Microplastic Analysis
| Detection | Identification | Quantification |
There is no universal method that can address all questions related to microplastics. Therefore, we develop tailored analytical workflows for each client and their specific requirements. Our analyses place particular emphasis on minimizing contamination and ensuring accurate particle recovery to deliver reliable and reproducible results.
No analytical method is perfect.
That is why we communicate every step of the analytical workflow as transparently as possible, including recovery rates, blank values, and all relevant quality control parameters.
Aqueous samples
Consumer PROducts
watersoluble substances
Non-watersoluble Substances
What information will you receive?
Qualitative identity of microplastics
Our analyses identify the polymer type of each detected microplastic particle using infrared spectroscopy. This enables reliable differentiation between various plastics and provides detailed insights into the material composition of the sample.
Quantitative determination of microplastics
Our analyses enable the precise quantification of microplastic particles within a sample. This includes determining the number of particles and their distribution across different polymer types and size classes.
Statistical particle size distribution of microplastics
Our analyses provide a detailed statistical evaluation of the particle size distribution within the sample. This allows the identification of dominant size fractions and supports a better understanding of the origin and behavior of microplastic particles.
Contamination Control
| Prevention | Avoidance | Reporting |
In microplastic analysis, minimizing contamination is essential to ensure reliable results. All equipment used in our laboratory is made of glass or PTFE and is cleaned exclusively with filtered solvents, followed by heating above 500°C. In addition, all chemicals are pre-filtered (0.22 µm) to remove potential plastic contaminants before use.
Sample preparation and analyses are performed under a laminar flow bench to reduce contamination from airborne particles. As part of our quality assurance procedures, we perform mandatory procedural blank measurements (negative controls) to monitor background contamination and ensure that it is kept as low as possible while maintaining the highest analytical standards.
Procedural blank results are monitored and reported within the analysis report (according to ISO 16094-2). We use these values to calculate the reporting limit (RL) for each individual polymer and size class (e.g. 10 or 20 µm). These results are used for transparent communication of the results.
Recovery
| Recovery | Spiking | Efficiency |
Recovery is a critical aspect of microplastic analysis, as unintentional losses of microplastic particles can occur during sample preparation, particularly during filtration or sample transfer steps. If not properly accounted for, this may lead to an underestimation of the actual microplastic concentration.
To address this, we perform positive controls tailored to the specific sample type. In these controls, our particulate reference materials (PlastiTrax® Priority Complete, containing all 10 priority polymers) are deliberately added (spiked) to the samples to verify that the sample preparation and analytical workflow are performed correctly.
Quality Control
| QC | Spiking | Deuterated Polystyrene | dPS |
Quality assurance is an integral part of every analysis. Whenever required (individual sample or batch of samples), a specific number of deuterated polystyrene (dPS) fragments are added as internal quality control standards to monitor the complete analytical workflow—from sample preparation and filtration to automated polymer identification. Their unique spectral signatures allow reliable distinction from environmental microplastics, providing an independent assessment of recovery, method performance, and data quality.
Particle Size
| 10 µm | 20 µm |
Particle size is one of the most important parameters in microplastic analysis. Since infrared spectroscopy is generally limited to particle sizes of approximately 5–10 µm, MIQALab has developed and validated a dedicated sample preparation workflow to ensure reliable and reproducible measurements. A stainless steel sieve is used to define a precise lower particle size cut-off, while a custom-designed glass filtration apparatus prevents excessive particle loading (particles <10 or 20 µm) on the analytical filter. Based on this validated methodology, we offer routine microplastic analyses with lower size limits of 10 µm or 20 µm. The selected cut-off has a major impact on the analytical effort, as the number of detectable particles increases dramatically with decreasing particle size, directly affecting measurement time, data processing, and reporting complexity.
Pricing
| Modular |
Our pricing is designed to be transparent, modular, and based on the actual analytical effort. Since every sample is different, costs depend primarily on the required sample preparation and workflow complexity. This ensures that you only pay for the services necessary for your specific sample, providing a fair and flexible pricing structure for every project.