Method for extracting microplastics from the gastrointestinal tract of earthworms

Abstract

The utility model relates to the extraction of microplastics from the gastrointestinal organs of earthworms and is aimed at obtaining data on the absorption of microplastics by earthworms and can be used to monitor microplastic fluxes in soil and soil-substituting substrates. The technical problem addressed by this utility model is the development of a method for isolating microplastics from the gastrointestinal tract of earthworms, characterized by environmental safety and a high degree of microplastic isolation. A method for extracting microplastics from the gastrointestinal tract of earthworms is proposed, which includes alkaline hydrolysis of the organs of the gastrointestinal tract of worms, to which a 10% solution of potassium hydroxide is added and mixed in a laboratory shaker at 70-80 rpm, at 55 °C for 24 hours, for 24 hours at room temperature, oxidation of the remains of organic matter in the hydrolysate is carried out, to which 5% by volume of 35% hydrogen peroxide is added, sodium chloride is added to the hydrolyzate until a saturated salt solution is obtained, the particles in which are separated by density in a separatory funnel for 24 hours, the supernatant phase of the saturated salt solution containing microplastics is collected, heated to 50 °C, the microplastics are vacuum filtered on a glass fiber filter with a pore diameter of 0.45 μm and dried in a laminar flow hood for 30 minutes, characterized in that that before alkaline hydrolysis, washed earthworms are placed in containers filled with 1.5% agar gel.