@article{fdi:010087470,
  title = {{V}olatile organic compounds identification and specific stable isotopic analysis (delta {C}-13) in microplastics by purge and trap gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry and combustion isotope ratio mass spectrometry ({PT}-{GC}-{MS}-{C}-{IRMS})},
  author = {{L}e {J}uge, {C}. and {P}oint, {D}avid and {L}agane, {C}hristelle and {R}eynaud, {S}. and {G}rassl, {B}. and {A}llan, {I}. and {G}igault, {J}.},
  editor = {},
  language = {{ENG}},
  abstract = {{M}icroplastics ({MP}s) have become one of the major global environmental issues in recent decades due to their ubiquity in the environment. {U}nderstanding {MP}s source origin and reactivity is urgently needed to better constrain their fate and budget. {D}espite improvements in analytical methods to characterize {MP}s, new tools are needed to help understand their sources and reactivity in a complex environment. {I}n this work, we developed and applied an original {P}urge-&-{T}rap system coupled to a {GC}-{MS}-{C}-{IRMS} to explore the delta {C}-13 compound-specific stable isotope analysis ({CSIA}) of volatile organic compounds ({VOC}) embedded in {MP}s. {T}he method consists of heating and purging {MP} samples, with {VOC}s being cryo-trapped on a {T}enax sorbent, followed by {GC}-{MS}-{C}-{IRMS} analysis. {T}he method was developed using a polystyrene plastic material showing that sample mass and heating temperature increased the sensitivity while not influencing {VOC} delta {C}-13 values. {T}his robust, precise, and accurate methodology allows {VOC} identification and delta {C}-13 {CSIA} in plastic materials in the low nanogram concentration range. {R}esults show that the monomer styrene displays a different delta {C}-13 value (- 22.2 +/- 0.2 parts per thousand), compared to the delta {C}-13 value of the bulk polymer sample (- 27.8 +/- 0.2 parts per thousand). {T}his difference could be related to the synthesis procedure and/or diffusion processes. {T}he analysis of complementary plastic materials such as polyethylene terephthalate, and polylactic acid displayed unique {VOC} delta {C}-13 patterns, with toluene showing specific delta {C}-13 values for polystyrene (- 25.9 +/- 0.1 parts per thousand), polyethylene terephthalate (- 28.4 +/- 0.5 parts per thousand), and polylactic acid (- 38.7 +/- 0.5 parts per thousand). {T}hese results illustrate the potential of {VOC} delta {C}-13 {CSIA} in {MP} research to fingerprint plastic materials, and to improve our understanding of their source cycle. {F}urther studies in the laboratory are needed to determine the main mechanisms responsible for {MP}s {VOC} stable isotopic fractionation.},
  keywords = {{M}icroplastics ; {V}olatile organic compounds ; {D}etection ; {S}table isotopes ; {T}race concentrations},
  booktitle = {},
  journal = {{A}nalytical and {B}ioanalytical {C}hemistry},
  volume = {[{E}arly access]},
  numero = {},
  pages = {[10 p.]},
  ISSN = {1618-2642},
  year = {2023},
  DOI = {10.1007/s00216-023-04595-w},
  URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010087470},
}