Project is based on the detection of nanoplastics in spiking various matrices.

The first matrix is egg and in order to isolate the spiked nanoplastics from the sample, protein has to be degraded to such a small size, that it can be filtered through a 10Kda ultrafilter (leaving only the nanoplastics in the filter). Proteinase K and other proteases do not hydrolyse every peptides bond and would not be appropriate

HCl has been considered but this is a threat to the stability of the polymers in the sample as this needs to be retained for analysis. Pyrolysis could be possible but would need to bear in mind that plastic polymers start to depolymerise at around 250 degrees celcius. NaOH would be a better option as they do not readily degrade plastics but the experiment using 6M NaOH still left egg sample viscous and visibly protein-rich

Regards,

Aidan