Quantification of polyethylene terephthalate micro- and nanoplastics in domestic wastewater using a simple three-step method

Concerns about impact of small plastic particles, known as microplastics (<5 mm) and nanoplastics (<1 mu m), together abbreviated as MNP, on the environment and on human health have increased in recent years. Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) microplastics have been detected previously in different environmental samples including freshwater andwastewater sludge. In the present study, we target all small plastic particles of PET with a diameter smaller than 5mm(`PETMNP'). A simple three-step method of drying, (in matrix) PET depolymerization in ethylene glycol and liquid chromatographymass spectrometry (LC-MS) analysis, was applied for the quantification of PET MNP in influents and effluents collected from ten Dutchwastewater treatment plants. The PET recovery was 98% in thewastewatermatrix. The limits of detection (LOD) for PET in influents and effluents were 2.0 mu g/L and 1.2 mu g/L, respectively. PET MNP was detected in all the influents (ranging from 24.9 mu g/L to 680 mu g/L) and most of the effluents (ranging from

Automated summary

Concerns about the environmental and health impacts of microplastics and nanoplastics, collectively referred to as MNP, have increased in recent years. This study focuses on the quantification of small polyethylene terephthalate microplastics (PETMNP) in influents and effluents from wastewater treatment plants using a three-step method of drying, PET depolymerization, and LC-MS analysis. PETMNP was detected in all influents (ranging from 24.9 μg/L to 680 μg/L) and most effluents.