An efficient and gentle enzymatic digestion protocol for the extraction of microplastics from bivalve tissue

Publikation: Bidrag til tidsskriftTidsskriftartikelForskningfagfællebedømt

Standardized methods for the digestion of biota for microplastic analysis are currently lacking. Chemical methods can be effective, but can also cause damage to some polymers. Enzymatic methods are known to be gentler, but often laborious, expensive and time consuming. A novel tissue digestion method with pancreatic enzymes and a pH buffer (Tris) is here presented in a comparison to a commonly applied digestion protocol with potassium hydroxide. The novel protocol demonstrates a highly efficient removal of bivalve tissue (97.7 ± 0.2% dry weight loss) already over-night. Furthermore, it induces no impairment in terms of ability to correctly identify four pre-weathered plastic polymers and six textile fiber polymers by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy after exposure. The high-throughput protocol requires minimal handling, is of low cost and does not pose risk to the performer or the environment. It is therefore suggested as a candidate for a standardized digestion protocol, enabling successful analysis of microplastics ingested by bivalves.

OriginalsprogEngelsk
TidsskriftMarine Pollution Bulletin
Vol/bind142
Sider (fra-til)129-134
Antal sider6
ISSN0025-326X
DOI
StatusUdgivet - 2019
Eksternt udgivetJa

ID: 239483076