CHIASMA Partners from the University of Birmingham have published a study, in which they investigate the mechanisms driving the adsorption of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) onto micro- and nanoplastics (MnPs), focussing on the influence of the physicochemical properties of the MnPs, such as size, surface charge, and chemical composition.
In their paper entitled ‘An integrated multimethod approach for size-specific assessment of potentially toxic element adsorption onto micro- and nanoplastics: implications for environmental risk’, the researchers describe the deployment of asymmetrical flow field-flow fractionation (AF4) coupled with multi-angle light scattering (MALS) and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) to provide a size-resolved assessment of chromium (Cr), arsenic (As), and selenium (Se) adsorption onto carboxylated polystyrene nanoparticles (COOH-PSNPs) of 100 nm, 500 nm, and 1000 nm.
‘This work sets a foundation for developing more precise risk assessment frameworks and advanced remediation approaches for MnP-contaminated environments.’
[‘An integrated multimethod approach for size-specific assessment of potentially toxic element adsorption onto micro- and nanoplastics: implications for environmental risk’, https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlepdf/2025/nr/d5nr00353a]
The study demonstrates the superior resolution of AF4-MALS-ICP-MS compared to that of bulk ICP-MS, which lacks the ability to discern particle-specific adsorption trends. Unlike bulk ICP-MS, which provides average adsorption values, AF4-MALS-ICP-MS reveals the size-dependent mechanisms influencing metal binding, offering critical insights into the role of MnPs as PTE vectors. The findings highlight the environmental implications of MnPs in facilitating PTE transport and highlights the need for size-specific mitigation strategies.
The full paper is available here (open access).
