PlastiTrax®
| Technical Details |
PlastiTrax® pellets are the optimal choice for method validation and quality control (QC). Thanks to precisely defined particle numbers, customizable polymer compositions, and selectable size fractions, they offer maximum flexibility and reliability. Our patented production method ensures exact reproducibility and enables highly precise results—perfectly tailored to your analytical requirements.
For each individual tablet, the exact particle number for each polymer type is determined and reported on the tablet packaging.
Combination of optical and spectral information
Depending on the particle size, detection is performed with a spatial resolution of 5 µm or 25 µm. This flexibility allows precise identification and quantification of the embedded particles, tailored to the specific requirements of your analysis.
Since complete separation of particles is often challenging, the chemical images are combined with optical images. This approach ensures the most accurate determination of particle numbers and improves the overall accuracy of the analysis.
What do the tablets look like?
Our PlastiTrax® tablets are produced as glass-like, transparent KBr discs after the pressing process. The microplastic particles are embedded on one side of the tablet and completely enclosed within the KBr matrix. This structure enables safe transport and easy handling without the risk of particle loss or contamination.
Each individual tablet is subsequently analyzed using µFTIR imaging to determine the exact number and distribution of the embedded polymer particles. After characterization, every tablet is individually wrapped in aluminum foil and labeled with the precise particle count for each polymer type. This ensures full traceability and allows accurate recovery determination in analytical applications.
Spectral Quality
The spectral quality of PlastiTrax® tablets is exceptional due to the use of KBr as the matrix material. KBr provides optimal spectral properties in the range of 4000 to 1000 cm⁻¹, which is ideal for the reliable identification of microplastic particles. The high transparency and homogeneity of the material ensure outstanding spectral quality, enabling precise and reproducible analytical results.
All Priority Polymers Combined
The PlastiTrax® Priority Complete tablet combines all 10 priority polymers within a single, defined tablet with an exactly determined total particle number, enabling comprehensive and realistic validation of analytical methods within a standardized framework. Thanks to the broad spectral measurement window of the KBr matrix, we are also able to reliably include and analyze PTFE. The controlled composition and documented particle numbers make Priority Complete ideal for recovery determination, polymer identification, and the systematic evaluation of analytical performance.
Characterization
Each individual tablet is analyzed using FTIR imaging in transmission mode, allowing the exact number of particles for each polymer type to be precisely determined. This ensures the highest level of accuracy and reliability.
Embedding the particles in KBr offers the advantage that all particles lie within a single plane, enabling optimal focusing during analysis. In addition, KBr provides excellent transparency in both the optical and infrared ranges, resulting in very high spectral quality.
Any questions?