2026-10-12T19:13:54Z https://api.figshare.com/v2/oai

oai:figshare.com:article/34031204 2026-09-30T10:07:31Z category_1 category_4 category_146 category_915 category_13 category_21 category_272 category_873 category_39 category_61 category_62 category_134 portal_63 item_type_6 month_year_09_2026

Single-Particle Microplastics Analysis via Laser-Assisted MicroPyrolysis Flowing Atmospheric-Pressure Afterglow Mass Spectrometry Imaging Dong Zhang (73558) Ejoke Akatugba (25143089) Gerardo Gamez (9254342) Biophysics Biochemistry Space Science Physical Sciences not elsewhere classified Genetics Biotechnology Environmental Sciences not elsewhere classified Chemical Sciences not elsewhere classified Ecology Developmental Biology Marine Biology Virology repeating base unit necessary environmental monitoring lamp fapa ms resolution mass spectrometry 4 μm diameter fast polymer identification 2 </ sub particle mps collected polymer mass additive identification 6 μm spherical particle particle mps urgent demand ubiquitous contaminants quantitative analysis polyethylene microspheres human health detection limit 405 nm 083 ng Microplastics (MPs) have emerged as ubiquitous contaminants in the environment. Thus, novel MP characterization techniques are in urgent demand to achieve the necessary environmental monitoring, as well as studying the impact of MPs on human health. Herein, laser-assisted micropyrolysis flowing atmospheric pressure afterglow high-resolution mass spectrometry (LAMP FAPA MS) is developed toward direct imaging of single-particle MPs collected on filters. The use of a CO₂ laser (10.6 μm) is shown to yield up to >100× higher signal intensity for polyethylene terephthalate fragment ions compared to a diode laser (405 nm) at the same power. Also, a mass spectral analysis algorithm was developed and implemented for fast polymer identification in MPs based on the corresponding fragment ion series separated by the repeating base unit. Furthermore, additive identification is shown for single-particle MPs. Finally, LAMP FAPA MS is demonstrated for quantitative analysis of polymer mass with a detection limit of 0.083 ng for polyethylene microspheres, which corresponds to a spherical particle with a 5.4 μm diameter. 2026-09-30T00:00:00Z Text Journal contribution 10.1021/acs.analchem.6c02632.s001 https://figshare.com/articles/journal_contribution/Single-Particle_Microplastics_Analysis_via_Laser-Assisted_MicroPyrolysis_Flowing_Atmospheric-Pressure_Afterglow_Mass_Spectrometry_Imaging/34031204 CC BY-NC 4.0