3 research outputs found
Temporal Variability of Microplastic Concentrations in Inland Waters: An Automated, Semicontinuous Sampling of Microplastics ≥11 μm in a Stream in Southern Germany
To advance understanding about the temporal variability
of microplastic
concentrations in inland waters, this study presents a fully automatic
sampling unit for microplastics (SAM), which collects daily mixed
samples using fractionated filtration. Method validation with five
different polymer types revealed an overall recovery of 77 ±
29% for sampling, sample preparation, and analysis of particles ≥11
μm using Fourier transform infrared micro spectroscopy. During
an 8 day field test, SAM was applied in a stream in Southern Germany.
Microplastic concentrations in the daily mixed samples differed by
a factor of 10.8 within the study period, ranging from 1210 to 13 052
particles and fibers per m3. Polypropylene and polymer
cluster acrylates/polyurethanes/varnish were the most abundant polymer
types observed. The comparison of day-to-day variability of microplastic
concentrations with the total particle count, turbidity, precipitation,
as well as discharge in the stream did not reveal distinct interrelations.
The field application, as well as the good 20 recovery rates of SAM,
demonstrates its suitability for future long-term studies focusing
on the temporal variability of microplastic concentrations