Preparation and Analysis of Standard Microplastics

Over 14 million tons of microplastic have been accumulated in water resources and they are increasing yearly. About 8% of European microplastic released into the water are from synthetic textiles. This kind of microplastic is generally in the form of microfilaments. They have a higher potential to enter the food chain due to their size and shape. Although microfilaments generate great concern, no precise guidelines for their quantification and qualification are yet available. Thus, in this chapter, the origin of microfilaments is fully investigated. After that, a novel approach for identifying and counting microplastic with fiber shape is presented. An accurate method for preparing microfilament standard suspensions is described to facilitate lab tests and have a reliable methodology for monitoring microplastic pollution.