PlastiTrax® Artificial Test Samples
| Reproducible Matrix |
Our PlastiTrax® Artificial Test Samples provide a unique solution for the realistic yet fully controlled simulation of complex environmental matrices in microplastic analysis. Each sample contains a precisely defined number of microplastic particles from our PlastiTrax® reference materials, enabling accurate and reproducible recovery calculations.
Unlike real environmental samples—where background contamination is often unknown and highly variable—our matrices are designed to be as particle-free as technically possible (except for the spiked particles). The water used is filtered to 0.22 µm, the inorganic matrix is thermally treated to remove organic contaminants, and the organic cellulose matrix is derived from the inner part of natural wood to minimize external contamination. This ensures that only the intentionally added particles determine the analytical evaluation.
This reproducible matrix creates, for the first time, the opportunity to systematically test, optimize, and validate specific sample preparation steps under identical conditions. Whether chemical digestion, density separation, or filtration strategies, analytical methods can be developed and improved under realistic yet controlled conditions.
PlastiTrax® Artificial Test Samples therefore combine environmental realism with maximum experimental control—providing the ideal foundation for robust method development, reliable performance validation, and objective quality assurance in microplastic analysis.
Microplastics
The PlastiTrax® tablet contains a defined number of the 10 priority polymers. As with all our tablets, the exact number of embedded particles is determined by µFTIR analysis, ensuring full traceability and analytical accuracy. After addition to the aqueous matrix, the tablet dissolves completely and releases the particles into the sample. The precise particle number is indicated on the label of the vial.
NEW: To further increase environmental relevance, the product is also available with “real-life” microplastics (Real Plastix) derived from common consumer products such as PET bottles, yogurt cups, and PE films.
Organic Cellulose Matrix
The cellulose matrix is produced through a controlled drying and cryogenic milling process. Wood is used as the starting material, and the outer cut surfaces are removed prior to processing to minimize potential contamination as much as possible. The resulting cellulose matrix is specifically designed to mimic realistic environmental samples and is particularly suitable for testing and optimizing chemical digestion procedures.
Glass Vial
The GC glass vials used for the Artificial Test Samples are thoroughly pre-cleaned and rinsed to minimize background contamination. Each vial is equipped with a high-quality PTFE septum, ensuring chemical inertness and preventing the introduction of polymer-based contaminants.
Filtered Water (0.22 µm)
The water used for sample preparation is filtered through a 0.22 µm cellulose acetate membrane to minimize potential contamination. It rapidly dissolves the KBr tablet and ensures the controlled release of the embedded particles into the matrix. This approach creates a reproducible sample environment, enabling objective evaluation and optimization of analytical methods for complex matrices.
Inorganic Matrix
The inorganic matrix ensures a low background contamination level. Depending on the application, CaCO₃, sea sand, or a combination of both can be used to simulate a realistic inorganic environmental matrix under controlled conditions. Such matrices require appropriate sample preparation steps, including chemical digestion and density separation, allowing these procedures to be systematically tested and optimized.
Realistic.Reproducible.Controlled.
The organic cellulose matrix is designed to simulate real environmental samples containing organic material, such as sediments, sewage sludge, or biologically influenced samples. It enables targeted testing of sample preparation procedures aimed at degrading or removing organic components (e.g., chemical or enzymatic digestion).
Organic matrices present analytical challenges such as particle overlap or the formation of agglomerates on the filter, which can complicate spectroscopic identification and lead to biased recovery rates. The defined cellulose matrix allows these effects to be investigated under reproducible conditions and enables targeted optimization of preparation steps to minimize particle loss or misidentification.
The inorganic matrix (e.g., thermally treated sea sand) simulates mineral-dominated environmental samples such as sediments or sand. Its primary purpose is the evaluation and optimization of density separation procedures. Since microplastic particles exhibit different densities, the efficiency of density separation is a key factor for obtaining valid recovery results. The controlled inorganic matrix enables systematic assessment of separation efficiency across different polymer densities and helps identify potential particle losses during sedimentation, decanting, or filtration.
By combining both matrices, different realistic scenarios can be reproduced in a controlled and reproducible way—from organically loaded samples with potential agglomerate formation to mineral matrices where the efficiency of density extraction is the main analytical challenge.
PlastiTrax® Artificial Test Sample I
The Artificial Test Sample I contains all 10 priority polymers (PE, PP, PS, PVC, PET, PA, PC, PU, PMMA, PTFE) in defined particle size fractions and is embedded in a combination of organic and inorganic matrices. It is supplied as a ready-to-use, reproducible sample in an aqueous matrix (20 mL) and was specifically developed to realistically simulate complex environmental samples.
The matrix consists of 200 mg sea sand as the inorganic component, 0.1 mg cellulose-based wood fibers as the organic matrix, and 20 mL of 0.22 µm filtered MilliQ water. This combination allows the simultaneous evaluation of chemical digestion procedures (organic matrix) and density separation steps (inorganic matrix) under controlled and reproducible conditions.
With a total particle number of 50–150*, Artificial Test Sample I is ideally suited for the targeted optimization and validation of sample preparation and analytical workflows. By integrating all 10 priority polymers, both density-dependent effects and polymer-specific identification challenges can be systematically investigated. At the same time, the defined composition enables an objective evaluation of recovery rates and analytical performance across the entire workflow.
Total particle number: 50-150*
Included polymers:
Priority Complete (PE, PP, PS, PVC, PET, PA, PC, PU, PMMA, PTFE)
Included matrix:
200 mg sea sand (anorganic matrix)
0.1 mg cellulose fibers (from wood)
20 mL filtered MilliQ water (0.22 µm)
Available size fractions:
20-25 µm (Art.No.: AT.1.2025; Price: 190€)
25-50 µm (Art.No.: AT.1.2550)
50-100 µm (Art.No.: AT.1.50100)
100-200 µm (Art.No.: AT.1.100200)
Price: 170€ per pc.
*We guarantee that each polymer is present; the distribution per polymer is random, and the exact particle number is indicated on the label.
The Artificial Test Sample II includes all 10 priority polymers (PE, PP, PS, PVC, PET, PA, PC, PU, PMMA, PTFE) in defined particle size fractions and is embedded in an organic cellulose-based matrix. The sample is supplied as a ready-to-use suspension in 20 mL aqueous matrix, providing a reproducible test sample designed to simulate organically dominated environmental matrices under controlled laboratory conditions.
The matrix consists of 0.1 mg cellulose fibers derived from wood and 20 mL of 0.22 µm filtered MilliQ water. This composition is particularly suitable for evaluating sample preparation strategies targeting the removal of organic matter, such as chemical or enzymatic digestion methods. In addition, the controlled organic matrix allows the reproducible investigation of analytical challenges such as particle overlap, agglomeration effects, and potential particle losses during sample preparation.
Total particle number: 50-150*
Included polymers:
Priority Complete (PE, PP, PS, PVC, PET, PA, PC, PU, PMMA, PTFE)
Included matrix:
0.1 mg cellulose fibers (from wood)
20 mL filtered MilliQ water (0.22 µm)
Available size fractions:
20-25 µm (Art.No.: AT.2.2025; Price: 170€)
25-50 µm (Art.No.: AT.2.2550)
50-100 µm (Art.No.: AT.2.50100)
100-200 µm (Art.No.: AT.2.100200)
Price: 150€ per pc.
*We guarantee that each polymer is present; the distribution per polymer is random, and the exact particle number is indicated on the label.
PlastiTrax® Artificial Test Sample II
The Artificial Test Sample III contains all 10 priority polymers (PE, PP, PS, PVC, PET, PA, PC, PU, PMMA, PTFE) in defined particle size fractions and is incorporated into a mineral-based matrix consisting of sea sand. The sample is provided as a ready-to-use suspension in 20 mL aqueous matrix, enabling reproducible testing conditions for the simulation of inorganic environmental samples such as sediments or sand.
The matrix is composed of 200 mg sea sand and 20 mL of 0.22 µm filtered MilliQ water. This configuration is particularly suitable for evaluating density separation methods, which are commonly required to isolate microplastic particles from mineral-rich matrices. Using this controlled system, laboratories can systematically assess the efficiency of density extraction, identify potential particle losses during sedimentation, decanting, or filtration, and optimize their sample preparation workflows under realistic yet reproducible conditions.
Total particle number:50-150*
Included polymers:
Priority Complete (PE, PP, PS, PVC, PET, PA, PC, PU, PMMA, PTFE)
Included matrix:
200 mg sea sand (anorganic matrix)
20 mL filtered MilliQ water (0.22 µm)
Available size fractions:
20-25 µm (Art.No.: AT.3.2025; Price: 170€)
25-50 µm (Art.No.: AT.3.2550)
50-100 µm (Art.No.: AT.3.50100)
100-200 µm (Art.No.: AT.3.100200)
Preis: 150€ per pc.
*We guarantee that each polymer is present; the distribution per polymer is random, and the exact particle number is indicated on the label.
PlastiTrax® Artificial Test Sample III
PlastiTrax® Artificial Test Sample IV
Microplastic particles found in natural environments are often already affected by photochemical aging processes. Exposure to UV radiation can lead to structural changes in polymers, such as oxidative reactions or alterations in surface morphology. These aging processes can modify the spectral signatures of the particles and therefore represent an additional challenge for reliable polymer identification. The UV-aged particles included in Artificial Test Sample IV enable these effects to be investigated under controlled laboratory conditions and allow the performance of analytical methods and spectral libraries to be evaluated when dealing with environmentally aged polymers.
The matrix consists of 200 mg sea sand as the mineral component, 0.1 mg cellulose fibers derived from wood, and 20 mL of 0.22 µm filtered MilliQ water. This composition recreates realistic environmental conditions while allowing the systematic investigation of sample preparation steps such as chemical digestion and density separation.
Total particle number: 50-150*
Included polymers:
Simulated Aging (PE, PP, PS, PVC, PET)
Included matrix:
200 mg sea sand (anorganic matrix)
0.1 mg cellulose fibers (from wood)
20 mL filtered MilliQ water (0.22 µm)
Available size fractions:
20-25 µm (Art.No.: AT.4.2025; Price: 220€)
25-50 µm (Art.No.: AT.4.2550)
50-100 µm (Art.No.: AT.4.50100)
100-200 µm (Art.No.: AT.4.100200)
Price: 200€ per pc.
*We guarantee that each polymer is present; the distribution per polymer is random, and the exact particle number is indicated on the label. Grade of UV-degradation is dependent on the polymer type, therefore different degrees of carbonyl-bands can be expected.
The Artificial Test Sample V contains microplastic particles derived from real everyday consumer products and was developed to simulate environmental microplastics as realistically as possible. In contrast to purely polymer-based reference materials, the particles originate from common consumer plastics and therefore exhibit realistic shapes, fracture edges, and surface structures, similar to those typically observed in environmental samples.
The included microplastic particles are generated from widely used plastic products, including PE films and packaging lids, PP yogurt cups, expanded polystyrene packaging materials (PS), PVC components from electronic housings, and PET bottles. Through controlled mechanical fragmentation, particles with irregular and naturally occurring fragment morphologies are produced, allowing a more realistic representation of environmental microplastics compared to standardized polymer fragments.
The particles are embedded in a combined matrix consisting of 200 mg sea sand, 0.1 mg cellulose fibers derived from wood, and 20 mL of 0.22 µm filtered MilliQ water. This matrix simulates typical environmental conditions while enabling the investigation of key sample preparation steps, including chemical digestion procedures, density separation methods, and filtration processes.
Total particle number: 50-150*
Included polymers:
PE: from PE films and packaging lids
PP: from PP yoghurt cups
PS: from expanded polystyrene packaging materials
PVC: from electronic housings
PET: from PET bottles
Included matrix:
200 mg sea sand (anorganic matrix)
0.1 mg cellulose fibers (from wood)
20 mL filtered MilliQ water (0.22 µm)
Available size fractions:
20-25 µm (Art.No.: AT.5.2025; Price: 190€)
25-50 µm (Art.No.: AT.5.2550)
50-100 µm (Art.No.: AT.5.50100)
100-200 µm (Art.No.: AT.5.100200)
Price: 170€ per pc.
*We guarantee that each polymer is present; the distribution per polymer is random, and the exact particle number is indicated on the label.
PlastiTrax® Artificial Test Sample V