Indirect determination of environmental polylactic acid microplastic residues using a single-atom nickel composite electrode

IF 3.8 2区化学 Q1 BIOCHEMICAL RESEARCH METHODS

Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry Pub Date : 2025-08-08 DOI:10.1007/s00216-025-06046-0

Yuexin Pei, Xinlong Pei, Ruichao Shang, Zehui Wang, Gang Liang, Long Li, Ying Yue, Hong Zhu, Wenwen Gong

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

The widely accepted application of polylactic acid (PLA) films as agricultural mulch films has led to the accumulation of microplastics (MPs) in soil ecosystems, causing severe white pollution. Developing a convenient method to detect PLA in the environment is essential for pollution control. In this study, single-atom nickel-doped nitrogen on carbon nanosheets (Ni–N-C) combined with gold–palladium nanoparticles (AuPdNPs) enabled highly sensitive lactic acid detection. Through oxidation catalyzed by the single-atom metal, the detection range for lactic acid was 50 μmol·L⁻¹ to 50 mmol·L⁻¹, with a detection limit of 10 μmol·L⁻¹. This approach indirectly quantified PLA in MPs via lactic acid detection on Ni–N-C + AuPdNPs. This is the first electrochemical method to indirectly determine depolymerized polylactic acid for environmental PLA quantification. The detection current showed minimal fluctuation over 7 days and remained unaffected by common soil interferents. It demonstrates strong applicability in real environments by indirectly assessing MP residues through their depolymerization products, avoiding complex separation processes. High PLA recovery rates in water and soil highlight its potential for environmental monitoring. A stable electrochemical detection of microplastic monomers was provided for such detection approaches.

Graphical Abstract

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单原子镍复合电极间接测定环境聚乳酸微塑料残留物。

聚乳酸（PLA）薄膜作为农用地膜的广泛应用，导致土壤生态系统中微塑料（MPs）的积累，造成严重的白色污染。开发一种简便的检测环境中聚乳酸的方法对污染控制至关重要。在这项研究中，碳纳米片上的单原子镍掺杂氮（Ni-N-C）与金钯纳米颗粒（AuPdNPs）结合，实现了高灵敏度的乳酸检测。通过单原子金属催化氧化，乳酸的检测范围为50 μmol·L - 1 ~ 50 mmol·L - 1，检测限为10 μmol·L - 1。该方法通过Ni-N-C + AuPdNPs的乳酸检测间接定量MPs中的PLA。这是第一个间接测定解聚乳酸的电化学方法，用于环境聚乳酸的定量。检测电流在7天内波动最小，不受常见土壤干扰的影响。它通过解聚产物间接评估MP残留物，避免了复杂的分离过程，在实际环境中具有很强的适用性。PLA在水和土壤中的高回收率突出了其在环境监测中的潜力。为这种检测方法提供了一种稳定的微塑料单体电化学检测方法。

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来源期刊

Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry 化学-分析化学

CiteScore

8.00

自引率

4.70%

发文量

638

审稿时长

2.1 months

期刊介绍： Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry’s mission is the rapid publication of excellent and high-impact research articles on fundamental and applied topics of analytical and bioanalytical measurement science. Its scope is broad, and ranges from novel measurement platforms and their characterization to multidisciplinary approaches that effectively address important scientific problems. The Editors encourage submissions presenting innovative analytical research in concept, instrumentation, methods, and/or applications, including: mass spectrometry, spectroscopy, and electroanalysis; advanced separations; analytical strategies in “-omics” and imaging, bioanalysis, and sampling; miniaturized devices, medical diagnostics, sensors; analytical characterization of nano- and biomaterials; chemometrics and advanced data analysis.