrometry of desception / hollow laser ionization.
“With Holdi, we provide an effective, quantitative, very precise and affordable method, which makes it accessible to researchers from the world Communications chemistry. “It requires little energy, is recyclable and costs only a few dollars per sample. »»
The new method will also increase international cooperation in the fight against plastic pollution, in accordance with calls for the United Nations program to improve methods, according to researchers.
“So far, there has been no universal protocol established for nanoplastic detection in the complex environment,” said Ariya.
“This technology allows us to locate the main sources of nano and microplastics in the environment,” she said. “More importantly, it allows the comparison and validation of data between laboratories around the world, a crucial step towards the harmonization of global research on plastic pollution. »»
As part of their study, researchers have identified polyethylene and polydimethylsiloxan in indoor air and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the outside air.
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