You are here:
Evaluation of Bioplastics Analysis by Pyrolysis-GC/MS
Citation:
Gundersen, J., R. Burgess, AND K. Ho. Evaluation of Bioplastics Analysis by Pyrolysis-GC/MS. Environmental Measurement Symposium, Crystal City, VA, August 01 - 05, 2022.
Impact/Purpose:
Microplastics are contaminants of emerging concern in marine environments because they may harm wildlife or enter the food chain. To address this concern, bio-plastics have been developed as potentially sustainable alternatives. The fate of these alternatives is not well known. We examined how bio-plastics behave under different analytical methods and how they can be detected in the environment. The intended audience of this research includes state, local, and federal agencies interested in conducting microplastic research, as well as academic and private research institutions.
Description:
As concern about the impact of conventional, petroleum-based plastics grows, bioplastics (BPs) have emerged as potentially sustainable alternatives. The fate of BPs in the environment remains uncertain and some may breakdown into nano- and micro-plastics forms in a similar manner to petroleum-based plastics. Potential adverse ecological effects of nano- and micro-BPs are not well defined. If they do form nano- or micro-BPs, methods and approaches will be needed to measure and identify these classes of plastics. To evaluate methods for identifying and quantifying BPs in the environment, polylactic acid (PLA), poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA), polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB), polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) and a PHB/PHV (polyhydroxyvalerate) copolymer were analyzed by single shot and double shot pyrolysis-GC/MS methods as solids and in solution. Results indicate that the method of analysis can affect the pyrolyzates formed and may ultimately affect the identification of the biopolymer.
