Microplastic Analysis and Testing
Microplastic pollution has become a global environmental and health concern. From oceans, freshwater, and soil to the atmosphere, and from table salt and drinking water to seafood, microplastics are virtually everywhere. Their long-term presence in the environment may pose potential risks to ecosystems and human health. For research institutions, food companies, cosmetic manufacturers, and environmental organizations, professional microplastic testing is no longer optional—it is a necessary requirement for compliance and responsibility.
As a professional third-party analytical testing laboratory, Alfa Chemistry provides comprehensive microplastic analysis and testing services, helping clients quickly and accurately identify and quantify microplastic components in samples, meeting the diverse needs of research, production, and regulatory compliance.
- Introduction
- Why Testing
- Test Metrics
- Techniques
- Advantages
- Applications
- Service Process
- Case Study
- FQAs
- Online Inquiry
What Are Microplastics?
Microplastics are plastic particles with a size of less than 5 mm, mainly classified into:
Common microplastics include polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polystyrene (PS), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), and polyethylene terephthalate (PET), and they are widely found in water bodies, soil, the atmosphere, food, and living organisms.
Significance of Microplastic Analysis
Microplastic analysis and testing are essential for evaluating environmental risks, safeguarding food and human health, and ensuring compliance with regulatory standards.
Environmental Protection
Monitor microplastics in water and soil to assess ecological risks.
Food Safety
Ensure that drinking water, salt, seafood, and other food products meet safety requirements.
Human Health
Prevent potential hazards from microplastic ingestion and inhalation.
Regulatory Compliance
Meet the requirements of ISO, ASTM, EU, and domestic testing standards.
Corporate Responsibility
Enhance the company’s environmental image and support sustainable development.
Available Test Metrics
To provide a comprehensive understanding of microplastic contamination, our testing covers the following key metrics:
Microplastic Analysis Techniques
Pyrolysis-Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (Py-GC/MS)
Qualitative and quantitative analysis of polymer composition
4Scanning Electron Microscopy with Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (SEM-EDS)
Particle morphology and elemental analysis
5Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS)
Detection of nanoplastics
6Why Choose Us
Authoritative and Reliable
Testing procedures comply with international standards (ISO, ASTM, EU, etc.), ensuring scientifically credible data.
Advanced Instrumentation
Equipped with state-of-the-art platforms such as FTIR, Raman spectroscopy, and Py-GC/MS.
Professional Team
Comprised of experts with backgrounds in environmental science, materials science, and analytical chemistry.
Customized Solutions
Provides tailored testing workflows based on different sample types and research objectives.
Where Can Microplastic Testing Be Applied?
Our microplastic testing services find broad application across diverse sectors. They not only support academic and industrial research, but also play a vital role in product quality assurance, environmental monitoring, and regulatory compliance.
Research and Academia
Environmental science and materials science studies
Food and Beverage Industry
Safety testing for drinking water, salt, seafood, and other food products
Cosmetics and Personal Care Products
Ensuring compliance with environmental regulations
Plastics and Packaging Manufacturing
Quality control and product environmental assessment
Government and Environmental Organizations
Environmental monitoring and policy-making support
Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices
Ensuring product safety and regulatory compliance
Service Process
Service consultation
Sample collection / submission
Laboratory testing
Data analysis
Report delivery
Follow-up technical support
What Success Stories Can We Share?
Here are three case studies showcasing Microplastics Analysis and Testing Services conducted for other companies, highlighting the value and impact of our expertise.
Case 1: Bottled Drinking Water Manufacturer — Microplastic Quality Control
Client Background
A large bottled drinking water manufacturer with products distributed across multiple countries and regions, required to comply with international drinking water safety standards.
Testing Requirement
With increasing attention from consumers and regulatory authorities on microplastic contamination, the client wanted third-party testing for different batches of bottled water to confirm the presence of microplastic particles and ensure quality assurance for export products.
Solution
Alfa Chemistry received 10 batches of bottled water samples from the client. The laboratory performed membrane filtration followed by optical microscopy for initial particle screening, combined with Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) for polymer identification of suspected particles. Additionally, the quantity and particle size distribution of microplastics were statistically analyzed for each sample.
Results and Value
- 7 out of 10 batches showed no detectable microplastic particles.
- The remaining 3 batches contained very low levels of microplastics, ranging from 12–28 particles/L.
- Particle size distribution was mainly 20–80 μm, with the largest detected particle approximately 110 μm.
- Identified polymer types were primarily polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP).
All samples were below the international reference limit for microplastics in drinking water (<100 particles/L), meeting export requirements. Alfa Chemistry provided full spectral data, detailed tables, and compliance conclusions, helping the client successfully pass product inspections in the European market.
Case 2: Cosmetics Company — Facial Cleanser Formula Compliance Verification
Client Background
A rising cosmetics R&D company planning to launch a facial cleanser in the European market, promoted as “free from plastic microbeads.”
Testing Requirement
Due to strict European regulations restricting plastic microbeads in cosmetics, the client required third-party verification to ensure the formula contained no microplastic particles and obtain an authoritative test report.
Solution
Alfa Chemistry performed density separation and chemical digestion on the facial cleanser samples to remove organic and inorganic matter, followed by Raman spectroscopy and Pyrolysis-Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry (Py-GC/MS) analysis to detect any synthetic polymer particles.
Results and Value
- No particles with plastic characteristics were detected through microscopy or spectral analysis.
- Py-GC/MS analysis showed no characteristic peaks of common microplastics such as PE, PP, or PS.
- The particles present were mainly natural minerals and plant extract residues.
The final report confirmed that no microplastics were detected in the facial cleanser. Alfa Chemistry provided bilingual (Chinese and English) test reports, assisting the client in successfully completing EU market registration and enhancing the product’s environmental and safety claims in marketing.
Case 3: Research Team — Soil Microplastic Pollution Study
Client Background
An environmental science research team from a university conducting a survey of urban green space soil pollution, focusing on the distribution of microplastics across different land use types.
Testing Requirement
The research team required third-party testing to obtain data on the quantity, type, and particle size distribution of microplastics in soil samples collected from parks, roadside areas, and farmland, to serve as experimental evidence for academic publications.
Solution
Alfa Chemistry analyzed 15 soil samples provided by the client using density separation combined with hydrogen peroxide digestion to remove organic matter, followed by microscopic screening and FTIR spectroscopy for microplastic identification and statistical analysis.
Results and Value
- Park soil samples: average 220 particles/kg, primarily PET fibers (particle size 50–200 μm).
- Roadside soil samples: average 560 particles/kg, mainly PE and PS fragments (particle size 30–150 μm).
- Farmland samples: average 310 particles/kg, dominated by PP film residues (particle size 40–180 μm).
Results indicated that microplastic contamination in roadside soils was significantly higher than in parks and farmland. Detailed data tables and statistical charts provided by Alfa Chemistry were cited as core experimental results by the research team, ultimately published in an international environmental science journal.
What Our Customers Ask
Q1: Why use FTIR or Raman spectroscopy instead of just microscopy for microplastic analysis?
A: Microscopy can only provide information on particle morphology, size, and quantity, but cannot accurately determine chemical composition. FTIR and Raman spectroscopy can identify characteristic vibrational peaks of polymer molecules, allowing differentiation of various types of plastics (e.g., PE, PP, PS, PET). In standardized testing workflows, microscopy-based morphological observation is usually combined with spectroscopic analysis to ensure both qualitative and quantitative accuracy.
Q2: What are the key points in microplastic sample pretreatment for complex matrices?
A: The core of sample pretreatment is to efficiently remove organic and inorganic impurities while avoiding degradation or damage to plastic particles. Common methods include hydrogen peroxide oxidation, Fenton reagent oxidation, and enzymatic digestion. Key control points include oxidant concentration, reaction temperature and time, and whether density separation is required. Over-processing can lead to partial degradation of polyester or polyamide microplastics, affecting the representativeness of the results.
Q3: What are common errors in microplastic quantification and how is data comparability ensured?
A: Common sources of error include:
1.Background contamination from filter membranes
2.Plastic fiber contamination from laboratory air
3.Loss of microplastics during pretreatment
4.Misidentification due to spectral database matching errors
Data comparability can be ensured by setting experimental blanks, using cleanrooms or laminar flow cabinets, selecting appropriate filter materials (e.g., aluminum oxide membranes without plastic substrates), establishing a unified spectral identification database, and following relevant standards such as ISO/TR 21960 or ASTM D8333.
Q4: What is the particle size detection limit and how are micron- and nanoscale particles analyzed?
A: Micro-FTIR imaging (μ-FTIR) typically has a detection limit of 10–20 μm, while Raman spectroscopy can reach 1 μm. For nanoscale particles (<1 μm), indirect analysis is primarily conducted using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) or pyrolysis-gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (Py-GC/MS). The laboratory ensures detection of small particles by selecting appropriate filter pore sizes and optimizing spectral resolution and signal-to-noise ratio.
Q5: How is standardization achieved across different sample types?
A: The complexity of different matrices results in variations in testing workflows. Standardization relies on uniform sampling, pretreatment, and analytical methodologies. For example: water samples can be concentrated via vacuum filtration; food samples require enzymatic digestion and oxidation; soil and sediment samples depend on density separation. To ensure comparability across studies, laboratories typically follow ISO, ASTM, or UNEP guidelines and provide detailed methodological parameters in the report (e.g., sieve pore size, oxidant concentration, instrument settings), ensuring data traceability.
