Quantification of regulated metals in recycled post-consumer polypropylene through comparative ICP-MS, AAS and LIBS analyses

Abstract: Knowing the exact heavy metal load of recycled plastics is important for their risk assessment. We therefore established a novel strategic hierarchy for testing the heavy metal load of recycled plastics. For preliminary screening for unusually high elemental loads, laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) is suggested, while inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) or electrothermal atomic absorption spectroscopy (ETAAS) are used for exact quantification. The contents of ten regulated elements (Hg, As, Cd, Cr, Co, Cu, Se, Pb, Sn and Ni) in post-consumer (PCR), post-industrial (PIR), and virgin polypropylene (PP) were thus determined. Concentrations in the PCR were mostly found to be two orders of magnitude smaller than their threshold in non-food applications. Cu was most abundant in PCR with 18.7 ± 6.1 mg/kg. Concentration variations of approx. 30 %. were found within a PCR batch, while between batches, slightly higher variations of 30–40 % were observed. Moreover, the heavy metal concentration patterns of PCR and PIR differ significantly. This strategy may enhance the applicational possibilities for PCR

Object Details

• Location: Deutsche Nationalbibliothek Frankfurt am Main
• Extent: Online-Ressource
• Language: Englisch
• Notes: Polymer testing. - 136 (2024) , 108480, ISSN: 1873-2348

Contributors, Places and Time

• Event: Veröffentlichung
• (where): Freiburg
• (who): Universität
• (when): 2025
• Creator: Klingenberg, Pia ; Schirmeister, Carl Gunther ; Kappeler, Moritz ; Calean, Adelina ; Biester, Harald ; Licht, Erik ; Rapp, Bastian E.

Further information

• DOI: 10.1016/j.polymertesting.2024.108480
• URN: urn:nbn:de:bsz:25-freidok-2614290
• Rights: Open Access; Der Zugriff auf das Objekt ist unbeschränkt möglich.
• Last update: 15.08.2025, 7:20 AM CEST