PET Microspheres – Polyethylene Terephthalate Reference Standard | PolyRef™
PET Microspheres – Polyethylene Terephthalate Reference Standard | PolyRef™
Product Overview
PolyRef™ PET Microspheres are true-spherical polyethylene terephthalate particles manufactured by RIGOR Science across the full nano-to-micron range. From sub-100 nm nanoplastic reference particles to micron-scale environmental microplastic models, each grade is verified by SEM, FTIR, and DLS with batch-specific COAs.
True-spherical submicron PET — particularly in the sub-200 nm range — is one of the most difficult polymer reference materials to produce. PET's high crystallinity, low solubility, and slow recrystallization kinetics make it resistant to conventional emulsion methods. RIGOR Science has developed a proprietary solvent-exchange and emulsion-evaporation process that yields true spherical particles from 50 nm to 1 μm, retaining the authentic chemical structure of commercial PET feedstock.
Why PET Reference Standards?
- Major bottled water and food contact pollutant. PET is the dominant polymer in beverage bottles and food packaging. The 2024 study identifying ~240,000 nanoplastic particles per liter in bottled water — predominantly PET — has made PET nanoplastic standards critical for environmental health research.
- Distinct FTIR signature. Strong carbonyl band at 1715 cm⁻¹, plus aromatic ester bands at 1240 cm⁻¹ and benzene ring at 720 cm⁻¹ — clearly distinguishing PET from PE, PP, PVC, and PS in mixed microplastic spectral identification.
- High-density sinking behavior. PET's density (~1.38 g/cm³) drives sedimentation in aquatic systems, making it essential for sediment microplastic transport, settling kinetics, and freshwater bottom-layer studies — a behavior LDPE/PP microspheres cannot replicate.
- Sub-200 nm rarity. Commercial submicron true-spherical PET is essentially absent from the global market. Most "PET microparticles" from suppliers are ground fragments at micron scale. RIGOR Science is one of the few sources of monodisperse PET nanospheres in the 50–150 nm range.
- Critical for toxicology research. PET is a regulated polymer in food-contact migration studies. Well-characterized PET reference particles enable controlled exposure experiments, antimony leachate studies, and recycled-PET migration validation.
Two Research Use Cases — Different Size Ranges
Nanoplastic Research (50–150 nm)
- Nano-bio interface and biological barrier crossing studies
- Cell uptake and nanoplastic toxicology
- Bottled water nanoplastic spiking and quantification standards
- Sub-100 nm FTIR / Raman reference materials
- NIH / NSF / EPA-funded nanoplastic environmental health research
Microplastic Research (200 nm – 5 μm)
- FTIR / Raman spectral identification reference
- Sediment microplastic transport (PET density 1.38 g/cm³, sinks)
- Wastewater and food packaging migration studies
- Recycled-PET (rPET) leachate and migration validation
- Settling kinetics and density-based separation method development
Specifications
| Material | Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) — commercial-grade feedstock |
| CAS No. | 25038-59-9 |
| Chemical Formula | (C₁₀H₈O₄)ₙ |
| Particle Size Range | 50 nm, 80 nm, 100 nm, 120 nm, 150 nm, 200 nm (custom up to 5 μm available) |
| Morphology | True spherical, clean surface, free of aggregates |
| Size Uniformity | CV ≤ 20% (50–150nm); CV ≤ 30% (200 nm and above); PDI < 0.20 |
| Density | ~1.38 g/cm³ (sinks in water; ideal for sediment and bottom-layer studies) |
| Refractive Index | ~1.66 |
| Dispersion | Ultrapure water — surfactant-free, suitable for direct cell exposure |
| Concentration | 5 mg/mL or 10 mg/mL |
| Package Size | 10 mL (custom volumes on request) |
| Storage | 2–8 °C, protect from light; do not freeze |
| Shelf Life | 36 months at 4 °C |
| Characterization | FT-IR, SEM, DLS, batch-specific COA included |
What Makes PolyRef™ PET Different
- 100% commercial PET feedstock — retains authentic PET chemical structure verifiable by FT-IR, DLS, and Zeta potential measurements.
- Surfactant-free aqueous suspension — dispersed in ultrapure water without SDS or other stabilizers, eliminating background interference in toxicology and FTIR studies.
- High monodispersity — PDI < 0.20, high sphericity, suitable as analytical reference standard.
- Stable single-particle dispersion — no aggregation in storage; ready to use after gentle vortexing.
Not Recommended For
Applications requiring fluorescent labeling without additional surface modification; high-ionic-strength aqueous buffers that may cause aggregation (consult for buffer compatibility). For amino-, carboxyl-, or fluorescent-functionalized PET nanospheres, please contact us.
Quality Documentation
Each shipment includes a batch-specific Certificate of Analysis (COA) with SEM images, FTIR spectrum (highlighting 1715 / 1240 / 720 cm⁻¹ characteristic peaks), DLS size distribution, and Zeta potential data. Raw-material XPS reference data available on request for batch verification.
Sub-micron grades (100–200 nm) are characterized by DLS; micron grades (≥1 μm) are characterized by laser diffraction / optical microscopy. Representative data shown; see COA for lot-specific values.