Artificial Test Sample

The inorganic matrix consists of commercially sourced sea sand, partially milled to simulate a realistic distribution of sediment and larger sand particles. Prior to thermal treatment, the material is acid-treated to further reduce potential contaminants. It is then heated at 600 °C for 48 hours, ensuring a clean and controlled matrix for reliable microplastic analysis.

The organic matrix of our Artificial Test Samples consists of cellulose fibres derived from wood. As a naturally occuring material, cellulose provides a realistic sample background that closely resembles organic matter. This well-defined matrix makes our test materials ideally suited for method development, validation, proficiency testing, and quality assurance in microplastic analysis.

The aqueous phase consists of 20 mL MilliQ water, additionally filtered through a 0.22 µm cellulose membrane to minimize background contamination. This ensures a clean and controlled environment, allowing the particles to be released reproducibly and supporting reliable evaluation of analytical workflows.

The sample is supplied in a GC glass vial with a metal cap and PTFE septum to ensure chemical inertness and minimize contamination. Prior to use, the vial is rinsed with filtered ethanol and subsequently heated at 600 °C, providing a clean and controlled container for reliable microplastic analysis. (Potential PTFE contaminations are not able to be ruled out.)

The embedded PlastiTrax® tablet is pre-characterized using µFTIR, with the exact particle number per polymer type determined and indicated on the label of the glass vial. The tablet is already added to the sample and fully dissolves within a short time, ensuring that the microplastic particles are released prior to delivery. This allows direct use of the sample with fully traceable and precisely defined particle numbers.